German Chancellor Merkel thanks German people for virus sacrifices

German Chancellor Angela Merkel told her country's people that they will need to keep up their discipline in fighting the coronavirus pandemic well into 2021, even as vaccinations fuel new hope.

In a televised New Year's message, Merkel said that facing the pandemic "was and is a political, social and economic task of the century."

I know that engaging in this historic feat has demanded and continues to demand tremendous confidence and patience of you," the chancellor said before starting what's expected to be her last year in office. I thank you wholeheartedly for that.

Polls have shown high approval ratings for Merkel during the pandemic.The 66-year-old former physicist has taken a science-led, safety-first approach to the public health crisis, though she sometimes struggled to persuade powerful state governors to impose restrictions quickly.Merkel's government put together massive financial rescue programs at home and helped secure agreement on a European Union recovery package.

But she won't be on the ballot when Germans elect a new parliament on September 26.

Merkel, who has been chancellor since 2005, said more than two years ago that she wouldn't seek a fifth term as chancellor and has repeatedly insisted that she won't reconsider.

Only if the process of forming the next government is very slow will she still be in office in a year's time.

"I don't think I am exaggerating when I say that never in the last 15 years have all of us found the old year so difficult — and never have we looked forward to the new year with so much hope, despite all our worries and some skepticism," she said.

Germany is entering 2021 in a lockdown that appears certain to be extended beyond its current January 10 end date, with new coronavirus cases and deaths related to COVID-19 remaining at worryingly high levels.

The country has recorded well over 1.6 million cases so far, including more than 32,000 deaths.

(IMAGE CREDITS:PTI)