The sharp increase in corona infections is paralyzing Germany and now Angela Merkel is introducing stricter restrictions.
”I am convinced that what we do now will be decisive for how we get through the pandemic,” says the Chancellor.
Late Wednesday evening, the announcement many had been waiting for also came. Germany is tightening its corona rules.
After consultations with the country's 16 state leaders, Chancellor Angela Merkel presented the new, tougher rules.
Restrictions on how many people can gather at the same time are being introduced and are now 25 people in public settings and 15 in private settings. If the infection worsens, further restrictions threaten, with restaurants, among other things, at risk of having to close by 11 p.m.
According to the new rules, it will also be mandatory to wear face masks in places where it is difficult to maintain distance in areas that register over 35 new infections per 100,000 inhabitants over a seven-day period.
”"We can see that the infection rate is increasing and that it is very high in some regions," Merkel said after the eight-hour conversation, the goal of which was to get a more unified strategy against the corona pandemic in the country.
The issue of domestic travel is said to have been the most infected. Current rules do not allow Germans from risk zones to stay overnight in hotels in regions with less infection.
Merkel states that this ban will not be changed or discussed until November, after the German autumn holidays.
On Wednesday, the highest daily number of new infections in the country was recorded, 6,638. A total of 341,000 people in Germany have been confirmed to be infected. 9,710 people have died.
Several other countries have introduced or announced stricter restrictions in recent days.
The Netherlands' new stricter rules came into effect on Wednesday evening. Restaurants, bars and cafes will remain closed and face masks will be mandatory in public indoor spaces for everyone over the age of 13. In addition, alcohol sales will be banned in the evening.
Before the lockdown, reports came in from several cities about parties in bars at the last minute.
In countries such as France, Spain and Northern Ireland, stricter restrictions will be introduced in the coming days.
Source: TT
