So far, Germany's fatality rate for coronavirus — 0.5% —is the lowest in the world, by a long shot. Experts say that's because they're testing early and often. One virologist estimates the country has been testing about 120,000 people a week.
As confirmed cases of coronavirus in Germany soared past 10,000 last week, hundreds of Berliners crowded Volkspark am Friedrichshain to play soccer, basketball, and let their kids loose on the park's many jungle gyms.
As Europe has become the epicenter of the global coronavirus pandemic, Italy's fatality rate hovers around 10%. France's is at around 5%. Yet Germany's fatality rate from COVID-19 has remained remarkably low since cases started showing up there more than a month ago. As of March 25, there were 175 deaths and 34,055 cases.
In other words, Germany's equivalent to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention — the Robert Koch Institute — makes recommendations, but does not call the shots on testing for the entire country. Germany's 16 federal states make their own decisions on coronavirus testing because each of them is responsible for their own healthcare systems.
Drosten says that has meant quicker, earlier and more widespread testing for COVID-19 in Germany than in other countries. But some Berlin residents aren't as confident as Wieler. Nizana Nizzi Brautmann says she was worried when a teacher at her son's school tested positive for COVID-19 and a day later, she and her son woke up with fevers and persistent coughing. She says she couldn't get through to Berlin's coronavirus hotline, which was continuously busy.
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