A letter home

The cases in Germany have gone up to 2750.  That is in the morning.  They may add hundreds more by noon.  But that is nearly 800 new cases over yesterday.  The schools in France have closed. All the schools.   We have determined to keep Sarah and Jessica home after today.  I do not know if that is legal.  In Germany school is mandatory.  But Juergen is in the highest risk category (Male over 60 with a history of heart problems). I believe we are safer not getting the virus.  They are talking to the students at her school about closing.  So, it may not be necessary to take her out of school.  It most likely will happen anyway. And we need to consider bringing Philip home as well.    I chatted with a friend who is a doctor.  All the doctors in Germany have been put on alert (as in a war). Even the retired doctors.  It is an all hands-on deck situation.  They believe Germany will lockdown soon like Ital...

There are over 300 new cases of coronavirus in Germany.  The death rate is very low.  Everyone wants to credit our great health care system.  I think in the end, it will be the age of the people who got Coronavirus.  Italy has a very old population.  They got hit very fast and hard with this.  We have had time to get ready.  And I told a friend of mine today, Germans still sweep the sidewalks every week.  They do what is right for the entire society, not just what is right for themselves.  That is a general statement.  Naturally, there are exceptions.  I read about a man in Berlin who went to a night club even after hearing he had the virus.  16 people got the virus from him.  So some will care more about themselves and their convenience, and others look at the greater good. About 3 weeks ago I began to see this happening.  The spread of the virus I mean.  And I had to weigh if I should travel to America to my m...

It is March 11, 2020.  I live in the South of Germany.  We are just 4 hours from the North Italian border.  Italy has been hit very hard by the Coronavirus.  The entire nation is in lockdown.  I am certain this is the future of Germany.   Yesterday Angela Merkel the German Chancellor stood in front of the Parlement and said that they expect 60 to 70% of the population to get coronavirus. Merkel said that 58 million Germans could contract the disease if it spiraled out of control, That 80% would get light symptoms. That is good news for the 80%. It is fearful that 20% would require a hospital, and a great number of these will die. This news hit me pretty hard. I sat for a long time crying. it was like hea ring an announcement that your nation has declared war. For the young, it is going to be ok. Most of them will not suffer more than a light cold. And they are already very upset that their concerts and football games might be canceled. And for me, I t...