Germany to extend virus shutdown until mid-February
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Germany to extend virus shutdown until mid-
February
20 January 2021, by Kirsten Grieshaber and Frank Jordans
posed by this mutated virus," she said.
While individual instances of new variants have
been found in Germany, scientists have said it isn't
dominant yet, she added.
"There's still time, so to speak, to contain the risk,"
said Merkel.
In addition to extending the closure of restaurants,
most stores and schools until Feb. 14, Merkel and
the governors of Germany's 16 states agreed to
require people to wear the more effective FFP2 or
KN95 masks on public transport and stores.
Employers will also be ordered to let staff work from
German Chancellor Angela Merkel puts on a face mask home, wherever possible, to avoid office-driven
after a news conference on further coronavirus infections.
measures, at the Chancellery in Berlin, Germany,
Tuesday Jan. 19, 2021. (Hannibal Hanschke/Pool via
AP)
Chancellor Angela Merkel said Tuesday that
Germany is extending its pandemic restrictions,
including the closure of schools and stores, until
mid-February amid concerns that new mutations of
the coronavirus could trigger a fresh surge in
cases.
Germany's infection rate has stabilized in recent
days, indicating that existing restrictions may have
been effective in bringing down the numbers. On
Tuesday, the country's disease control center
German Chancellor Angela Merkel arrives for a news
reported 11,369 newly confirmed infections and
conference on further coronavirus measures, at the
989 deaths, for an overall death toll of 47,622. Chancellery in Berlin, Germany, Tuesday Jan. 19, 2021.
(Hannibal Hanschke/Pool via AP)
"All our efforts to contain the spread of the virus
face a serious threat," Merkel told reporters in
Berlin, noting that experts have linked surging
infections in Britain and Ireland to the appearance Merkel said the goal remains to have fewer than 50
of a more contagious virus variant there. new coronavirus cases a week per 100,000
inhabitants. Germany's nationwide average is
"Now is the time to guard against the danger currently 131.
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The governor of the eastern state of Saxony, which
until recently had the highest rates of infection in
the country, said it was important to drive the
number of new cases down further.
"We're currently seeing in Britain what happens
when a mutation occurs, when the numbers
explode," he told news channel n-tv. "We can't
remain at this level."
Medical workers have been demanding an
extension or toughening of the shutdown since
many hospitals are still on edge, with intensive care
wards and even crematoriums reaching their limits
in some areas.
German Chancellor Angela Merkel speaks during a news
conference on further coronavirus measures, at the
"The current measures on limiting social contacts Chancellery in Berlin, Germany, Tuesday Jan. 19, 2021.
seem to be showing an effect," Susanne Johna, the (Hannibal Hanschke/Pool via AP)
head of the physicians' association Marburger
Bund, told the dpa news agency, adding that the
measures should continue to be upheld to further
reduce new infections.
After receiving her vaccination against the novel
coronavirus, 90-year-old Odores H. sits under the domed
roof of the vaccination centre in the Festhalle in
A man and his son walk in downtown Frankfurt, Frankfurt, Tuesday, Jan. 19, 2021. This is where
Germany, Tuesday, Jan. 19, 2021. German politics thousands of people usually gather for concerts and
decides about further Coronavirus restrictions on trade fairs, and where the state of Hesse operates one of
Tuesday. (AP Photo/Michael Probst) its vaccination centers. (Boris Roessler/dpa via AP)
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After receiving her vaccination against the novel
A pharmacist holds a vial of Pfizer-Biontech's Corona
coronavirus, 90-year-old Odores H. sits under the domed
vaccine at the opening of the vaccination center in the
roof of the vaccination centre in the Festhalle in
Festhalle in Frankfurt, Germany, Tuesday, Jan.19, 2021.
Frankfurt, Germany, Tuesday, Jan.19, 2021. This is
The state of Hesse operates one of its vaccination
where thousands of people usually gather for concerts
centers where thousands of people usually gather at
and trade fairs, and where the state of Hesse operates
concerts and trade fairs. (Boris Roessler/dpa via AP)
one of its vaccination centers. (Boris Roessler/dpa via
AP)
A man stands on a small balcony of his office in
People stay in the new open Erika-Hess-Eisstadion Frankfurt, Germany, Tuesday, Jan. 19, 2021, the day
vaccine center in Berlin, Germany, Thursday, Jan. 14, when the German government will discuss further
2021. (Kay Nietfeld/Pool via AP) coronavirus restrictions. (AP Photo/Michael Probst)
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"It's a big strain for schools, the eight weeks," she
said. "But if we had conditions like in London then
... we wouldn't be talking about schools anymore,
we'd be talking about ambulances and overflowing
hospitals. And we have to avoid that at all cost."
© 2021 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.
This material may not be published, broadcast,
rewritten or redistributed without permission.
German Chancellor Angela Merkel takes off a face mask
as she attends a news conference on further coronavirus
measures, at the Chancellery in Berlin, Germany,
Tuesday Jan. 19, 2021. (Hannibal Hanschke/Pool via
AP)
German Chancellor Angela Merkel during a news
conference on further coronavirus measures, at the
Chancellery in Berlin, Germany, Tuesday Jan. 19, 2021.
(Hannibal Hanschke/Pool via AP)
"We urgently need further relief," Johna said.
Merkel acknowledged growing concern in Germany
about the impact that the restrictions are having on
students, who face a further four weeks of home
schooling.
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APA citation: Germany to extend virus shutdown until mid-February (2021, January 20) retrieved 28
January 2021 from https://medicalxpress.com/news/2021-01-germany-virus-shutdown-mid-february.html
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