German Chancellor Angela Merkel has extended tough restrictions to combat the spread of coronavirus until February 14. This was reported by the Frankfurter Rundschau newspaper.
According to Merkel, the decline in the number of infected is “cause for hope,” but the new COVID-19 strain poses a particular danger, so the restrictions cannot be relaxed yet.
Also, residents of Germany were obliged to wear only medical masks or respirators in public transport and in stores. Previously, citizens could wear rag masks or cover their nose and mouth with a scarf.
In addition, the rule to reduce social contacts will be in force, schools and kindergartens remain closed.
Earlier it was reported that in the south of Germany, in Bavaria, a previously unknown mutation of the coronavirus was discovered, due to which an outbreak of the disease occurred in a local hospital. 52 patients and 21 employees of the clinic have become infected with the new variation of the virus.
According to the latest data, more than two million cases of coronavirus infection were recorded in Germany, 1.7 million people recovered, another 48.4 thousand died.