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HEALTH-VIRUS-GERMANY-RESTRICTIONS
Germany poised to tighten curbs into April as virus rages
BERLIN, March 22, 2021 (BSS/AFP) – Germany is poised to prolong and tighten
a partial lockdown into April as new virus cases soar, according to a draft
document seen by AFP ahead of a government meeting on Monday.
Europe’s biggest economy had begun easing restrictions, first reopening
schools in late February, before allowing some shops to resume business in
March.
The Monday meeting between Chancellor Angela Merkel and the leaders of
Germany’s 16 states was originally scheduled to discuss further relaxation,
but a third wave of the virus driven by new variants has changed the agenda
dramatically.
Lifting restrictions on dining, cultural and leisure facilities will now
have to be delayed and instead, worst-hit areas may from Monday have to
reimpose restrictions and order shops to close again.
“Without significant restrictions, the number of new infections will
increase to the point that the health system risks being overwhelmed by
April,” the draft reads.
Requirements that employees work from home whenever possible will be
extended to April 18, according to the document, instead of ending on March
28.
To prevent any contagion at the workplace, companies will be required to
provide at least two rapid tests a week to employees who are unable to work
from home, it said.
With an eye on upcoming Easter school holidays, those who go abroad would
be required to be tested and go into quarantine when they return to Germany.
– ‘Emergency brakes’ –
Authorities also intend to bring in additional lockdowns at the local
level.
On Sunday, the incidence rate of infections measured over seven days
reached 103.9 per 100,000 inhabitants.
Merkel and regional leaders agreed at the last round of talks that
authorities would tighten the screws again if that rate struck 100.
“Unfortunately, we are going to have to use these emergency brakes,” Merkel
warned on Friday.
The draft document calls for these brakes to be brought in wherever they
are necessary, and to be applied consistently across the country.
It lays the groundwork for the closure of some schools that have only just
reopened, and urges people to avoid travelling over Easter.
Shop-owners were watching developments nervously, with the German
retailers’ association warning that 120,000 shops could go bust if the
shutdown persists. – ‘Exponential’ rise –
“Given the current infection dynamics accelerated by the Covid-19 variants,
forceful action is still required,” the text reads.
Health authorities warned on Friday that coronavirus case numbers are
rising at a “very clearly exponential rate”.
“It is very possible that we will have… very high case numbers, many
severe cases and deaths, and hospitals that are overwhelmed,” Lars Schaade,
vice president of the Robert Koch Institute for infectious diseases, told
reporters then.
The grim news came with the country also struggling to accelerate its
inoculation campaign.
Dogged by supply issues and mistrust over AstraZeneca’s jab, Germany’s
vaccination campaign has been sluggish compared to the British or US
programmes.
The use of AstraZeneca’s vaccine was suspended for several days earlier
this week by major European countries, including Germany, over fears it may
cause blood clots.
After the EU medicines regulator cleared it for use following a review,
Merkel herself sought to shore up confidence in the jab.
“Yes, I would take the AstraZeneca vaccine,” Merkel said on Friday.
BSS/AFP/GMR/1003 hrs