FRANKFURT (GERMANY) – According to a government proposal, Germany is contemplating closing down all shops from Wednesday until January 10 as it tightens coronavirus curbs to stem the spread of the pandemic.
A draft of the proposal was prepared ahead of the meeting between Chancellor Angela Merkel and state leaders on Sunday. Although Merkel is in favour of strict curbs across the nation, she was not able to get the nod of all 16 heads of states earlier.
Some states have imposed curbs on their own and momentum backing stricter pan-Germany measures has been building.
As per the draft proposal, only essential shops such as pharmacies and supermarkets will be allowed to remain open apart from banks.
Schools will remain closed and firms will be told to close or have staff working from home.
The country has been under partial lockdown for six weeks with bars and restaurants remaining closed while schools and shops remained open. Some regions have introduced tighter measures as infections spread.
More social contact in the run-up to the Christmas holiday means “the number of cases is now again increasing,” said the draft proposal.
“Therefore, it is necessary to take further measures to restrict contacts.”
In recent days, the number of daily new infections and fatalities has reached records and heads of states are pushing the panic button.