BERLIN — German Chancellor Angela Merkel announced further moves Wednesday to ease lockdown restrictions, shifting more responsibility to the countrys 16 federal states.
Social distancing — of at least 1.5 metres — will continue until June 5, but people will be allowed to meet in public with those from “one other household,” Merkel said. All shops are allowed to reopen, with a focus on hygiene and controlled access, avoiding queuing.
Schools will continue to ease back to some normality, with all pupils expected to be back in class before the summer holidays.
Germanys football season is scheduled to resume “from the second half of May,” Merkel said, with the top two professional leagues playing behind closed doors.
“We have the very first phase of the pandemic behind us, but … we have a long struggle with the virus ahead of us,” Merkel said after a conference call with the 16 state leaders.
“This will be a huge challenge,” the chancellor added, saying everyone “needs to remain careful.” Merkel stressed it was important “to continue taking snapshots” and to regularly re-evaluate the situation.
Under the latest plan, Germanys federal states will take on more responsibility for deciding on further relaxation of restrictions — for example on reopening bars, clubs, gyms, amusement parks and brRead More – Source
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