Germany Extends Lockdown Order Until December 14 to 'Block Variant Virus'

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Byung-hee] The German federal government has extended its nationwide lockdown order to prevent the spread of the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19) until the 14th of next month. The original lockdown order was scheduled to end on the 31st of this month.

Despite the recent decrease in the number of new confirmed cases, the lockdown order was extended due to the risk of the spread of variant viruses identified in the United Kingdom and South Africa.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel said on the 19th (local time), after meeting with the governors of the 16 federal states of Germany, "Now is the time to take proactive measures in preparation for the risk of variant viruses."

With the extension of the lockdown order, most stores, schools, gyms, and sports centers, except for some essential facilities, must remain closed. Strengthened quarantine measures, such as regulations on the types of masks worn in public places, will also be newly introduced. Private gatherings are limited to one person outside the household, and wearing medical masks is mandatory on public transportation and in supermarkets. Germany also plans to issue a federal government order for remote work, requiring all possible workplaces to implement telecommuting.

Chancellor Merkel emphasized, "Extending the lockdown measures is a difficult decision, but prevention is the top priority."

According to the Robert Koch Institute (RKI), Germany's equivalent of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the number of new COVID-19 cases in Germany was recorded at 11,369 on this day. The cumulative number of confirmed cases reached 2.05 million. The number of COVID-19 deaths on this day was recorded at 989, bringing the total death toll to 47,622.