Germany is set to enter into a hard lockdown next Wednesday, 16 December, according to an official government proposal for the tightening of COVID restrictions. The decision by federal German authorities to tighten restrictions comes in the backdrop of spiralling numbers of cases and skyrocketing death rates that had previously been avoided by the country thanks to its robust response to the unfolding healthcare crisis.
Going all-in
The need for a harsher lockdown was explained by German Chancellor Angela Merkel earlier this week during an impassionate speech in front of MPs in the Bundestag. Federal authorities in Germany, however, do not have the power to implement nationwide lockdown measures on their own.
Therefore, the German chancellor met with federal and regional leaders from around the country earlier today in order to agree on a package of measures that should stop the spread of COVID-19.
According to the proposal, non-essential stores and schools and daycares centres around the country will be forced to close down between 16 December and 10 January and companies will be asked to provide flexibility to their employees who lack the means for childcare during the period.
Such a move could have disastrous consequences for many firms and businesses who rely on the pre-Christmas weeks to turn a profit and keep themselves afloat.
Furthermore, according to the draft proposal, meetings will be limited to a maximum of 5 people just ahead of the Christmas holidays, essentially barring people from legally holding parties and any kind of mass events. No exceptions will be made for 24,25 and 31 December, according to officials.
Several states across Germany have already begun implementing similar measures in order to reduce the strain on their respective healthcare systems, yet a federal approach could help smooth out the differences between the different parts of the country and ultimately allow it to get back on track.
Source: TheMayor.EU
