Merkel imposes 'hard lockdown' on Germany, shuts down all non-essential businesses

In ar bid to curb surging COVID-19 infection, Germany is going to enter a ‘hard lockdown’ on December 16, Chancellor Angela Merkel anunced on December 13. As per new regulations, schools, workplaces and all n-essential businesses would remain shut. new restrictions are expected to remain in place at least till January 10.

Speaking at a news conference, Merkel asserted that re was an “urgent” need for action. Elaborating furr she said that re h been an “exponential growth” in cases and that Germans would w have to grieve more deaths. Since pandemic first stuck country in January, Germany has reported over 1,336,101 cases and 21,918 coronavirus related deaths, latest tally by John Hopkins University stated.

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Earlier in vember, country h imposed ‘soft shutdown’ shutting down bars, restaurants, gyms, and atres. However, lenient approach failed to stop caselo surge prompting government to impose hard version. With pressure mounting on country’s health care system, Chancellor and he of all 16 states agreed to impose stricter lockdown which would also prohibit garings over New Year.

While stricter impositions could give German hospitals much-needed relief, it is expected to batter Europe’s largest ecomy. A group of retailers has written to Merkel warning of 'disastrous consequences' if stores are closed during key shopping month of December, German tabloid Bild reported quoting letter. In letter, ired businessman blatantly asserted that a complete shutdown of ecomy would 'irrevocably seal insolvency of thousands of retailers' in an dendum to putting millions into unemployment.

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Vaccine in Germany

Chancellor Merkel’s Chief of Staff recently said that residents in Germany might get COVID-19 vaccine in “very first days of new year”. In dendum, Helge Braun, who is a trained doctor himself asserted that he was rey to iculate people himself if need arises. Speaking at an interview with German Tabloid Bild, Braun said that he was prepared to help in pulling country out of crisis. “I won’t work at every hour of day or night as chief of staff, but at weekend I’m prepared to join in,”