- Title: In Germany, further closures, cancellations keep up social distancing
- Date: 15th March 2020
- Summary: COLOGNE, GERMANY (MARCH 15, 2020) (REUTERS) COLOGNE CATHEDRAL VARIOUS OF SUPERVISED ENTRY INTO CATHEDRAL (SOUNDBITE) (German) CATHEDRAL PROVOST, GERD BACHNER, SAYING: "I will be 75 next month and have to say that in my 75 years of life, although I was born during war, I have never experienced such a situation. And now, on the one hand, as a church, we have to do everything. And that's what we said to ourselves, we stand by the city's decisions in solidarity. And the city has decided that no church services take place in public, and that's basically what we're doing." VARIOUS OF INTERIOR OF CATHEDRAL (SOUNDBITE) (German) CHURCHGOER, NAME NOT PROVIDED, SAYING: "If there are many worshippers together, then it's true you are at greater risk. I think the measure is drastic, but it is right to protect people." (SOUNDBITE) (German) CHURCHGOER, ROSEMARIE GERKE, SAYING: "You just have to accept it. I can't judge it. I have the impression that things are being played up a bit. But I can't judge it." COLOGNE CATHEDRAL BERLIN, GERMANY (MARCH 15, 2020) (REUTERS) BERLIN CATHEDRAL VARIOUS OF SIGN OUTSIDE CATHEDRAL INFORMING OF CANCELLED PRAYER SERVICES ENGRAVING ON CATHEDRAL EXTERIOR VARIOUS OF PEOPLE SITTING OUTSIDE OF BERLIN CATHEDRAL/MUSEUM ISLAND (SOUNDBITE) (German) BERLIN RESIDENT, JULIANE, LAST NAME NOT PROVIDED, SAYING: "I'm not into the panic and panic-buying and all that - I don't think it's so good. Maybe it could be narrowed down to the risk groups and say they stay at home and the others are allowed to go to work somehow and still participate in normal life. I think it's important to do something, but not as extreme. Because it will hit many economically now, I think. Unfortunately." (SOUNDBITE) (German) BERLIN RESIDENT, CAMILLA GEIGER, SAYING: "I think that's fairly justified, but maybe a little late. I think it would have been a little better to take security measures a week or two ago to take care of things." TOURIST WEARING FACE MASK TAKING PHOTOS VARIOUS OF MUSEUM'S DOOR WITH CLOSURE ANNOUNCEMENT FLAGS ON MUSEUM YOUNG PEOPLE SITTING ON MUSEUM STEPS VARIOUS OF RIVER CRUISE BOAT WOMAN WITH A TISSUE ON RIVER CRUISE BOAT RIVER CRUISE BOAT VARIOUS OF SINGLE MOTHER, VIVIEN WEBER, AND SON NOAH MAKING WAFFLES (SOUNDBITE) (German) SINGLE MOTHER, VIVIEN WEBER, SAYING: "I'm actually now waiting for tomorrow to see if I have the possibility to bring the children to school and also to the daycare. And then wait until I am told what will happen now, whether I as a medical professional, have the opportunity to bring the children into a daycare, or whether there are any difficulties because the children's father doesn't work in the medical industry, whether I can bring the children there at all, or whether we have to coordinate with each another, who is taking the children now, how and when." VARIOUS OF WAFFLES BEING PUT ON PLATE (SOUNDBITE) (German) SINGLE MOTHER, VIVIEN WEBER, SAYING: "So far, things are okay. And I think there will be another setback. And it all won't be possible in the long run. We have already worked to the limit with little staff. And because of all the measures, it is always difficult for us, and getting more difficult." VARIOUS OF WEBER AND SONS, NOAH AND MARLON, EATING WAFFLES
- Embargoed: 29th March 2020 17:02
- Keywords: Cologne dome Coronavirus Germany bars church cinemas pandemic shutdown
- Location: BERLIN, COLOGNE, GERMANY
- City: BERLIN, COLOGNE, GERMANY
- Country: Germany
- Topics: Health/Medicine
- Reuters ID: LVA001C55WUO7
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: Churches across Germany responded to bans on mass gatherings by cancelling and restricting prayer services on Sunday (March 15).
The Cologne Cathedral closed to tourists, opening itself to those attending prayer service only, while Berlin Cathedral cancelled its prayer services altogether.
Bars and nightclubs in the capital are scheduled to be closed on Tuesday, as well as schools and daycares across the country.
The number of confirmed coronavirus cases in Germany rose over 2,000, according to the Robert Koch Institute for infectious diseases on Thursday.
(Production: Erol Dogrudogan, Oliver Barth, Andreas Kranz, Ulrike Heil, Gabi Sajonz-Grimm) - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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