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HEALTH-VIRUS-GERMANY
Merkel seeks tougher restrictions to fight coronavirus surge
BERLIN, Oct 14, 2020 (BSS/AFP) – German Chancellor Angela Merkel wants
measures toughened up to fight a surge in coronavirus infections, including
requiring masks in more places and limiting numbers of people gathering for
private events, according to a draft policy paper seen by AFP.
The proposals to be discussed with premiers from Germany’s 16 states later
Wednesday would see the restrictions kick in once an area records 35 new
infections per 100,000 people over seven days.
Previously, Germany had used a yardstick of 50 new infections per 100,000
as the threshold when tougher restrictions would apply.
Merkel has in recent days repeatedly voiced alarm about contagion growing
again and urged the country not to squander its early success in keeping
numbers manageable.
She has cited as her priorities keeping schools open so that the country’s
youth would not lose more education time as well as ensuring that most of the
economy can keep going.
But new infections continued their uptick on Wednesday, pushing past 5,000
cases in 24 hours — a level not seen since a lockdown imposed on Europe’s
biggest economy in the spring.
The draft document takes aim at private gatherings, which it notes can help
propagate the virus and makes an appeal to citizens to “critically weigh up in
each case, whether, how and in what extent private parties are necessary and
justifiable given the virus situation”.
It also pledges to extend help for companies whose businesses have been
hurt by the restrictions.
It also warned that yet further restrictions could be imposed if the
upwards trajectory of new infections is maintained.
Lothar Wieler, the head of Germany’s disease control agency RKI, meanwhile
urged vulnerable groups to get their seasonal flu shots this year to avoid
overwhelming the health system with both flu and Covid-19 illnesses.
“We’re in a situation where I think we can still flatten the exponential
growth but for that we all need to make an effort,” he said.
BSS/AFP/FI/ 1750 hrs