Merkel thanks Germans for COVID-19 response

German Chancellor Angela Merkel has expressed her gratitude to German citizens for their level-headedness during the coronavirus pandemic.

"We have so far passed this test quite well. All of us together. An overwhelming majority of the people in our country have let us be guided by caution, reason and responsibility for others," Merkel said in her weekly video message, published on Saturday.

"We have achieved a lot in these four months. I could also say that we have saved ourselves a lot," Merkel added.

Merkel also warned against underestimating the risks.

"Some people now believe that because the great mass suffering did not occur, the danger was probably never so great. What a mistake! A look at befriended countries that have been so much harder hit shows what could have happened easily," she said.

The Chancellor explained that she hoped that further steps towards easing the situation were possible, but also called for consideration.