Protest against German virus lockdown measures

Thousands of protesters gathered on Wednesday morning in central Berlin to voice their anger as parliament votes on a bill that would strengthen the government's ability to impose coronavirus restrictions.

Berlin police, bolstered by forces from around the country, cordoned off a wide perimeter around the capital's government center and a series of protests planned outside of Germany's Bundestag parliament building were banned over security concerns.

German lawmakers are to debate and then vote on a bill that will provide the legal underpinning for social distancing rules, requirements to wear masks in public and closing stores and other venues to slow the spread of the virus.

While such measures are supported by most people in Germany, a vocal minority has staged regular rallies around the country arguing that the restrictions are unconstitutional.

The measures are expected to pass both the lower and then upper house of parliament and be quickly signed by Germany's president.

Germany, which has been praised for its handling of the first wave of the virus, has seen 13,000 virus-confirmed deaths in the pandemic, a death toll one-fourth that of Britain's.

(Image credit: AP)