Germany to prolong lockdown until 3 May,with conditions
- Some German stores will be allowed to open on Monday under specific conditions, the chancellor said. The easing will only apply to stores with surface area bellow 800 square meters (8,611 square feet)
- Schools in Germany will start to open on May 4
- Barber shops will also be allowed to open in early May
- Festivals and other public events will likely stay banned until the end of August
- Religious services will stay suspended for foreseeable future
- The government will reconvene to discuss the situation every two weeks
- The government still recommends wearing face masks when shopping or using public transport
The health system in Germany is “not overwhelmed” despite a massive amount of work provided by medical workers, Angela Merkel said, with around 10,000 intensive care beds currently available. However, she described it as a “fragile interim success
What about schools?
Exams and exam preparation for pupils should be able to take place again – but only after appropriate preparations, the paper continues.
Emergency care in day-care centres (Kitas) will be continued and extended. This should enable more parents in essential sectors to work.
By April 29th, the Conference of Education Ministers is to present a concept for further steps on how teaching can be resumed under special hygiene and protective measures.
When it comes to football, so-called Bundesliga “ghost games” – matches without a crowd – should be allowed to go ahead, but fitness clubs and gyms will have to remain closed, according to initial discussions.
Politicians are still debating whether protective face masks should be mandatory in public areas, such as on transport or supermarkets.
