An Expat’s View of Pandemic Coverage in the United States Versus Germany
I hesitate to write this, because I make a point to always focus on the positives on my blog, as that’s when I find the greater lessons in all of the unexpected things life throws my way.
But something that has been weighing on me lately is the pandemic coverage coming out of the United States. And as a previously proud American, now living in Germany, I’d like to offer my normal person perspective on how the two countries seem to be handling things drastically differently. First and foremost, I’m offering this view as a typical resident, and not a highly qualified medical professional. I want to give you the basic overview of how the United States and Germany are at odds with pandemic restrictions differently, and more specifically, I’d like to touch on a hot topic.
Face Masks.
For over a month now, I’ve made sure I have one of my brightly colored, washable face masks in my work bag and my purse, ready to go at a moment’s notice. Why? Because wearing a facemask is mandatory for most everyday things in Germany, at the moment. Grocery shopping? Facemask. Public Transportation? Facemask. Basically, if you ever get close to people, you need a facemask. And everyone does it. Of course, in the beginning it took some getting used to and a few outlying Germans never enjoyed it, but in general, the masks are everywhere. It was never a big discussion, but instead, a mandate that was introduced and accepted by the majority of the people, who conveniently also trust their government.
As a result of this quick preventative action, restaurants and shops started to open much earlier in Hamburg than in the U.S. Dare I say it, but the government regulations are working. I’ve been popping into boutiques and getting beautiful flat whites on my lunch break for weeks now. All with my handy dandy face mask.
On the contrary, we have the Unites States.
Now, this is where I might need some help filling in the gaps from any of y’all currently in the states, but from what I can see, the facemask is becoming as controversial as the infamous striped dress, and for the life of me I cannot understand why.
I grew up in the U.S. and I’m about as American as they come. Americans are raised to believe that freedom comes before anything and everything. Freedom is the humdinger of every political discussion. And freedom is what makes America better than every other country in the world. Or so I was told…
But in a situation like a global pandemic, I think this unrealistic fixation on freedom is what’s holding the United States back. By giving everyone the freedom to choose whether or not to wear a mask, or whether or not to isolate themselves when they show symptoms of COVID-19, the same outliers that I previously mentioned in Germany feel empowered. As soon as “suggestions” are introduced that even hint at the slightest infringement on their American freedom, these folks jump into action and feel jazzed up to wreak havoc. As a result, I can confirm that the international coverage of what’s happening in the United States is an absolute embarrassment to the “land of the free and the home of the brave.” We’re better than that. At least I thought so.
To confirm, I feel incredibly free in Germany. There is not an armed guard standing outside my apartment building checking that I put on a facemask before heading outside. I go for runs, meet friends for drinks (only one at a time, as only two households are currently allowed to meet each other), and I take the subway, if it’s too rainy to bike. But better than feeling free? I feel safe. Safe knowing that the friendly grocery store security guard will remind me to put a mask on before entering, on the rare occasion I forget. Safe knowing that every. single. person. in this country feels a responsibility to protect one another, and will deal with a few minutes of weird breathing in the bookshop, in order to keep the affordable and efficient health system humming along. And safe knowing that I don’t need to choose where I travel based on which towns are requiring facemasks and which aren’t. It’s just a fact of life at the moment, ordered from the top authorities. They’re trusted. They’re respected. And they’re doing a damn good job.
So perhaps the positive in all of this is that I made it out of the U.S. ? I’m not so sure, because that sounds all “high and mighty” and I really don’t mean it that way. But I just don’t understand why what has routinely been proven to help stop the spread of this vicious virus is now embroiled in a discussion about freedom.
In short, I’m incredibly happy to be residing in a place with a trusted government and a society that feels an obligation to protect each other. And I get it. The information about COVID-19 is constantly changing and governments are having to make decisions that nothing could prepare them for. I think we all have to be a bit gracious in these times, as there are so many unknowns. So when someone tells you to cover your mouth, avoiding any embarrassing spinach-in-between-your-teeth moments, in the hopes of saving the stranger’s life sitting next to you on the train, how could you possibly refuse? And you know what, if you have an answer for that, I’m not entirely sure I want to hear it.
My beautiful blue mask and I will see ourselves out and into a much safer environment.
HALLO HAMBURG.
