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Last week, Angela Merkel walked away from the earlier decision to keep Germany more closed at Easter. After harsh criticism from both the government and states, Merkel said the envisaged strict restrictions were a mistake.
But Merkel does not like to go from that decision to prematurely relax the existing restrictions, which will apply until April 18.
– We have our emergency brake, but unfortunately it is not respected everywhere. I hope some will think so, Merkel said in an interview on the television channel. ARD.
– There are several states that have slightly broader interpretations (of the “emergency brake”) and that does not make me happy, he continues.
“There is no new meeting”
States seeking relief include Greater North Rhine-Westphalia and the smaller Saarland. In the latter, there are plans to open sports facilities and entertainment venues immediately after Easter, for those who can present a negative corona test.
– If we give the impression that we can open up like this … that is not what we are going to do today, says Merkel and rejects the demands for new talks with state leaders.
– We do not need a new meeting, we need the states to act.
“New pandemic”
Since the beginning of the pandemic, Germany, with 83 million inhabitants, has reported about 2.8 million cases of covid-19. More than 75,000 people have died. The number of infections has risen in recent weeks and Merkel reused the warning that came to her when she made the now annoying decision to shut down Easter just over a week ago.
– Basically we have a new pandemic, we have to break the third wave.
