Chancellor Angela Merkel has extended the lockdown in Germany until April 18 and announced additional measures around Easter. She announced this in the night from Monday to Tuesday after consultation with the sixteen states during a press conference.
During the Easter holidays (1 to 5 April) people should stay indoors as much as possible and limit social contacts. Churches are requested to keep their services online and no more than five people from two households may visit each other. All trips abroad are discouraged, but not prohibited.
According to the German government leader, the country is in a “serious situation” due to, among other things, the British corona virus variant. Merkel emphasizes that the fewer infections are added, the more effect the vaccination campaign has. The chancellor says Germany is running a race to vaccinate as many people as possible against the corona virus.
The talks between Merkel and the leaders of the states continued late into the night. The Chancellor had pushed for stricter measures. Earlier this month, the country announced still have minor relaxations, but they have been canceled for the time being.
The German government is concerned that the relaxation will lead to an increase in the number of corona infections. The Robert-Koch Institute, the German equivalent of the RIVM, reported on Monday that 107 positive cases per 100,000 inhabitants were reported last week. Above 100, the intensive care capacity is endangered, according to the government. On Sunday, more than 3,000 people with COVID-19 were in an IC in Germany.
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