The shops remain open in most of Germany for now
Credit: FABRIZIO BENSCH/REUTERS
A number of German regions announced tighter coronavirus restrictions on Thursday amid concerns over rising infection rates.
Saxony announced a 15km (9 mile) limit on how far people can travel for essential shopping. The limit comes after the state this week became the first to order a full lockdown, with non-essential schools and shops closed from Monday.
Lower Saxony announced it was ditching plans to ease restrictions for a full week over Christmas and the New Year so families could celebrate together. A limit of five on social gatherings will now only be doubled for three days around Christmas.
Bavarian leader Markus Soeder wants a three-week full lockdown
Credit: PETER KNEFFEL/AFP
The moves came as Germany recorded its highest 24-hour tally of new infections, with 23,679.
Germany currently has a similar infection rate to the UK. But unlike in the UK, infections are not falling. They have been steady for several weeks and are now showing a slight rise.
The Robert Koch Institute, Germany’s disease centre, said the rise in infections was “alarming”.
The country has seen many more infections in retirement homes than it did during the first wave, which is contributing to a higher death toll, Lothar Wieler, the head of the RKI, said.
Coronavirus Germany Spotlight Chart — deaths default
The country is currently under a national “lockdown lite”. Restaurants, pubs, gyms and places of entertainment are closed but all shops remain open.
Angela Merkel is to meet with regional leaders on Sunday to discuss the restrictions amid growing calls for a full lockdown.
Markus Söder, the Bavarian regional leader, is pushing for a three-week lockdown while children are off school over and many businesses are closed over Christmas. “There will be never be a better time than the Christmas holidays,” he said.
Bavaria is already under tighter restrictions with a night-time curfew in severely affected towns and districts.
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