Germany on Wednesday announced tougher measures on public life as it enters a "decisive" stage in its efforts to contain a surge in coronavirus infections.
“Germany will introduce tougher measures on gatherings and mask-wearing to fight a surge in coronavirus infections,” Chancellor Angela Merkel on Wednesday.
The measures, which include limits on the number of people at private gatherings and a curfew for bars and restaurants in areas deemed hotspots, were agreed following an eight-hour meeting between Merkel and the country's 16 federal states.
Germany will limit on people gathering at events as well as mandatory mask-wearing at crowded places when new infections in an area reach 35 per 100,000 in seven days, earlier than under the previous yardstick used of 50 per 100,000.
“We have decided on this prophylactic number of 35 because we have seen some examples of how fast the increase happens from 35 to 50,” Merkel stated.
Germany also limited private gatherings to 10 people or two households and the closure of restaurants after 11:00 pm.
The meeting also addressed a ban on domestic travelers from so-called risk zones from staying in hotels or holiday apartments, which was implemented last week.
As some state premiers seeking to overturn the ban, Merkel stated that talks over the subject would be postponed until after autumn school vacation on November 8.
However, they agreed on urging citizens to avoid “domestic travel in and out of areas” where new infections have topped 50 per 100,000 people something which would qualify them as areas at risk.
On Wednesday, new infections continued to rise, pushing past 5,000 cases in 24 hours—a level not seen since a lockdown imposed on Europe’s biggest economy in the spring.
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