The measures taken to date to contain the COVID-19 pandemic have not been sufficient. The numbers are still rising, noted Chancellor Angela Merkel following her meeting with the state premiers of Germany’s federal states. Contact restrictions will remain in place, shops will close with a few exceptions, and schools and nurseries are also to close. Here is an overview of the new rules.
The measures taken to date to contain the COVID-19 pandemic have not been sufficient.
New consultations on COVID-19 measures
‚We have very many deaths. We know that the health system is under enormous pressure. That is why there is an urgent need to take action.‘
Number of people infected with COVID-19
300,000
250,000
200,000
150,000
100,000
50,000
Spring Summer Autumn
Number of deaths from or with COVID-19
20,000
15,000
10,000
5,000
Spring Summer Autumn
* Total number minus deaths and recoveries
As at 13 December 2020 Source: RKI
Photo: Bundesregierung
The goal is still to push numbers below an incidence of 50 new cases per 100,000 inhabitants over a seven-day period, at which point contact tracing will be possible again. "That is why we are now forced to take action – and we are taking action," stressed Chancellor Angela Merkel on Sunday, following consultations with federal and state governments. Further measures must now be taken to restrict contacts in order to significantly lower the number of new infections. The federal and state governments have published a new decision.
Chancellor Angela Merkel thanked everybody in Germany for the fact that so many people have respected the rules and thus helped contain the pandemic. The Chancellor urgently appealed to everyone "to avoid all contacts that are not absolutely essential over the coming days, and thus help ensure that our health system is not overwhelmed". The Chancellor addressed her special thanks to those working in the health system. For them, she said, this will be a very difficult Christmas, and that is why "our decisions are urgently needed, to support them in particular and to give people the assurance that the health system will be there for them when they need it".
These are the main points decided by the Chancellor and the state premiers: