Germany to tighten coronavirus lockdown over Christmas period
Germany is to close most shops and schools, and further limit social contacts in an effort to drive down the rate of coronavirus infections that have remained stubbornly high in recent weeks.
Chancellor Angela Merkel said she and the governors of Germany' s 16 states had agreed to step up the country's lockdown measures from 16 December to 10 January to stop the exponential rise of Covid-19 cases.
"We are forced to act, and we're acting too," Mrs Merkel told reporters in Berlin.
Existing restrictions imposed in November have failed to significantly reduce the number of new infections, she said.
Germany recorded 20,200 newly confirmed cases and 321 additional deaths yesterday, a high number for the weekend when many local authorities do not report figures.
The seven-day rolling average of daily new cases in Germany has risen over the past two weeks from 21.23 new cases per 100,000 people on 28 November to 26 new cases per 100,000 people on 12 December.
From Wednesday, schools nationwide will be closed or switch to home schooling, and most non-food stores will be shuttered, as will businesses such as hairdressers that have so far been allowed to remain open.
Restaurant takeaways will continue to be permitted but consumption on site- including of alcoholic beverageswill be banned.
With the exception of Christmas, the number of people allowed to meet indoors will remain restricted to five, not including children under 14.
The sale of fireworks traditionally used to celebrate New Year's will also be banned, as will public outdoor gatherings on New Year's Eve.
Bavaria's governor, Markus S oeder, said the ban on fire - works follows appeals from hospitals which said they would not be able to treat the large number of serious injuries that result from mishandled explosives every year.
The overall measures are necessary to prevent the number of new cases and deaths rising further, said Mr So eder, who added :" We need to be careful that Germany doesn't become the problem child of Europe."
Finance Minister Olaf Scholz said the government will provide further financial support for businesses affected by the lockdown.
German news agency dpa reported that the additional sums set aside amounted to €11.2 billion (£10.3 billion).
Employers will be asked to let staff work from home, where possible, for the next month.
Meanwhile, Japan' sdaily corona virus cases have exceeded 3,000 for the first time as the government delays stricter measures for fear of hurting the economy ahead of the holiday season.
The 3,030 new cases, including 621 in Tokyo, took Japan's national tally to 177,287 with 2,562 deaths, the Health Ministry said yesterday.
Experts say that serious cases are on the rise around the country, putting a further burden on hospitals and affecting the daily medical treatment for other patients.
They urged authorities to take measures such as sus - pending out-of-town trips and requesting stores to close early.