Merkel aims for cautious reopening as German outbreak worsens

Photographer: Liesa Johannssen-Koppitz / Bloomberg

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Chancellor Angela Merkel plans to develop a plan that will pave the way for a cautious reopening of Europe’s largest economy, even with rising infection rates.

Under pressure from a German public tired of the pandemic, Merkel told the leadership of her Christian Democratic party on Monday that the next steps will have to be taken “intelligently” and with further testing, according to a person familiar with the discussions.

She identified three areas of facilitation: private meetings, restaurants and leisure facilities and schools – which started an attempt to reopen on Monday in many states. The reopening of stores was not mentioned.

The prospects for unfolding Germany’s blockade fueled a increased optimism among companies in the country. The Ifo Institute’s expectations indicator for the next six months rose to 94.2 in February, from 91.5 in January, exceeding the estimates of a Bloomberg survey.

The weather may turn sour again after the country’s contagion rate has increased for three consecutive days, even before the first relaxation measures in months take effect. The setback has heightened tensions in Germany’s ruling coalition amid growing concerns about aggressive virus mutations. The campaign also increased before the September national elections.

Slow Ebb

After weeks of decline, Germany’s Covid-19 spread is rising again

Source: Robert Koch Institute

Even without a national strategy for schools, some students in 10 of Germany’s 16 states returned to school on Monday. Hairdressers are due to reopen on March 1st. Health Minister Jens Spahn has lowered expectations that new measures will take place soon, saying in a television interview on Sunday that officials will need to assess the impact of the changes before considering whether further restrictions can be eased.

His comments were made while Merkel’s junior coalition partner, SPD, attacked Spahn because of the lack of widespread testing. The leading figure at Merkel’s CDU has promised to have free rapid tests available until March 1, as well as getting approval for self-tests by next week.

“With immunizations, we realized that we can’t believe Jens Spahn’s ads,” Lars Klingbeil, secretary general of the Social Democrats, told Bild newspaper in a video interview. “I am a little afraid that we are waiting for the next disappointment” in the tests, he said.

Germany’s contagion rate pointed out until 61 infections per 100,000 people in seven days on Monday, the highest level in more than a week and the latest evidence that a steady decline since the peak before Christmas stopped. The government linked additional easing to local seven-day incidence rates below 35.

Germany’s reproduction factor – or R value – rose to 1.25 on Sunday from 1.14 the previous day, according to the most recent report by the Robert Koch Institute, the country’s public health authority. Anything above 1 means that the spread is accelerating.

The government’s corona cabinet will meet on Monday to discuss the situation, but a decision on the blockade of Germany is not likely until March 3, when Merkel and regional leaders will meet.

Germany is not alone in the struggle to maintain control over its outbreak. At a cabinet meeting on Monday, Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi is expected to extend the ban on popular movement among the regions for another month, until the end of March. The authorities can also discuss further measures to contain the pandemic.

“Unfortunately, given the variants that are circulating, it is essential that we continue with the restrictions,” Health Minister Roberto Speranza told regional leaders on Sunday, according to the Ansa news agency.