German Chancellor Angela Merkel on Wednesday said Germany’s fight with COVID-19 will extend into 2021 even if the vaccines bring hope, AFP reported. 

The Chancellor gave the statement while giving her New Year’s greetings on Thursday, according to AFP. 

Merkel further gave clarity on the “conspiracy theories” which were made up by skeptics of the virus and called them “false and dangerous” and “cruel and cynical” to those who had suffered during the COVID-19 pandemic. 

Merkel said that even though we have faced difficult times it still might last for a good while. 

Merkel was giving her final New Year’s address to the people of Germany as the Chancellor as her final term in the office will end soon. 

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She also expressed gratitude towards the countless Germans who followed the safety instructions and protocols set by the government to prevent the spread of COVID-19. 

However, she was critical of the “Virus Skeptics” who were carrying out demonstrations on the streets and violating the safety measures. 

She said that while some are still suffering the pandemic and some are mourning the loss of family, there are some who dispute the existence of the virus, AFP wrote. 

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She said that in her 15 years of staying in office, Germany has never been in such a hurry to enter a new year. This statement was made after Germany was hit by a second wave of the coronavirus, recently. 

In Germany, more than 32,000 people have died because of the coronavirus. On Wednesday, the death toll crossed 1,000 for the first time. 

The country recently entered into a lockdown at least until January 10. The lockdown has most shops, cultural and leisure hubs, restaurants and schools closed. 

The New Years’ celebrations in Germany have also been restricted with a ban on the sale of fireworks and the restrictions on large gatherings.