Guwahati News Desk: After about nine hours of talks, Germany decided to extend its coronavirus shutdown by three weeks until March 28.
But surely easing some restrictions to allow nonessential stores and other businesses to reopen in areas with relatively low infection rates.
Chancellor Angela Merkel and the governors of 16 states agreed on Wednesday to measures aimed at balancing concern over the impact of more contagious coronavirus variants with a growing clamour for a return to a more normal life.
Merkel said, “These should be steps toward opening but at the same time steps that do not set us back. There are a great many examples in Europe of a dramatic third wave.”
However, she pledged that ‘spring 2021 will be different from spring a year ago.’
Most stores have been closed nationwide since December 16. Restaurants, bars, sports and leisure facilities have been closed since November 2 and hotels are allowed only to accommodate business travellers.
On Wednesday 9,019 new coronavirus cases were reported over the past 24 hours, bringing the total to 2.46 million. There were another 418 deaths in the nation rising the toll to 70,881.