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Germany in coronavirus turmoil

12:30

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March 12, 2022

Most people in Germany support the government's coronavirus policies. But a small, yet vocal, minority rejects vaccinations, masks and distancing rules — and denies the existence of the virus. The conflict has changed Germany's social climate.

Some Germans trust official statistics; others turn to dubious content online. What is fact for one side is brainwashing for the other. It's not easy to find common ground, as Pastor Jörg Pegelow from Hamburg knows all too well. He receives calls from anxious, angry, disappointed people, whose partner or relative no longer seems reachable. How do you deal with a person who until very recently was familiar and close, but now suddenly seems to live in their own bubble? Police report being confronted with increasing aggression in their roles as representatives of the state. Something has changed in Germany's social fabric. A report by Florian Nusch and Anne Höhn.

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About the show

Reporter — On Location

DW’s on-the-ground reporters are always close to the action, be it covering international events or zooming in on some of the quirks of daily life. Camera always in hand, they report on the changes they see taking place in Germany, Europe and around the world.

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