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Merkel says Germany could need tough lockdown measures 'for 8 to 10 more weeks'

The Local Germany
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Merkel says Germany could need tough lockdown measures 'for 8 to 10 more weeks'
Angela Merkel on January 6th. Photo: DPA

Chancellor Angela Merkel has reportedly told her party members that the tough Covid-19 measures in Germany will be needed until spring if numbers don't improve.

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According to German daily Bild, Merkel told members of her conservative party that she is seriously concerned about the new Covid-19 variant that is causing major problems in the UK.

She believes if left unchecked it will lead to prolonged Covid measures.

"If we don't manage to hold off this British virus, we will have a 10-fold incidence by Easter," she reportedly said at an internal meeting of the Christian Democrats and Christian Social Union.

"We need another 8-10 weeks of tough measures," added Merkel, according to Bild.

However, three participants of the meeting told Reuters that Merkel had not explicitly spoken of an extension of the current measures, and that she had not warned of a tenfold increase in infection numbers in Germany.

“Merkel said the coming eight to ten weeks would be very hard if the British variant spreads to Germany,” one of the people said, adding the Chancellor had referred to a tenfold surge in infection numbers in Ireland due to the new variant.

Germany has been in a state of shutdown since November 2nd when the 'lockdown light' came into force. However, restrictions have got progressively tougher.

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Now the rules, which have seen the closure of the hospitality industry and schools as well as non-essential shops plus cultural and leisure facilities, have been extended until January 31st.

READ ALSO: EXPLAINED: These are Germany's new tighter lockdown rules

However, the Chancellor, like Bavaria's state premier Markus Söder, has repeatedly stressed that even at the end of January there is no guarantee that the measures will be relaxed.

The aim is to bring the incidence (new infections per 100,000 inhabitants in seven days) below the level of 50. Only then would the health authorities be in a position to track the contacts of people with Covid-19 again.

READ ALSO: 'No travel until late May', warns German government

Worries over Covid-19 variants

Experts are increasingly concerned about the new variants - particularly, the mutation that originated in the UK. The number of infections there has skyrocketed in recent weeks.

Frankfurt virologist Dr Martin Stürmer issued an urgent warning about the new variant: "The variants B117 from England and N501Y from South Africa show that in Germany, too, we have to examine more gene sequences, look for mutations. This is technically possible, but it costs time and money."

Health Minister Jens Spahn wants to order testing laboratories to check every tenth Covid-19 test for mutations by analysing the genome sequence data, according to a draft paper. At the moment, this examination only happens to about every 900th coronavirus test in Germany.

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Anonymous 2021/01/16 19:46
And if you dont stay at home, we'll lock you up on a concentration camp.<br />https://summit.news/2021/01/15/germany-to-put-covid-rulebreakers-in-detention-camp/
Anonymous 2021/01/13 19:16
Those people who are ready to obey authority without question, are the most dangerous.
Anonymous 2021/01/13 18:51
What happened to 'two weeks to flatten the curve'. Meanwhile hospital staff make TikTok videos to pass time, while hospitals are empty. Hospitals have never been emptier. Meanwhile, people who need surgery & life saving care are being denied treatment. The economy is being ruined & Businesses destroyed. But people still continue to believe that the government will take care of us and make all the bad stuff go away. Time to wake up & realise that government & global companies are the cause, not the solution to the these problems they present to us.<br />IF YOU DIDNT READ/.WATCH MSM, YOU WOULD HAVE NO IDEA THERE IS A 'PANDEMIC'. <br />
Anonymous 2021/01/13 15:02
Thank you so much to all the people who have not respected the rules. Those of us who have lost loved ones, are front liners, have no work, are isolated from family and friends, have no income....? <br /><br />We really appreciate your selfish, dumb, egotistical behaviour. Be proud of yourselves for destroying lives.
Anonymous 2021/01/12 18:20
c'mon, if Bild is the source I better don't want to know at all. that a terrible sensationalist "news" site.

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