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Editor in Chief Mohamed Wadie

Germany to Extend Lockdown Until February 15


Tue 19 Jan 2021 | 01:31 PM
Yara Sameh

The German government is preparing to extend and tighten the lockdown until February 15 to curb the Coronavirus. A meeting between German Chancellor Angela Merkel and the nation's 16 state premiers, is scheduled to be held today, Tuesday to take the decision.

Merkel is due to meet with regional leaders to discuss measures to rein in the coronavirus pandemic.

Merkel wants to extend coronavirus restrictions until February 15 as well as make medical masks obligatory on public transport and in shops, according to a draft resolution by the federal government.

The draft proposed keeping schools closed until mid-February, improving aid for companies affected by the lockdown extension,  and creating a working group to work out how to exit restrictions safely and equitably.

New infections have been decreasing in recent days and pressure on intensive care units has eased slightly, but virologists are worried about the possible spread of more infectious variants of the virus.

"Leaders would also discuss curfews, already in place in some states, but it was unlikely they would be imposed everywhere," Berlin Mayor Michael Mueller told German television.

The number of confirmed coronavirus cases had risen by 11,369 to 2.05 million, the Robert Koch Institute (RKI) for infectious diseases showed on Tuesday. The death toll was up to 989 at 47,622.