Tag: Germany

German virus testing capacity now 900,000 weekly

BERLIN, Germany (AFP) — German labs are now able to carry out almost 900,000 tests a week for the novel coronavirus, officials said on Wednesday, as they plan to widen testing among health workers. “Today, we have a theoretically possible capacity of almost 900,000 tests (per week) in Germany already, as long as the materials for these tests are available,” Health Minister Jens Spahn told reporters in Berlin. Roughly 470,000 tests were carried out last […]

German experts urge discipline as virus data sends mixed signals

BERLIN, Germany (AFP) — German medical experts warned the public to stay disciplined Tuesday after official data offered a mixed picture on the battle against the novel coronavirus since Europe’s biggest economy began a cautious easing of lockdown measures. “Let us continue to stay at home as much as possible, keep observing the restrictions and keep a distance of 1.5 meters from one another,” said Lothar Wieler, president of the Robert Koch Institute (RKI) for […]

EBC Films’ Make it Reel seminars go online for Western Europe

Eagle News — Being in quarantine has its quirks; pros and cons. On one hand, you’re confined to your home, only allowed to leave to gather essentials. And on the other hand, you get to stay home and work on whatever “me” project that was put on the back-burner. And if filmmaking or acting is one of your “me” projects and you live in the Western Europe area, EBC Films is now offering their Make […]

Germany to start first clinical tests on coronavirus vaccine

BERLIN, Germany (AFP) — Germany has authorized its first clinical test of a vaccine for the novel coronavirus, the country’s regulatory body said Wednesday, green-lighting trials on human volunteers for an RNA vaccine developed by German firm Biontech and US giant Pfizer. “The Paul-Ehrlich-Institut… has authorized the first clinical trial of a vaccine against COVID-19 in Germany,” the regulatory body said in a statement. It added that approval was the “result of a careful assessment […]

Daimler, Volvo in 1.2-bn-euro deal to make hydrogen batteries: statement

FRANKFURT AM MAIN, Germany (AFP) — German automobile group Daimler said Tuesday it was partnering with Sweden’s Volvo to make hydrogen batteries for trucks, as car giants accelerate a push to wean vehicles from fossil fuels. The joint venture between the two, valued at 1.2 billion euros ($1.3 billion), is “a milestone in bringing fuel cell powered trucks and buses onto our roads,” said Daimler Truck chairman Martin Daum. “By forming this joint venture, we […]

EBC photography: A view of the Rhine River this spring amid the pandemic

“So ein herrlicher Tag!” What a glorious day as the Germans say. Keeping upbeat amid the coronavirus pandemic is necessary for one’s mental and emotional health. In Germany, where one is still allowed to go out to take a walk provided you maintain the required social or physical distancing, enjoying spring can indeed lift up your spirits. This is what couple Daisy and Olaf Prodigalidad did, taking a walk along the river Rhine, mindful of […]

Merkel urges ‘transparency’ from China on outbreak

BERLIN, Germany (AFP) — German Chancellor Angela Merkel on Monday urged China to be as transparent as possible about the coronavirus outbreak, as Beijing faces mounting pressure over its management of the crisis. Critics have accused China of downplaying the scale and scope of the outbreak when it first emerged late last year, while conspiracy theories have swirled in the US the virus could have been leaked from a lab. Merkel urged for more information […]

Virus sends Germany into recession, to last to mid-year

BERLIN, Germany (AFP) — Europe’s economic powerhouse Germany plunged into recession in March, with the slump sparked by the coronavirus pandemic likely to last until the middle of the year, the economy ministry said Wednesday. “Falling global demand, interruption of supply chains, changes in consumers’ behavior and uncertainty among investors” had all made themselves felt in the export giant, the ministry said. The economic blow from the virus fell just as Germany was beginning to […]

Germany moving towards gradual reopening as virus cases drops

by Yannick PASQUET Agence France Presse BERLIN, Germany (AFP) — Germany is moving towards a progressive lifting of restrictions linked to the coronavirus outbreak as new infections fall and the number of deaths remains far below its European neighbors. The nation’s Academy of Sciences Leopoldina recommended Monday a gradual relaxing of restrictions in stages if new infections stabilize at a low level and personal hygiene measures to avoid the spread of the coronavirus are maintained. […]

DFA welcomes 247 crew members repatriated from Germany

  (Eagle News) — The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said 247 crew members of two cruise ships for a Germany-based travel agency arrived in the country on Wednesday morning, April 8, 2020. The DFA welcomed the crew members of cruise ships MS Amadea and MS Amera who returned from Frankfurt, Germany. “The repatriates arrived this morning via a chartered flight contracted by BSM Crew Service Center Philippines Inc. and Five Star Marine Services Corp., […]

Over 300 repatriated Filipino seafarers from Italy, Germany arrive in PHL on Sunday

(Eagle News)–Over 300 repatriated Filipino seafarers arrived from Italy and Germany on Sunday amid the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic. The Department of Foreign Affairs said of the 322 recently repatriated from Italy, 114 were from Costa Diadema and 208 from Costa Victoria in Italy. Sixteen crew members of cruise ship Amadea, on the other hand, arrived in Manila from Frankfurt, Germany. According to the DFA, as of Sunday, April 6, it had repatriated close to […]

Germany ramps up coronavirus tests to 500,000 a week

BERLIN, Germany (AFP) — Germany has boosted its coronavirus test rate to 500,000 a week, a virologist said Thursday, adding that early detection has been key in keeping the country’s death rate relatively low. “The reason why Germany has so few deaths compared to the number of infected people can be explained by the fact that we carry out an extremely large number of laboratory diagnostic tests,” said Christian Drosten, who heads the Institute of […]