Germany is taking tough steps to deal with coronovirus

German Chancellor Angela Merkel said today that national quarantine is being extended by the end of the month and tougher restrictions are being imposed due to coronovirus, world agencies reported.

Merkel told reporters after a meeting with the leaders of the 16 German provinces, “We need to tighten contacts more tightly. We call on all citizens to limit contact to the absolute best.”

According to Reuters, for the first time, the new rules prohibit non-essential travel for residents of severely affected areas in Germany.

People will be able to travel up to 15 kilometers in cities and counties, where the number of new cases of coronovirus in seven days is 200 per 100,000 inhabitants.

Household members will be allowed to meet only one other person in a public place.

Like many other European countries, Germany is battling a second wave of coronaviruses. There are growing concerns in the country that hospitals will have serious difficulties in dealing with the situation.

Merkel said the new version of the virus, first discovered in Britain, increases the need for more caution.

Shops and restaurants in Germany will remain closed until the end of January. Schools will also be closed, and training will be online at least until the end of the month.

“We believe these measures are appropriate, even if they are serious,” Merkel said.

She said she and the provincial leader would review the new restrictions on 25 January.

According to the Robert Koch Institute, Germany has recorded 11,897 new coronavirus infections in the last 24 hours, totaling 1,787,000. The death toll has risen from 944 to 35,518.

Vaccination against KOVID-19 is underway in Germany and 317,000 people have been vaccinated so far.

Merkel hoped that the development of new vaccines against Kovid-19 would help her return to normal life, the DPA reported.

“We know that once vaccines are available, there is a possibility of normalizing our daily lives,” she said.