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Chancellor Angela Merkel (CDU) yesterday promoted a tougher blockade in Germany. In the general debate in the Bundestag, he referred to the recommendations made by the academy to drastically reduce contacts. Therefore, he advocates closing stores after Christmas until at least January 10 and also minimizing lessons in schools.
Merkel expressly joined the demands of the Leopoldina Academy of Sciences for a total blockade at the national level. In your opinion, the recommendations are correct. “Otherwise, the pandemic will elude us again.” Science is practically begging to allow a week of reduced contact before Christmas, before seeing grandma and grandpa, Merkel said. “If we have too many contacts now before Christmas and then it was the last Christmas with the grandparents, then we will have missed something. We should not do that.”
Drosten: “Last warning”
To contain the pandemic, virologist Christian Drosten had previously spoken in favor of a rapid tightening of measures. “The fact is that now we have to do something,” said the Charité scientist. The holiday season is very likely to cause an increase in the number of cases. If there is no readjustment now, there is the threat of a lockdown “at the end of January and throughout February” with massive consequences for the economy. Drosten is one of the experts who contributed to a statement from the Leopoldina National Academy of Sciences. A “total lockdown” is recommended. From December 24 to at least January 10, “public life should largely rest.” Already from December 14, contacts should be reduced to an “absolute minimum”.
The virologist said the article should be read as “the latest warning from science.” If politicians decide otherwise, they will no longer have chosen science.
Hard blockade in Saxony
The urgency of the call for science and the chancellor confirmed yesterday the figures of the Robert Koch Institute. Consequently, a dismal peak was reached with 590 deaths in 24 hours. There were also 20,815 new corona infections.
On Tuesday, Saxony was the first federal state to announce its return to full lockdown. Schools, kindergartens, after-school care centers and much of the commerce will be closed there starting Monday.
Several prime ministers yesterday joined Merkel’s demands. “We can’t wait any longer,” said Daniel Günther (CDU) of Schleswig-Holstein. Armin Laschet (North Rhine-Westphalia, CDU) sees it in a similar way. However, he called for regulations at the national level, not only in the federal states.
Squeeze in
As the number of new corona infections has increased significantly in the Czech Republic, the government will advance the curfew for restaurants and bars from 10 pm to 8 pm next Monday. In addition, alcohol can no longer be sold at the dispenser windows. Only the delivery of food is exempt from the deadline.
The government also decided to increase penalties for violating the restrictions. Individuals can be processed with up to 50,000 crowns (1,900 euros), companies with up to three million crowns (110,000 euros).
These adjustments have yet to be approved by the House of Representatives.
Despite this tightening, the Czech Republic is leaving the risk index for the epidemiological situation at level three.
