German Finance Minister: Have the Means to Counter Covid for a Long Time

13 January 2021

By David Barwick – FRANKFURT (Econostream) – The German government has the financial wherewithal to continue mitigating the impact of the pandemic for a long time, Finance Minister Olaf Scholz said on Wednesday.

In an interview with German daily Neue Osnabrücker Zeitung, Scholz, according to a text made available by the Finance Ministry, said, ‘Our financial strength is sufficient to continue the support for a long time if it becomes necessary. Companies and employees can count on us not to suddenly turn off the tap. We will continue to counteract until Corona is defeated!’

The German government is not currently considering closing companies to reduce Covid-19 case numbers, he said, and ‘quite consciously’ left them open. Still, he urged ‘maximum’ reliance on home office.

Observing that case numbers were on the increase throughout Europe despite lockdown measures, Scholz said, ‘We have to continue to monitor the situation closely and, if necessary, react to keep the virus in check.’

The intensification of measures in Germany had not depressed the incidence of the virus sufficiently to permit an easing, he indicated. ‘Only when large sections of the population are vaccinated have we made it’, he added.