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BERLIN (REUTERS) – German Chancellor Angela Merkel wants state prime ministers on Wednesday (October 28) to agree to close all restaurants and bars starting November 4 in a bid to curb coronavirus infections but keep openings. schools and kindergartens, showed a draft resolution seen by Reuters. .
Under the new restrictions, people could go out in public only with members of their own household and another household, the resolution said. He said that people would be punished if they broke the rule, but did not elaborate.
He said that an exponential increase in infections in almost all regions of Germany meant that many local health authorities were unable to track and trace all infections, so it was necessary to significantly reduce contact between people now in the hope that no Extensive restrictions are required during Christmas.
If the leaders of Germany’s 16 states agree to the draft during a conference call later Wednesday, gyms, discos and cinemas will close along with theaters, opera houses and concert halls.
Stores could remain open if they implement hygiene measures and limit the number of customers, while restaurants will only be allowed to offer takeout.
Germany, widely praised for keeping its infection rate well below other major powers in the early phase of the crisis, now faces a faster-than-expected increase in cases, with the latest data on Tuesday showing cases rising by 11,409 to 449,275.
So far, the government has been willing to avoid a second national lockdown after an initial shutdown earlier this year hit economic growth hard.
But Dr Merkel warned on Tuesday that Germany’s healthcare system could reach a breaking point if coronavirus infections continue to spiral and Economy Minister Peter Altmaier said Germany is likely to reach 20,000 new infections by day before weekend.
Altmaier told the German broadcaster ARD on Wednesday: “We are in a very difficult situation in the pandemic: the number of infections is increasing and that threatens the capacity of the health system and therefore human lives, therefore that politicians have to act. “
The draft said the federal government wanted to provide financial assistance to businesses affected by the closures, adding that a concept for this would be presented on Wednesday.
He said only “necessary and specifically non-tourist” overnight stays would be allowed and that brothels, swimming pools, cosmetic studios, massage parlors and tattoo studios would have to close their doors, but physiotherapy services and hairdressers they could stay open.
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