As the partial lockdown appears to have failed to reverse the trend of rising COVID-19 infections, Germans are in for an unusual holiday season because the country entered a hard lockdown on Wednesday.
Until at least Jan. 10, private gatherings are limited to two households or but to a maximum of five people. All non-essential stores and services in Germany have to remain closed, the German government and the federal states agreed on Sunday.
All schools in Germany are also closed as compulsory attendance has been suspended. With some exceptions, the same applies to day care facilities for children.
We are forced to act and are acting now, said German Chancellor Angela Merkel when announcing the hard lockdown. The soft lockdown that had been in place since the beginning of November was not enough.
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by Vanessa Lett
BERLIN, Dec. 16 (Xinhua) As the partial lockdown appears to have failed to reverse the trend of rising COVID-19 infections, Germans are in for an unusual holiday season because the country entered a hard lockdown on Wednesday.
Until at least Jan. 10, private gatherings are limited to two households or but to a maximum of five people. All non-essential stores and services in Germany have to remain closed, the German government and the federal states agreed on Sunday.
All schools in Germany are also closed as compulsory attendance has been suspended. With some exceptions, the same applies to day care facilities for children.
Spotlight: Germany braces for Christmas COVID-19 lockdown Source: Xinhua|
Editor: huaxia
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A pedestrian walks in front of a shopping mall in Frankfurt, Germany, on Dec. 16, 2020. Germany will go into stricter lockdown from Wednesday, closing non-essential shops and limiting the size of private gatherings, Chancellor Angela Merkel and regional leaders agreed on Sunday. The tighter restrictive measures, which will be effective until Jan. 10, were in response to an exponential growth in the number of COVID-19 cases in Germany, according to a policy paper. (Photo by Armando Babani/Xinhua)
by Vanessa Lett
BERLIN, Dec. 16 (Xinhua) As the partial lockdown appears to have failed to reverse the trend of rising COVID-19 infections, Germans are in for an unusual holiday season because the country entered a hard lockdown on Wednesday.