Cases Of COVID-19 Infection Rise, Germany Plans To Extend Lockdown

Playgrounds are closed in Germany due to COVID-19. (Wikimedia Commons / Michał Beim)

JAKARTA - German authorities plan to extend the lockdown to contain the increase in COVID-19 infections until April. This plan was taken in line with the increase in COVID-19 cases after the lockdown was relaxed some time ago.

This lockdown plan will be extended until 18 April. According to Reuters, local authorities will release the emergency brake as agreed, having previously loosened the lock on March 2, 2021.

This is done, especially in areas where the ratio of the number of positive cases of COVID-19 is more than 100 per 100 thousand population. German Chancellor Angela Merkel previously objected to the easing on March 2.

This is because the more contagious variant of COVID-19 makes the pandemic difficult to control. For this reason, it is also planned to impose a curfew in areas in Germany with high COVID-19 cases.

Also, it is planned to tighten company obligations, whereby companies that cannot offer employees the option of working from home, to provide COVID-19 tests once a week or twice a week if supplies are sufficient.

The entire plan will be included in a draft that will be discussed jointly by national and regional officials, in a video conference chaired by German Chancellor Angela Merkel, to decide on the next steps to tackle the pandemic this Monday.