Germany lifts more virus restrictions
Eateries seat patrons for first time in months
Chancellor Angela Merkel urged Germans to behave responsibly as large parts of the country relaxed more pandemic restrictions Friday at the start of the Pentecost weekend, telling them that caution is needed to avoid further shutdowns.
German regions have gradually started easing restrictions as new coronavirus cases decline steadily, accompanied by an accelerating vaccination campaign.
Beer gardens, cafes and restaurants in Berlin and elsewhere started serving customers outdoors for the first time in months on Friday — provided they present a negative COVID-19 test or a vaccination certificate.
By Friday, most of Germany’s 400 cities and counties had a weekly case number below the threshold of 100 per 100,000 inhabitants that triggered strict lockdown measures. But top officials stressed the need to remain vigilant.
“We can be glad that (infection rates) have declined so far in recent days and in the last two weeks that we can think about opening steps,” Merkel told reporters in Berlin.
The country’s disease control agency reported 8,769 newly confirmed COVID-19 cases Thursday and 226 deaths. The country has reported 87,128 virus-related deaths.
State authorities have pushed vigorously to reopen hospitality and tourism for the three-day weekend.
Merkel said continuing to wear masks and observe social distancing is essential.
But “I believe that, with the necessary responsibility and care that hopefully many — most people — will take, we won’t have to talk about having to shut down again.”
Merkel noted that there is concern about the emergence of a virus variant first detected in India, “which seems to be somewhat more aggressive” than the currently dominant variant.
The variant has been spreading in Britain. German authorities on Friday evening announced that the U.K. will be put on a list of “virus variant areas” that includes India itself and Brazil, but no other European countries, starting Sunday. That will trigger new travel restrictions. In other developments:
■ Canada’s most populous province is resuming use of the Oxford-astrazeneca COVID-19 vaccine, but only as a second dose for those who’d received it initially, officials said Friday. Also, Ontario’s premier announced plans Thursday to again allow golf, tennis and other outdoor recreational activities beginning this weekend and said there will be a staged reopening of Canada’s largest province starting next month.
■ American pharmaceutical company Pfizer and German company Biontech have pledged to deliver 2 billion doses of their COVID-19 vaccine to middle- and low-income countries over the next 18 months.
■ Japan has expanded a coronavirus state of emergency after it approved the use of two more vaccines to help contain a surge in infections, nine weeks ahead of the scheduled opening of the Tokyo Olympics.