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IN All stores offering non-essential products, as well as schools and nurseries, will close in Germany from Wednesday, December 16 to January 10. This was announced today by German Chancellor Angela Merkel, after a meeting with the heads of the German provinces, world agencies reported.
“We are obliged to act and we will act now,” Merkel said. As part of the strict measures, the use of alcoholic beverages in public places from December 16 to January 10, as well as the sale of pyrotechnics, is prohibited.
Employers will need to offer more opportunities for employees to work remotely.
The measures will further limit social contacts. They are needed after current measures have not stopped the spread of the virus. A nationwide assembly ban is also introduced for December 31 and January 1.
Germans who want to celebrate Christmas with their families should reduce their contacts as much as possible seven days before the family reunion. Otherwise, social contacts are limited to five adults from two different households. In the period from December 24 to 26, contacts will also be very limited and only the closest family members will have the right to meet.
As for the prohibition of the consumption and sale of alcohol in public places, this is another blow for cafes and bars, which have been closed since the beginning of November. Many of them began selling mulled wine from street stalls, a German Christmas tradition. But this has caused concern among the authorities due to the concentration of more people in front of the posts.
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