Speaking today with friends in Germany, it's amazing to hear how quick and efficient financial relief has been there. They knew someone who applied online for help last week, and within six days their friend received 12,000 Euros ($13,000) in their bank account.
On top of that, because Germany immediately took action to deal with the virus and has managed to keep death rates low, hospitals have excess hospital beds and have begun accepting critically-ill covid-19 patients from Italy and Spain to relieve the burden in those countries.
My friends also noted (proudly) that Germany had worked hard since the 2009 financial crisis to reduce its government-debt-to-GDP ratio in preparation for the next possible crisis.
