In Germany begin to weaken quarantine, Merkel announced a “staging success” in the fight against coronavirus
© Raimond Spekking / CC BY-SA 4.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)
In Germany Monday, 20 April, allowed the operation of the stores with a sales area of 800 square meters. This decision was taken following the meeting of German Chancellor Angela Merkel with the Prime Ministers of the 16 Federal States of Germany. All opening stores to ensure compliance with the terms of hygiene and to prevent concentrations of customers in their premises. Regardless of size, can open car dealers, bookstore and Bicycle shop, according to DW.
This is the first decision to mitigate quarantine measures in Germany. At the same time the most stringent restrictions on social contacts, which were introduced on 16 and 23 March in connection with the epidemic of the coronavirus and was valid until 19 April, continue until 3 may inclusive. Citizens urged to wear protective masks in public transport and when visiting the shops.
Until further notice remain closed cafes, restaurants and bars are prohibited from meeting in churches, mosques and synagogues. Concerts and other mass actions remain under the ban until 31 August. Hotels will work only for guests, making travel on official business, but there will not be able to stay away.
May 4 will be able to open hair salons, they must ensure use of personal protective equipment. At the same time should begin a gradual return of students to school. To April 29, the Ministry of education of all the Federal States should introduce the concept of the resumption of teaching within their schools, the first classes will start graduation classes.
Until 4 may, by decision of the Ministry of internal Affairs of Germany, the control on the borders with five neighboring countries – Austria, Switzerland, France, Luxembourg and Denmark remains. To cross these boundaries are citizens working in these countries and the drivers of freight transport. Air traffic is still shut down with Italy and Spain. Opened the border with Belgium and the Netherlands. Further steps for the gradual lifting of the quarantine is expected to discuss on April 30.
Following the meeting, Merkel said that Germany has achieved an interim success in combating the spread of the coronavirus, but the success of “remains fragile”, according to TASS. The Chancellor noted that the health care system of Germany is not overloaded, and thanked the citizens for what they observe authorities action.
“We’ll have so long to live with the virus until a vaccine is developed,” – said Merkel, saying what comes the next phase in the pandemic, the aim of which should be able to track every chain of infection.
For Angela Merkel, are preparing to leave the post of Chancellor in the fall of 2021, the management of this crisis is crucial. After a 15-year tenure at the helm of Germany and some political fatigue of recent months, the Chancellor is again on the unexpected wave of popularity, said Swiss newspaper in Berlin, Le Temps (translation InoPressa).
According to the survey, the ARD-Deutschland Trend, 64% of Germans are satisfied with Merkel, which is the highest indicator since the beginning of her fourth term. 63% of Germans say they are satisfied or very satisfied with the work of the government headed by the Christian Democrats and the social Democrats. We are talking about increase of 28 points in one month.
Quarantine measures weaken in other EU countries: in Spain, in some regions of the revival of economic activities not related to commodities. In particular, permitted to reopen for the companies operating in industry, construction, heavy industry and providing services in the field of security, repair.
In Italy subject to increased sanitary measures open book, office supply stores, as well as those that sell children’s clothing. However, concessions vary depending on the region. Some shops and businesses in the service sector resume in Austria, and the Czech Republic to weaken the regime of restrictive measures began last week. Tuesday in this country, even removed the ban on travel to other countries for employees engaged in work on the “vital infrastructure”.
In turn, in Denmark this week will open primary schools and kindergartens. However, the authorities noted that theatres, restaurants, bars and other similar objects will remain closed until may 10. It is also expected that the April 19, restrictive measures will be taken in Poland, where since the beginning of the outbreak revealed about 7 thousand cases of the new type of coronavirus.
Meanwhile, the who warned that hasty abandonment of the quarantine can increase the number of cases as the virus spreads quickly and slowly eroding. “It is important that the exit from the quarantine did not happen simultaneously across Europe”, – said the expert who Maria van Kerkhove. Therefore, the restrictive measures should be removed gradually to efforts in combating the disease is not gone.