Almost all stores will be closed during the Easter period from 1 to 5 April, and a maximum of five people over the age of 14 can come from two households. Grocery stores may only open one day on Saturday 3 April.
The country’s general closure measures will also be extended until April 18, Merkel said. Germans have been living under different levels of restrictions since mid-December.
The country’s public health authority on Tuesday reported 7,485 new infections and 250 deaths over a 24-hour period. The daily infection rate is 2,000 cases higher than it was a week ago. More than 108 people out of every 100,000 people now become infected every week.
“We know that the current emergency measures will not be sufficient to stop the exponential growth,” Merkel said early in the morning after the marathon negotiations with state leaders overnight in Berlin.
“Therefore, the 1st of April, the Thursday and the 3rd of April this year are declared days of rest with extensive contact restrictions and a ban on gatherings from the first to the 5th of April. This means extensive closings over Easter. For five days in a row, the principle: we will stay at home, ‘Merkel said.
Germany has recorded more than 74,000 Covid-19 deaths since the start of the pandemic, and Merkel said the country was experiencing a third wave of infections.
Merkel also said that the newer British variant makes it more difficult for the country to control the spread of the virus.
“After being able to sharply reduce the number of infections in January, we now see the more dangerous mutation with the penetration of the more contagious British mutant. We are experiencing the exact opposite: the number of cases is increasing exponentially, the intensive care beds are filling up again, and now more people in the middle and younger ages are also experiencing serious illnesses. ‘
Germany’s vaccination program, like many in the European Union, is subject to supply shortages. The UK and EU are embroiled in a fresh outcry over doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine, with the head of the bloc, Ursula von der Leyen, allegedly threatening to shoot a group of plants from the Netherlands to the United States To run Kingdom.
Merkel on Monday expressed support for von der Leyen.
“The EU is currently the most exported area. I support Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, who makes it very clear that when the contracts concluded with us are not complied with, the situation is obviously different. is as when contracts are fully complied with and perhaps even more the European Union is delivered.
CNN’s Stephanie Halasz and Samantha Beech contributed to this report.