This is a very disingenious take, don't you think?

I am also German with an average social circle as I would say. Until the end of last year, I just knew of one case of Covid among all of them. Since then, a few families got it - most of them via kindergarten.

Say what you want about our Covid response but from my point of view we made it fairly well through the pandemic so far.

I also live in Germany, and similar experience. I rarely know people who have been infected with Covid, and none with Omicron. Omicron is also a bit delayed in Germany (which is good).

I live in Ireland and I know at least 100 people who have had covid, including my wife, father, mother and 2 sisters.

Omicron is prevalent here right now.

I think you know more people who have had it than I know in total.

Everyone knows everyone in Ireland. It's a blessing and a curse.

Germans are notoriously „under-tested“

My sister recently had her PCR anniversary of 100 tests. OTOH, I’m at 2 quick tests and one PCR, but I work from home and only leave for stores.

Not sure about the under-tested in general, all the public testing stations were always super busy.

I didn't know that. Is that because of access to PCR testing services or a "head in the sand" attitude?

We're in a situation now where our PCR test system has pretty much fallen apart.

I live here and know many ;) But in the north, we generally made it through it better (recent club openings with mass infections notwithstanding, I do not know people who go to mega-clubs during a pandemic).

If I compare it with Belgium it's cases are better but deaths is relatively worse to the other stat, which is kinda weird. Unless they don't test much.

But Belgium also overcounts deaths ( should be /2 when I checked in 2020), which means any untested death is counted as COVID. Most people don't seem to be aware of that.

https://www.dw.com/en/belgiums-coronavirus-overcounting-cont...

https://www.npr.org/sections/coronavirus-live-updates/2020/0...