52.6 Overall Score (down 14.6 since Aug 1st.)

Germany

  • 37.9 Public Health
    Directives
  • 40.2 Financial
    Response
  • 100 Fact-Based
    Communication
  • 37.9 Public Health
    Directives
  • 40.2 Financial
    Response
  • 100 Fact-Based
    Communication

Germany has improved its score a bit in the past few months, after a sharp decline in the fall. Its improvements in contact tracing, which are already likely underestimated in the data, and restrictions on public gatherings, have played important roles in this turnaround, although there has been a recent spike in cases, likely due to both recent restriction relaxations and vaccine rollout issues.

Pre-COVID Conditions

Germany’s healthy population, relatively low level of inequality, and accessible healthcare system contributed to high health and social capacity prior to COVID-19.

  • Debt/GDP ratio 61.7%
  • GDP/capita $55,306
  • Gini coefficient (out of 100) 31.9
  • Infant mortality rate (out of 1,000 live births) 3
  • Healthcare access score (out of 100) 86.4
  • Hospital beds/1,000 People 59.9

Government Response

Select a data point for more information
(Data points represent policy level as of Jan 1.)
37.9

Public Health Directives

Germany’s public health policy score has declined since the early fall, with particularly low scores on public restrictions and very low testing levels, although the data does not adequately account for its contact tracing.

  • Stay at home order 2
  • Public gathering restrictions 4
  • School closings 3
  • Public event cancellations 2
  • Testing policy 3
  • Emergency healthcare investments/capita $789.55
  • Travel restrictions 3
  • Tests/1,000 people 415.4
  • Contact tracing 2
40.2

Financial Response

Germany’s financial response is near the median, driven down by a very poor debt relief policy.

  • Financial stimulus as share of GDP 20.3%
  • Income support 2
  • Debt forebearance 0
100

Fact-Based Communication

Chancellor Merkel has delivered regular press briefings at which her scientific approach has been praised, keeping Germany among the strongest performers in this category.

  • Reliance on science/fact based information 0
  • Press freedom 0

COVID-19 Status as of Jan 1

Germany scores near the median, with a low death rate, but rising case and positivity rates.

  • Total deaths 34,145
  • Death rate per 100K 407.5
  • Total cases 1,762,637
  • Cases per 100K 21,038
  • Percent of positive tests 13
  • Change in positivity rates +11.9
Case Trend Line
Daily cases Level 1 Lockdown Level 2 Lockdown
Date Status New Cases/1M
1 Apr 20 Smaller shops reopen 28.97
2 May 04 Some schools and cultural venues reopen 12.61
3 May 26 Restrictions are eased on gatherings of up to 10 people 5.84
4 Aug 18 Restriction relaxation is paused due to a rise in cases 14.63
5 Sep 23 New restrictions in Bavaria, including closing restaurants and bars early 20.73
6 Nov 02 Lockdown light: bars, restaurants, sports personal services closed nationally, gatherings limited to 5 people, hotels can't accommodate tourists 203.48
7 Dec 26 Lockdown tightened, as all non-essential shops, schools, and daycares close (until mid-January); some states also imposed nightly curfews 234.83

Differentiating Factors

Compared with Neighboring Countries
  • 43.4
    Italy 2,129,376
    Cases     35,219
    Per 1M     74,621
    Deaths

    While hit hard by COVID-19, Italy’s reliance on facts and improved contact tracing has helped slow the spread and slightly improved its overall score since January.

  • 41
    Spain 1,928,265
    Cases     41,242
    Per 1M     50,837
    Deaths

    Spain's score jumped since January to just over the median, having implemented stricter public health policies, but the country's minimal stimulus support still drags down its overall score.

  • 80.4
    France 2,697,014
    Cases     41,319
    Per 1M     64,892
    Deaths

    France maintained its improved public health policy from the early fall, keeping its score relatively strong, although poor contact tracing and a relatively small stimulus package kept it from being higher.

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New Zealand

Statistics and government response factors available on each country profile include:

Pre-COVID Conditions:

  • Debt to GDP ratio
  • Infant mortality rates
  • Hospital beds per 1,000 people
  • Gini coefficients measuring inequality
  • Health access and quality

COVID-19 Public Health Directives:

  • Stay-at home orders
  • School-closing policy
  • Public-gathering restrictions
  • Cancellation of public events
  • Testing policy and rates per 1,000 people
  • Emergency healthcare spending per capita
  • Travel restrictions
  • Contact tracing

COVID-19 Financial Response:

  • Stimulus package as a share of GDP
  • Income support
  • Debt-forbearance

Public Communications:

  • Instances of misinformation by leadership
  • Limitations on press freedom, censorship

Current/Historic In-Country COVID-19 Status:

  • Death rates per 1 million
  • Case rates per 1 million