Worrying that the social divide will grow deeper

Germany, Gera, Uwe, German, 55, Political representative for the German Evangelical Alliance, Married/ Five children

General

How is the situation in your city/ country? Is there a 2nd wave yet?
As of yet, there has been no second wave. The numbers have increased slightly, but not significantly. When compared internationally, Germany has been spared both economically speaking and in terms of infection rates.

How did the atmosphere in your country change within the last months?
From great willingness to help in the beginning to demonstrations and protests. On the one hand, Corona is the government’s finest hour. On the other, it’s that of the populists… the social divide is being widened.

How are you and your family?
I am on a shortened work hours contract, and homeschooling two children without significant support from their school. Our law student daughter loses one semester of study. Our other daughter had to return from Lima, after waiting and hoping three weeks for a return flight.

What was the biggest challenge for you within the last months?
The uncertainty as to how things will progress, and when what will be possible again.

The social divide is being widened.

Measures

When did you realize how serious the situation is?
When the Willow Creek Congress was cancelled abruptly at the end of February.

How did your government react to the crisis? Which measures/restrictions were taken first?
Very calmly with a lot of information, social distancing rules, then banning public gatherings, lockdown, mandatory mask-wearing. The biggest challenge was coordinating the cooperation between the local authorities and state governments.

Are you satisfied with the measures of your government? What was good/bad?
The information and explanations of the measures being taken were good. Government support of shortened work hour contracts and government grants were successful.
The information regarding mandatory mask wearing, coordinating schools and universities were chaotic; better collaboration and agreements were needed. For the sick and elderly better visiting conditions and regulations would have been beneficial and necessary.

What would you like to say to your government?
Please treat citizens’ concerns with respect and appreciation, even those of protesters – people are scared and acting out of fear.

Which sentence of a virologist/politician did you memorize the most?
“The situation is serious. Please take it seriously.” Chancellor Angela Merkel.

Please treat citizens’ concerns with respect and appreciation, even those of protesters.

The Virus

Do you know anybody who was infected with COVID-19 or even died?
Yes, infected people.

Have you already done a Coronavirus test or have you been in quarantine?
Not myself, but my daughter was in quarantine after returning from Peru.

Are you afraid of getting infected with the Coronavirus?
No.

My daughter was in quarantine after returning from Peru.

The lockdown

How long is/was your lockdown and what was allowed/what wasn´t?
It lasted from mid-March to mid-June, and measures were introduced step-by-step: First schools, then restaurants, public places. Loosening lockdown also happened step-by-step, but locally and according to Hotspots.

Did you spend the lockdown time with somebody and what did you do during this time?
With my family at home, working in home office.

What did you miss the most during the lockdown? What helped you?
I missed people, contact, discussions, traveling. The Government helped – with shortened work hour contracts.

The Government helped – with shortened work hour contracts.

Changes

How did your work situation change within the last months (shorter hours, working from home, etc.)
Shorter Hours – working half time in home office.

How did your social life (relationship/friendships/dating) change due to the Corona crisis?
Less time with friends and business contacts, more time with the family.

Uwe and his daughter

What impact has the Corona crisis on your financial situation?
A sixth less of my salary, I barely sold any of my books, a dropped commission for a tour – about 1000 Euros a month.

Social distancing: How does your daily life look like at the moment?
Fairly normal, lectures and seminars with less people, and at the moment only occasional zoom meetings.

I barely sold any of my books.

Perception

Who are to your opinion the heroes of this crisis?
Hard working politicians, nurses and medical staff (in care homes too!), students and pupils.

What did the crisis show you?
That it is important to develop digitalisation, but also understand that digitalisation can paralyse people without social contact.

What will you appreciate more after the crisis?
Hanging out with friends, meeting people.

Which images will you never forget?
Negative: the protests and conspiracy theories, panicked people
Positive: People’s willingness to help and gumption

Which stories/incidents/experiences touched/shattered you the most?
The suicide of a friend who couldn’t cope with being locked up indoors.

A friend committed suicide who couldn’t cope with being locked up indoors.

Perspective

What are you afraid of right now?
That the social divide will grow deeper and populists will take advantage of the situation.

What gives you hope?
That the world still rests in God’s hands; that history teaches us, that things will get better after catastrophes; that we have sensible politicians in Germany.

Social distance while praying

Are you planning to travel within the next months?
Yes, but not to risk areas.

If they find a vaccine, would you take it?
Yes.

What can we all learn from this crisis?
That our safety and security can get lost easily, but that we are also able to develop new strategies and coping mechanisms quickly.

If you could give 2020 a headline, what would it be?
The year the world defeated the Covid Crisis.

Our safety and security can get lost easily.