[ad_1]
According to her, the measures introduced in early November, including restrictions on private gatherings and the closure of restaurants, leisure and cultural facilities, cannot be reversed in view of the current increase in infections.
The restrictions will continue “initially until December 20, but we believe that … due to the very high incidence of infections, the restrictions should be applied until early January,” Merkel said.
This means that restaurants, bars, sports and cultural establishments will continue to function in Europe’s largest economy, but schools and shops will continue to function.
Starting December 1, only up to five people from two households will be able to attend private meetings. Currently, up to 10 people can attend these meetings. However, there is an exception to the new rule: it does not apply to children.
During the holidays, from December 23 to January 1, the rules for gatherings will be slightly more lenient, allowing gatherings for up to 10 adults and not limiting the number of children under 14.
However, this does not mean that the festivities will be allowed, according to the agreement reached between the Merkel government and the 16 German Länder. The beginning of the behavior of the Christmas season will stay at home.
“Employers are urgently requested to verify if work-from-home or business leave solutions can be applied from December 23 to January 1 so that businesses can close down and we can implement the ‘stay at home’ principle in the whole country, “says the agreement.
“It will not be easy”
Other measures agreed upon include increasing the number of seats on trains to facilitate ensuring distances between passengers.
Fireworks will be prohibited in certain public squares so that people, especially on New Year’s Eve, do not gather in large groups.
Germany will also seek an agreement with European partners to close ski resorts in early January.
“I will say frankly that it will not be easy, but we will try,” Merkel said.
Angela Merkel
The measures were agreed after more than seven hours of intense negotiations, during which the least affected regions called for more lenient restrictions.
The new infection curve in Germany has been flat for the past two weeks, and the exponential growth observed in October came to a halt.
However, health officials are sounding alarms due to the rapidly decreasing number of beds available in intensive care units and the inability to trace sources of disease transmission, with a high number of new infections being recorded. per day.
To alleviate the limitations, the incidence must be reduced to less than 50 new infections per 100,000. population per week, Merkel said. Today, this number is almost 140.
“The steep curve turned flat, but it is only a partial success. There is no way we can be satisfied, “said the chancellor.
A total of 961,320 COVID-19 cases were reported in Germany, including 14,771 deaths, according to the Robert Koch Institute’s Center for Disease Control (RKI).
There were 18,633 new infections and a record 410 deaths on Wednesday.
[ad_2]
