Germany will close most of its stores on Wednesday during the New Year – preventing its Christmas shopping season from implementing strict COVID-19L downdown measures.
Chancellor Angela Merkel said on Sunday that non-national stores would remain closed until at least January 10 as part of a nationwide lockdown.
“I would like to take a lighter step. But Christmas shopping has led to a significant increase in the number of social contacts, “Merkel told reporters.
Under the new lockdown, essential stores such as supermarkets and pharmacies in addition to banks are allowed to remain open.
Hair salons, beauty salons and tattoo shops were ordered to close.
The government will provide about 11 billion euros (13 13.3 billion) a month to help affected businesses.
Finance Minister Olaf Schulz said up to 90% of business costs or 500,000 euros ($ 605,580) a month could be achieved if floors were forced to close.
Germany has been under partial lockdown for six weeks, including the closure of restaurants and bars.
“The ‘lockdown light’ has had its effect, but it was not enough,” said Bavarian Prime Minister Marcus Soder. “The situation is out of control.”
The country’s figures include 20,200 new cases, bringing the total to more than 1.3 million, according to data from the Robert Koch Institute on Sunday.
With post wire
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