COVID response: What the German federal government′s new powers mean | Germany| News and in-depth reporting from Berlin and beyond | DW : vimarsana.com
COVID response: What the German federal government's new powers mean For much of the pandemic, Germany's 16 states have been in charge of coronavirus pandemic regulations. Amid criticism and chaos, Germany's federal government is taking the reins — but will this make a difference? Federalism has presented a challenge to managing the COVID-19 pandemic in Germany At the beginning of March, with coronavirus cases still on the rise in Germany, an agreement was made that seemed to signal a possible way out of lockdown. Each of Germany's 16 states could reopen in slow stages depending on case numbers — but had to pull an "emergency brake" and lock down harder in the event that figures in individual regions exceeded a certain threshold.