Mar 23, 2021 - World

Germany extends COVID restrictions and announces strict Easter lockdown

Rebecca Falconer

German Chancellor Angela Merkel removes her mask as she starts a press conference following talks via video conference with Germany's state premiers on the extension of the current lockdown March 22 — Chancellor Angela Merkel at a press conference in Berlin, Germany, on Tuesday. Photo: Michael Kappeler / POOL/AFP via Getty Images

Chancellor Angela Merkel announced Tuesday Germany's COVID-19 restrictions are being extended for another month, and the country will endure an "even stricter lockdown" in April to combat spiking cases, per DW.com.

Driving the news: Merkel said the spread of coronavirus variants put Germany in a "very serious situation" as they're "significantly more deadly" and more infectious, so Germany needs an "emergency brake."

"What we have is essentially a new pandemic," she added, according to Deutsche Welle.
German Health Minister Jens Spahn said last Friday that COVID-19 cases were spiking at an "exponential rate" in the country and there might not be enough vaccine doses to avoid a third wave.

The big picture: Following a video call with Germany's 16 state governors, Merkel said the current lockdown measures that were due to last until March 28 would be extended to April 18.

Measures will be tightened further from April 1-5, with public gatherings banned and most stores closed during the Easter holiday period.
Churches are being urged to hold services online.

By the numbers: Germany has reported over 75,000 deaths from the virus and nearly 2.7 million cases since the pandemic began, according to Johns Hopkins.

"The weekly infection rate per 100,000 people stood at 107 nationwide on Monday, up from the mid-60s three weeks ago," AP notes.

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Germany extends COVID restrictions and announces strict Easter lockdown

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