Germany begins ‘light lockdown’
Germany goes into “lockdown light” mode today, as the country’s disease control agency recorded 12,097 new confirmed Covid-19 infections in the last 24 hours.
Bars, cinemas, theatres, museums, fitness studios and swimming pools will remain closed from today, while cafes and restaurants are allowed to offer takeaway food only.
Meetings in public are restricted to two households or no more than 10 people. Unlike during the first lockdown in the spring, schools and nurseries will stay open.
While the new “wavebreaker” restrictions will for now only apply until the end of the month, Angela Merkel’s chief of staff, Helge Braun, has said it cannot be ruled out that the soft lockdown could last longer. On Sunday, health minister Jens Spahn called on the public to prepare for “months of restrictions and abstinence”.
One positive trend among the latest coronavirus numbers in Germany is that the case fatality rate is lower than in the spring, and on Monday fell below 2 today for the first time since mid-April.
However, the head of the association of German hospitals, Gerald Gaß, warned in an interview with tabloid Bild that that trend could be reversed in two to three weeks’ time, when the number of patients in intensive care is expected to surpass its April peak.
While Germany has spare capacity for about 6,000 high-care patients, there are concerns about a future lack of staff to attend those on emergency care beds.
Updated