Germany's Zero- Covid Village, The 'Miracle' of Lieg

[appalachiablue]

- The idyllic village of Lieg has remained Covid free so far.
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DW, April 26, 2021.

All of Germany is struggling to contain the impact of COVID. Well, not quite all of Germany: One small village has been holding out, without a single case since the pandemic started. What's behind the success? Lieg, population 400, lies in a picturesque region of Germany's western state of Rhineland-Palatinate. Just six kilometers east of the beautiful Moselle River, it hosts plenty of lovingly restored half-timber houses, the voluntary fire service that is found in most small settlements across Germany, a school, and — at the heart of the village — an eye-catching church.

The inhabitants of this village find themselves at the center of a story so incredible that people are talking about "the miracle of Lieg." Since the beginning of the pandemic, 3.25 million people across Germany have been infected with COVID-19 and in most parts of the country, high incidence rates have led to strict shutdowns and curfews. In Lieg, meanwhile, the number of new infections is currently zero. Since the start of the pandemic, for 14 months now, it has registered not a single case of COVID-19. It's as if the virus runs up against an imaginary glass wall when it reaches the boundary of the village. Heinz Zilles, the local mayor, is as amazed as everyone else: "We've been unbelievably lucky until now. Of course, there are no guarantees, but maybe somewhere up there in the heavens there is a guardian angel watching over us."

- The 'miracle of Lieg' — media hype? - Zilles has been taking telephone calls nonstop for the past 2 weeks, since the local newspaper broke the story. The 57-year-old quickly realized that he was going to be faced with a huge surge in media interest. And of course, everybody wants to know what Lieg is getting right. So what is the magic formula? "Amid all the shocking reports that we hear, our story sends a positive message," says Heinz Zilles. "There's a lot of real community spirit in our village, a lot of people involved in voluntary work. People putting their hands up, and getting things done. We're members of 'team Lieg,' and we all do what we can," says Zilles.

Young people in the village got together and created a "young for old" shopping service. Another team visits senior citizens — always with a small present at hand. And parents have been collecting money to buy air filters for the village school. - No denial- "There are things that politicians promise, but don't deliver on. And that's where we come in," says the mayor with a palpable sense of pride. He goes on to say that they're providing a blueprint for what is typical in many similar small communities throughout the country: People know each other and look after each other. And that is quite possibly what lies behind our zero-infection rate. Nobody, he adds, is naive enough to believe that the virus isn't out there. "There are no coronavirus skeptics in Lieg. Not one," believes Zilles: "People stick to the rules; they're sensible, disciplined. And they accept that what we're up against is a global phenomenon with huge reach."

The fact that there have been no COVID-19 infections in Lieg is all the more remarkable given that 90% of the people in the village commute to work...

More, https://www.dw.com/en/the-miracle-of-lieg-germanys-zero-covid-village/a-57341878



- German towns along the scenic Moselle River are famous for their vineyards and castles.

[PortTack]

1. I wanna live there!! Such a strong community bond

[appalachiablue]

2. Very nice town, Note to America...

[Grins]

3. Ah! "There are no coronavirus skeptics in Lieg. Not one."

I think I see the key! (Unlike the U.S.)