To stop the spread of the Corona Virus (SARS-CoV-2/COVID19), different states are adopting different measures. But effectively, the whole country is going into lockdown. Where you are depends on what is going to happen.

Schools in most areas are closed from next week until the end of the Easter holidays. Hessen is taking a different approach and leaving the schools open, but attendence will no longer be compulsory for the children. Children whose parents work in the medical or care professions, or with the emergency services, will be cared for the their teachers. Other have to stay at home. Similar restrictions will apply to children in Kindergarten and after-school care.

Public events are being cancelled. Events in Hessen with more than 100 people are now officially banned. In some areas the threshhold is 50. Museums and theatres are closing. Some libraries are closing, others are staying open. Churce services are being cancelled.

If you are infected, then you need to be able to self-isolate for 14 days. So this has led to panic buying for the past couple weeks. Milk is often sold out, as is toilet paper and pasta. After the announcement on Friday evening about children staying at home, the shops emptied even further on Saturay. Now even fresh vegetables are hard to find.

We are told that the supply chains are working, and sometimes things do arrive. Suddenly a shop will have stocks of things back in, but these quickly sell out again as they can hardly keep up with the demand.

Home schooling is normally banned in Germany. On Monday, it will temporarily become the norm. As will eating and cooking at home, and hunting for things in multiple supermarkets rather than having a wide choice.