Angela Merkel extends Germany’s Covid lockdown through Christmas

Germany embarked on a so-called "wave-breaker" shutdown on November 2 - shutting restaurants, bars and, leisure facilities, but schools, hair salons and shops remained open.

Germany’s national shutdown is likely to extend into New Year to dampen the coronavirus pandemic, Chancellor Angela Merkel has said.

"Given the high number of infections, we assume that the restrictions which are in place before Christmas will continue to be valid until the start of January, certainly for most parts of Germany," Ms Merkel told parliament on Thursday.

She added the increase in coronavirus cases was still much too high and the number of deaths a reason for concern.

The country embarked on a so-called "wave-breaker" shutdown on November 2 - shutting restaurants, bars and, leisure facilities, but schools, hair salons and shops remained open.

Ms Merkel said the measures will now be extended until December 20, after a videoconference agreeing the new restrictions with the leaders of Germany’s 16 regions on Wednesday.

The Chancellor’s chief of staff said rules limiting social contact might be needed for longer. "We have difficult winter months ahead of us. This will continue until March," Helge Braun told RTL television.

[link to www.independent.co.uk (secure)]

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