Coronavirus: Germany reopens shops, schools as lockdown relaxed

BERLIN: Germany is planning an almost complete return to normality in May, with schools and shops reopening and the return of top-flight Bundesliga football matches behind closed doors.

“I believe we can say today that we have the very first phase of the pandemic behind us,” said Chancellor Angela Merkel, adding that Germany had “achieved the goal” of slowing the spread of the virus.

All schools and shops will now be able to open as long as they observe hygiene and social distancing rules, Merkel said after a meeting with the leaders of Germany’s 16 states.

Schools had already been allowed to open but only to older children. Likewise, only shops up to a certain size have previously been allowed to do business. Germany’s reopening is immediate but states will make separate announcements.

The exact date of the Bundesliga’s restart will be determined by the league, as players will have to undergo a week-long quarantine before matches resume. The cultural sector will have to wait, as large events are still cancelled until the end of August. Borders also remain closed.

Social distancing rules will also remain in place until at least June 5, Merkel said. While only two individuals from separate households could meet previously, now, members of two households can gather. Germans will also still be required to wear face masks when shopping or using public transport.

Germany has so far been able to prevent scenes of dire overcrowding in its hospitals as seen elsewhere in Europe. Merkel has however repeatedly urged caution, warning that it would be a “crying shame” to throw away early successes in containing the deadly disease.

The restrictions have seen Germany keep its death rate far lower than that of its European neighbours. Merkel’s government is walking a tightrope between preventing new deadly outbreaks of the virus and containing the already devastating impact of the lockdown measures.

In recent days, many state premiers have brazenly ignored pleas for caution on easing coronavirus restrictions. On the eve of discussions with regional leaders, Germany’s biggest state Bavaria preempted federal measures by announcing that restaurants would open from May 18 and hotels from May 30.

Underlining the regional differences in infection rates, Merkel said leaders have agreed on a new “emergency mechanism” which would trigger measures locally if the numbers of new cases were to surge.

Once the number of new cases hits 50 per 100,000 people over seven days, local authorities would be required to impose stay-at-home measures to halt the spread, Merkel added. “We can afford to take a little courage, but we need to stay cautious,” she added.