Germany in Easter lockdown as Merkel battles ‘a new pandemic’
GERMANY announced strict lockdown controls over Easter as chancellor Angela Merkel said: ‘We basically have a new pandemic.’
People are being urged to stay at home and reduce contact with others for five days from April 1, after another 7,485 Covid infections and 50 deaths were reported yesterday.
Attending religious services is barred and all shops – except for food shops on April – will have to close down.
Referring to the variant first detected in Kent, Ms Merkel warned: ‘The British mutation has taken over, which means we have a new virus – of course of the same kind, but with very different properties. It is clearly more lethal, more contagious and contagious for longer.’
Existing restrictions, which allow no more than two households or up to five people to meet, have been extended until April 18 at the earliest after total deaths reached 74,964. Self-catered domestic holidays are also ruled out – but tourism association deputy manager Dirk Dunkelberg complained trips to the Mediterranean were still permitted. ‘You can’t really justify that seriously anymore,’ he said. Meanwhile in France, the number of Covid patients in intensive care hit a four-month high on Monday. Frederic Valletoux, head of the French hospital federation, warned of an ‘unprecedented shock’ and said: ‘The epidemic is gathering pace – the figures are exploding.’
France has reported a further 14,678 cases, more than double the 6,471 of a week earlier, while 87 new deaths took the overall tally to 9 ,908.
President Emmanuel Macron said all over-70s would be offered a jab, with teachers to be given priority in the coming months.
Italy yesterday reported 551 Covid deaths, taking its toll to 105,879 – the second highest in Europe and the seventh highest in the world. The tally of infections rose by 18,765. Spain reported 5,516 new cases and 01 deaths, taking the toll of lives lost there to 7 ,744.