Angela Merkel called for a curfew in Germany, but defended the presence of classes

Chancellor Angela Merkel this Friday defended the application of new restrictions in a Germany “firmly caught” by the pandemic, among them the one who would be the first curfew established in the country by the COVID-19 pandemic.

This measure and others are part of the legal reform that the German government approved on Tuesday and which, with the intervention of the Chancellor, began its parliamentary work this morning in the Bundestag (lower house).

Bill seeks limit the capacity of the “Länder” to act in the fight against the pandemic and impose homogeneous and uniform restrictions across the country, automatically starting at 100 cases per 100,000 inhabitants in seven days.

Schools will maintain face-to-face classes for up to 200 cases per 100,000 inhabitants in seven days

Too put an end to the current deadlock in negotiations between the central government and the federated states, given the refusal of certain “Länder” to increase restrictions as proposed by Merkel for economic and social reasons.

“The situation is serious, very serious”, warned Merkel, who asked to attend the “Emergency calls” toilets. “We must do everything to stop and break the third wave”added the Chancellor, who considered that these new measures are late, but are necessary and justified, despite a serious interference in the freedoms of citizens.

“The virus does not witness half measures. He only understands one language: force, ”the Chancellor said, adding that the coronavirus“ does not negotiate ”and that“ hesitation is unnecessary ”.

The Chancellor devoted part of her speech to specifically defending her curfew proposal, one of the measures most criticized and questioned -of the opposition, businesses and civil society- of this government bill. Screams and boos were repeated from the far-right bench, who flirted with denial.

In its current formulation, it would be It is forbidden to leave the home between 9 p.m. and 5 a.m. in areas that exceed the positive cumulative incidence limit of 100.

The Chancellor explained that the curfew is a useful measure not because of the contagions that occur at night outside, but because it avoids visits and contacts in public transport. It is not an absolute cure, he conceded, but in combination with other measures, it is effective.

“The only objective is to abandon this terrible phase of the pandemic for the well-being of all”, he stressed.

After this first reading, it is expected that the second and third will take place next week in the Bundestag – where in principle the reform should not face great opposition from the majority of the executive -, to then be go to the Bundesrat (regional chamber of representation), where resistance may be higher.

Limit contacts and stop the economy

The bill provides, in addition to the curfew, limit interpersonal contact to partners and an external person of 100 new cases per 100,000 inhabitants in seven days, as well as the closure of non-essential stores, culture, entertainment and restaurants.

Schools will maintain face-to-face lessons (although with restrictions) up to 200 cases per 100,000 population in seven days, although from 100 positive cases two weekly rapid antigen tests will be mandatory.

The bill also obliges employers to offer their employees face to face at least one weekly test (Telecommuting is recommended nationwide for months).

If it comes into effect now, the so-called “federal emergency brake” would affect some 330 of the more than 400 districts of the country, according to data from the Robert Koch Institute (RKI) for Virology, including the seven most populous cities (Berlin, Munich, Hamburg, Cologne, Bonn, Stuttgart and Frankfurt).

Figures on the rise

Germany reported on Friday that in the past 24 hours it had signed up 25,831 new cases of coronavirus and 247 deaths, according to the RKI, now the hike started in mid-February. The most populous country in the EU thus adds a total of 3,099,273 confirmed cases and 79,628 deaths with or by covid.

The cumulative incidence at seven days across the country was at 160.1 cases per 100,000 inhabitants.

According to updated data from the Ministry of Health, 18.5% of the population (15.4 million people) have received at least one dose and 6.4% (5.3 million) are already on the full regimen.

The DIVI register carried out by the health sector brings the number of hospitalized for coronavirus to 4,679 nationwide, of which 2,662, 57%, are intubated.

(With information from EFE)

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