“Therefore, we must proceed with caution and caution so that a third wave does not require a complete new closure throughout Germany.”
Much of Europe records cases of more recent variants of Covid-19, particularly those that arose in the United Kingdom and South Africa. Both are believed to spread more quickly than previous variants.
In Germany’s step-by-step approach to reopening, hairdressers will have to resume business on March 1, while most other companies will have to remain closed until March 7.
There are currently about 61.7 cases of Covid-19 per 100,000 people in Germany, according to the Robert Koch Institute, the country’s public health authority. Merkel has said the goal is to reduce this incident rate to 35 per 100,000 to reopen the economy in a meaningful way.
Merkel defended states’ decisions to reopen schools and said districts that reached the 35 per 100,000 rate could do so without having any impact in other areas.
He added that large-scale testing would take place in line with the stepped reopening of the country.
“A smart opening strategy is inextricably linked to fast, comprehensive trials, as if they were free trials,” Merkel added. “I can’t say exactly how long it will take to install this system. But it will be in March.”
Germany has been able to slow the rate of Covid-19 infection with its blockade, which included closing its borders with Austria and the Czech Republic. Czech health authorities now confirm record cases of daily infection, with the death toll rising to one of the worst per capita rates in the world, pushing their hospitals to the brink of collapse.
Germany, like many nations in the European Union, is struggling to deploy a widespread vaccination program that would help a faster reopening of its economy. The European Union distributes its vaccines equally among its 27 member states, in proportion to their populations, but has received tens of millions of doses less than expected.
The European Parliament is expected to convene pharmaceutical companies on public hearing on Thursday, demanding answers to the failures in delivering the agreed number of vaccine doses.
Austrian Chancellor Sebastian Kurz has warned that restrictions in his country are beginning to lose their impact, and has stressed the urgent need for an increase in block stocks of vaccines.
“The objective situation in Austria was simply that after six weeks the closure had lost its effect. People have joined less and less, there have been more changes in the private sector and a closure where no one participates, of course. , it makes little sense, “he told the German newspaper Bild.
It will push the European Union on Thursday to set up a “green passport” system that will allow vaccinated people to travel within the block.
While Germany and several other European nations are considering how to lift their restrictions, France – which resisted a new national blockade as new variants emerged – is imposing new ones. President Emmanuel Macron is expected to announce new measures on Thursday.
The Côte d’Azur has been under weekend closures for the next two weeks, while the region around the northern port city of Dunkirk will begin weekend closures on Saturday.