COVID-19 pandemic in Germany

The COVID-19 pandemic in Germany began when the first case was confirmed in Bavaria, in a cluster linked to an auto parts company whose employee had been in contact with a visitor from China. The virus spread during the carnival season, and in March the government introduced school closures and restrictions on public life, followed by a partial lockdown. Germany's testing capacity and strong hospital system were credited for keeping the death toll in the first wave lower than in many neighboring countries, but later waves were more severe, and the country faced debates on vaccination, with a mandate for health workers. Federalism, with the states setting many of the rules, was a feature of the response.

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