Merkel, German governors to eye results of partial COVID-19 lockdown

BERLIN: German Chancellor Angela Merkel will assess the effects of a nearly two-week-long partial lockdown with state governors in a video conference on Monday (Nov 16).

Germany went into a partial lockdown at the beginning of November that included closing restaurants, cafes and cultural institutions but left open schools and stores after virus figures spiked exponentially in October.

The rise of new infections has since slowed, but last Friday the country still registered a record 23,542 newly confirmed cases. On Monday, 10,824 new cases were reported by the country’s disease control centre, but figures are usually lower at the beginning of the week due to less testing and delayed reporting.

READ: Germans should brace for 4 to 5 months of severe COVID-19 measures: Minister

Merkel and Germany's 16 state governors will begin their evaluation of the country’s situation in the corona pandemic in the afternoon. 

Local media reported that possible new measures could include recommendations to further reduce social contacts, cut school classes in half and make masks compulsory in elementary schools. 

READ: COVID-19 curbs tighten in Europe as global deaths top 1.3 million

So far, only high school students have to wear masks in class and often these regulations differ from state to state.

It was not clear whether any new, stricter measures would be agreed upon on Monday or whether Merkel and the state governors would wait for a week to pass new restrictions.

BOOKMARK THIS: Our comprehensive coverage of the coronavirus outbreak and its developments

Download our app or subscribe to our Telegram channel for the latest updates on the coronavirus outbreak: https://cna.asia/telegram