72.8 Overall Score (up 5.6 since Aug 1st.)

Germany

  • 46.2 Public Health
    Directives
  • 43.1 Financial
    Response
  • 100 Fact-Based
    Communication
  • 46.2 Public Health
    Directives
  • 43.1 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 Oct 1.)
46.2

Public Health Directives

Germany’s public health policy has been relatively strong, primarily due to robust contract tracing, and more emergency healthcare funds than any other country in the Index; its score was brought down by a relaxed lockdown and limited testing.

  • Stay at home order 0
  • Public gathering restrictions 4
  • School closings 1
  • Public event cancellations 2
  • Testing policy 3
  • Emergency healthcare investments/capita $790.13
  • Travel restrictions 3
  • Tests/1,000 people 202.9
  • Contact tracing 2
43.1

Financial Response

Germany’s financial response has been driven by its generous relief policies, including a large stimulus package.

  • 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.

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

COVID-19 Status as of Oct 1

Germany's Level 2 lockdown contributed to a steady fall in case rates, with the country continuing to keep cases relatively low with phased and cautious re-opening.

  • Total deaths 9,500
  • Death rate per 100K 113.4
  • Total cases 291,722
  • Cases per 100K 3,482
  • Percent of positive tests 1.1
  • Change in positivity rates +0.3
Case Trend Line
Daily cases Level 1 Lockdown Level 2 Lockdown
Date Status New Cases/1M
1 Apr 20 Smaller shops reopen 31.81
2 May 04 Some schools and cultural venues reopen 13.61
3 May 26 Restrictions are eased on gatherings of up to 10 people 6.47
4 Aug 18 Restriction relaxation is paused due to a rise in cases 13.85
5 Sep 23 New restrictions in Bavaria, including closing restaurants and bars early. 20.91

Differentiating Factors

Compared with Neighboring Countries
  • 66
    Italy 314,861
    Cases     5,208
    Per 1M     35,894
    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.

  • 45.8
    Spain 778,607
    Cases     16,653
    Per 1M     31,973
    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.

  • 72
    France 563,535
    Cases     8,633
    Per 1M     31,956
    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