German Chancellor Angela Merkel and the 16 leaders of the regions have reached an agreement to extend the lockdown until April 18, as widely foreseen. This is what Bild reports. The decision was made in light of the new wave of infections that has hit the country where today the average has risen to 107.3 infections per 100,000 people. Therefore, shops that do not sell basic necessities and hotels will remain closed. Merkel and the regional leaders will meet again on April 12 to consider a possible easing of the measures.
The decision on a possible strengthening of the interventions for the containment of infections already in force in the country is part of a package of measures under discussion today among the political leaders. On the table also the possibility of a night curfew in areas with a high number of infections, but also slackening for visits to relatives on Easter days. Among the proposals one of the most discussed is that regarding the visit to relatives during the Easter holidays: it should be possible for a family to meet four other people in addition to minors under 14 years of age. A similar regulation was also in force during the Christmas holidays. On the other hand, it is not yet clear whether it will be possible to go on vacation: one of the hypotheses is a vacation “with few contacts” to be carried out in one’s own Land.
As regards any holidays abroad, the existing rules apply: those returning from areas classified as at risk must undergo quarantine. As for schools and kindergartens, in the event of an incidence of more than 100 infections per 100 thousand inhabitants, it is expected to close when it is not possible to swab students, teachers and other staff at least twice a week.
As for work, the government recommends massive use of the home office, and where this is not feasible, companies are asked to commit to carrying out as many anti-Covid tests as possible. In general, the Chancellor believes that further relaxation of the restrictions decided to stop the pandemic is not possible, given that Germany is seeing “again a sharp increase in infections” with an “exponential dynamic” “.