'We are still at the beginning of the Coronavirus pandemic' - German Chancellor Angela Merkel

German Chancellor, Angela Merkel, has stated that the world is just at the beginning of the Coronavirus pandemic, and not nearing the end as many people might feel.

Angela Merkel gave a speech at the lower house of parliament, Bundestag on Thursday, as the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) continues with 5,315 deaths now recorded in Germany and 183,424 deaths worldwide as at Thursday morning.

“We are not living in the final phase of the pandemic, but still at the beginning,” she told the Bundestag lower house of parliament.

“We have won time,” Merkel said, adding that this had been used well to bolster Germany’s healthcare system.

She also distanced herself from US President Donald Trump’s pause in U.S. funding to the World Health Organisation saying the UN Health body is an indispensable partner for Germany.

“The WHO is an indispensable partner and we support it in its mandate,” Merkel added