獨 Merkel “Lockdown measures tightened” … Schools are closed and end-of-year events are banned.

A Christmas tree rests on the mask. Germany entered a de facto blockade since 16, and other European countries such as France and Italy still continue with their high-force blockade. [AFP=연합뉴스]

At the beginning of next year, Germany will practically enter a total lockdown from the new high-intensity coronavirus infection (Corona 19). Non-essential fields and schools are also closed and all large-scale events are prohibited. It also banned the sale of firecrackers for fireworks. This is to prevent the spread of Corona 19, which has entered a spreading trend even after celebrating a New Years event.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel met with 16 governors on the 13th (local time) and agreed to strengthen the blockade in force since the 2nd of last month. The reinforced measures will be implemented from the 16th to the 10th of next year.

According to the German public broadcaster Deutsche Belle (DW), all non-essential industries, except supermarkets, pharmacies and banks, are closed. This included salons that were not included in the lockdown last month. Closure measures for bars, restaurants, and leisure and cultural facilities, which came into effect last month, are maintained and restaurants can only be packaged.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel held a press conference on the 13th and announced that she will implement high intensity containment measures from the 16th to the 10th of next month. This is a partial lockdown reinforced last month. [AP=연합뉴스]

All schools switch to non-face-to-face education or go on vacation. All nurseries, including nurseries, are also closed. All workplaces are encouraged to work from home, and parents with young children can apply for paid leave. Religious facilities, such as churches and mosques, can hold religious events on the condition that quarantine rules are observed, but choir is prohibited.

The number of people who can meet inside will be limited to five. However, this does not include children under the age of 14, and it will be somewhat relaxed from the 24th to the 26th of the next Christmas holidays. Before New Year’s Eve, the sale of firecrackers and liquor in the open air, traditionally used to celebrate the New Year, is also prohibited.

German Finance Minister Olaf Scholz said that companies affected or closed by the measures will receive government support of up to 90% of the fixed cost or up to 500,000 euros a month (about 660 million won). The German government plans to invest around 1.1 billion euros (about 14 trillion won) per month for this.

Prime Minister Merkel told a press conference that day: “I wanted lighter measures, but social contacts like Christmas shopping have increased significantly” and said: “We need to take urgent measures.” He added: “The (existing) measures that started on November 2 are not enough.”

Prime Minister Merkel explained: “Our current healthcare system is under great pressure and our aim is to avoid overloading the healthcare system.” “We know that all of this will affect our vacations, but we have to act.”

On the 12th (local time), a typical shopping street in Berlin, Germany, fills with citizens who went shopping for Christmas. [EPA=연합뉴스]

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), as of today, 2,200 corona19 are confirmed daily in Germany. On the 11th, the number of new confirmed cases in Germany was 29,875, a daily high. On the 12th, there were 28,438 people, approaching 30,000.

It is noted that from October to November, when the signs of a second epidemic in Europe were clear, the UK and France entered a total lockdown, while Germany’s partial lockdown led Germany’s expansion. Deutsche Belle reported that “Germany implemented a partial lockdown and was unable to contain new infections.”

According to DW, the German government aims to reduce Corona 19’s new contagion rate to 50 per 100,000 inhabitants for one week with this measure. If this objective is not met, the block may be extended from the 10th of the following month. In the last week, the new Corona 19 infection rate in Germany is 169 people per 100,000 inhabitants.

European countries, which had already entered the strict containment order, were in trouble as the time to review the containment order approached.

French Prime Minister Jean Castex announced on the 10th (local time) that the entire blockade, which has been in place since last month, has been eased somewhat. However, he added that the lockdown measures could not be relaxed much because it was well below the target. [AFP=연합뉴스]

France, which entered a national blockade last month, was expected to lift most of the blockade starting on the 15th. The French government replaced movement restrictions with a curfew (from 8 pm to 6 am), but delayed the closure of cultural facilities, such as cinemas and sports stadiums, which were scheduled to reopen for three weeks. Likewise, the closure of restaurants and bars will continue until the 20th of next month. This is a measure that was taken without falling to the target level of 5,000, with the number of confirmed cases still exceeding 10,000 per day.

Italy, which caused the highest death toll in Europe, with Corona 19’s cumulative death toll on the 13th at 64,520, also tightened travel regulations. Consequently, from the 21st to the 6th of the following month, movement between regions without urgent reasons such as work or health problems is prohibited.

According to the British Financial Times (FT), the UK is also expected to introduce stronger containment measures this week.

Reporter Seok Kyung-min [email protected]