Speaking on Tuesday after a long video call with the country’s 16 state governors, Chancellor Angela Merkel announced that the restrictions previously set to run until March 28 will remain in effect until April 18.
Coronavirus infections have steadily increased in Germany, as the most contagious variant first detected in Britain has become dominant, and the country’s daily number of cases per capita has exceeded that of the United States.
“Basically, we have a new pandemic,” Merkel told reporters in Berlin.
“Basically, we have a new virus, obviously of the same type, but with completely different characteristics,” she added. “Significantly more deadly, significantly more infectious (e) infectious for longer.”
Since their last meeting, three weeks ago, which saw both sides agree on a multi-step plan to relax restrictions, several states have tried to avoid returning to tougher blocks when the weekly number of new infections exceeds 100 per 100,000 residents in three consecutive days.
Merkel made it clear that she would not accept this.
“Unfortunately, we will have to make use of this emergency brake,” she said.
The weekly infection rate per 100,000 people was 107 across the country on Monday, compared to the mid-1960s, three weeks ago.
Authorities agreed to largely close public life from April 1 to 3, adding a public holiday and closing most stores during the period. Public meetings will be banned from April 1 to 5, to encourage people to stay at home.
Amid concerns about the increase in Germans traveling abroad on vacation, the authorities also agreed with the general requirement that air travelers take the COVID-19 test before boarding a flight to Germany.
Drafting legally watertight rules has proven to be a headache at times. A court in Germany’s most populous state, North Rhine-Westphalia, said on Monday it had lifted rules that required people to schedule visits to stores. He said they violated a requirement that companies receive equal treatment.
The state government promptly reinstated the rules, making them stricter for some businesses – such as bookstores and garden centers – that were previously exempt.
According to Tuesday’s agreement, the authorities intend to offer free tests to all students and teachers in German schools, many of whom have recently reopened after months of remote teaching.
Merkel said Germany, which had comparatively low deaths during the first phase of the pandemic last spring, had “successes, but also setbacks” and insisted that the situation would improve as more people were vaccinated.
Germany’s vaccination campaign has so far fallen short of expectations, with only about 9% of the population receiving at least the first injection and 4% receiving both doses on Sunday.
“It is difficult for longer than we thought,” said Merkel. “But there is definitely visible light at the end of the tunnel.”
Asked about the EU’s plans to restrict the export of vaccines and components, Merkel said she supported the efforts of the bloc’s executive committee to ensure compliance with contracts, citing the supply problems the EU had with the AstraZeneca injection.
Britain, which left the EU last year, protested strongly against the plans, fearing that its deliveries could be interrupted.
Merkel said she and French President Emmanuel Macron had talked to British Prime Minister Boris Johnson about the issue in recent days and that EU leaders intend to reach a decision “responsibly” at a virtual summit on Thursday.
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AP journalist Geir Moulson contributed to this report.
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