Germany Approves First COVID-19 Self-Test... Merkel Says "Third Wave in Progress"

"The Trend Wave Depends on Our Hands"

German Chancellor Angela Merkel held a press conference on the 1st (local time) in Berlin after a video conference attended by vaccine manufacturers and governors of 16 states. Chancellor Merkel stated, "By the end of the third quarter, we will vaccinate all willing individuals among the 73 million people nationwide, excluding children and adolescents, against the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19)."
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(End) [Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Hyun-joo] The German government has approved the first COVID-19 self rapid diagnostic test. German Chancellor Angela Merkel put the brakes on expectations for easing lockdown measures, stating that the third wave of COVID-19 is ongoing.

On the 23rd (local time), Chancellor Merkel mentioned during a virtual meeting of the Christian Democratic Union (CDU) and Christian Social Union (CSU) parliamentary groups, "We are currently in the midst of the third wave," according to local German media citing attendees.

Merkel said, "The extent of the third wave depends on us," adding, "We must keep the wave as low as possible."

Merkel will decide on measures after the full lockdown period, which runs until the 7th of next month, starting from the 3rd. She stated, "We want to keep the doors open as much as possible, but we do not want to regress to a situation where we have to close them again," and predicted, "If we ease the lockdown step by step and cautiously, it could give us more room."

She also emphasized, "The introduction of rapid COVID-19 diagnostic tests can help expand that room."

On the same day, Germany's Federal Institute for Drugs and Medical Devices granted the first approval for three types of COVID-19 self-diagnostic tests. These tests collect samples from the front part of the nose and can be purchased at discount stores.

According to data from the Robert Koch Institute (RKI), Germany's equivalent of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, there were 8,007 new COVID-19 cases and 422 deaths reported the previous day. Over the past week, the number of new COVID-19 cases per 100,000 population was 59.3.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.