Germany extends lockdown but eases rules for low-risk areas
Print Edition
Germany is extending its coronavirus shutdown by three weeks until March 28, but easing some restrictions to allow nonessential stores and other businesses to reopen in areas with relatively low infection rates.
After about nine hours of talks, German Chancellor Angela Merkel and the governors of the country鈥檚 16 states agreed on Wednesday to measures aimed at balancing concern over the impact of more contagious coronavirus variants with a growing clamor for a return to a more normal life.
The first moves have already been made: many elementary students returned to school last week. And on Monday, hairdressers opened after a two-and-a-half-month break. Current lockdown rules were set to run through Sunday.
On Wednesday, Merkel and the state governors 鈥 who in highly decentralized Germany have the power to impose and lift restrictions 鈥 set out a phased plan that allows for a gradual, if limited, relaxation of restrictions.
鈥淭hese should be steps toward opening but at the same time steps that do not set us back,鈥 Merkel said. 鈥淭here are a great many examples in Europe of a dramatic third wave.鈥
She pledged that 鈥渟pring 2021 will be different from spring a year ago.鈥
Regions where infection rates are relatively low, although not as low as previously envisioned, will be able to open nonessential stores, museums and other facilities on a limited basis.
Most stores have been closed nationwide since December 16. Restaurants, bars, sports and leisure facilities have been closed since November 2 and hotels are allowed only to accommodate business travelers.
When they last conferred on February 10, Merkel and the governors set a target of 35 weekly new cases per 100,000 inhabitants before letting small stores, museums and other businesses reopen. The aim is to enable reliable contact-tracing.
But reaching that target soon appeared increasingly unrealistic as cases of the more contagious variant first detected in Britain increased, with overall infections creeping slightly higher. The cases-per-week number, which peaked at nearly 200 per 100,000 inhabitants just before Christmas, has been stalled above 60 in recent days.
Wednesday鈥檚 decisions opened the possibility of reopening more businesses at various stages above the 35 target, though they included an 鈥渆mergency brake鈥 mechanism that would see the restrictions now in place reimposed if the weekly infection level exceeds 100 per 100,000 residents on three consecutive days.
Regions can open nonessential shops next Monday if weekly infections are below 50 per 100,000 residents, and at least allow people to collect preordered goods and to visit museums and zoos with appointments above that level.
If infections are stable below the 50 mark two weeks later, regions can open theaters, cinemas, outdoor areas of restaurants and allow some indoor sports. After another two weeks, they can allow outdoor events with up to 50 participants and contact sports indoors.
- About Us
- |
- Terms of Use
- |
-
RSS - |
- Privacy Policy
- |
- Contact Us
- |
- Shanghai Call Center: 962288
- |
- Tip-off hotline: 52920043
- 娌狪CP璇侊細娌狪CP澶05050403鍙-1
- |
- 浜掕仈缃戞柊闂讳俊鎭湇鍔¤鍙瘉锛31120180004
- |
- 缃戠粶瑙嗗惉璁稿彲璇侊細0909346
- |
- 骞挎挱鐢佃鑺傜洰鍒朵綔璁稿彲璇侊細娌瓧绗354鍙
- |
- 澧炲肩數淇′笟鍔＄粡钀ヨ鍙瘉锛氭勃B2-20120012
Copyright 漏 1999- Shanghai Daily. All rights reserved.Preferably viewed with Internet Explorer 8 or newer browsers.
