Almost 12,000 new infections in Germany, extends lockdown with relaxations

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Health authorities reported 11,912 new Corona infections to the Robert Koch Institute (RKI) within one day. In addition, 359 more deaths were recorded within 24 hours. This is according to today’s figures from the RKI. Exactly one week ago, the RKI had recorded 11,869 new infections and 385 new deaths within one day. The number of new infections reported within seven days per 100,000 inhabitants (seven-day incidence) was 64.7 across Germany this morning, according to the RKI – slightly higher than the previous day (64.0). Four weeks ago, on February 4, the incidence had been 80.7. Its previous high had been reached on December 22 with 197.6.

Lockdown with relaxations
After more than nine hours of negotiations, Germany decided to extend the lockdown for a longer period. In view of further high infection numbers, it will be extended until Palm Sunday on March 28. However, there are to be many openings depending on the infection situation. This was decided last night by Chancellor Angela Merkel (CDU) and the state premiers. A gradual opening strategy with a built-in emergency brake was agreed.

Openings are planned from an incidence of 50 or even 100. If individual relaxations lead to a sharp increase in the number of infections in a region, all relaxations that have already taken place will be automatically cancelled. Germany has shown strength in its response to the second wave, he said. “And now the task of politics is to take the next steps wisely. They should be steps of opening and at the same time steps that must not set us back in the pandemic,” Merkel said.

“Steps of opening” would be, for example, easing contact restrictions starting March 8. Flower stores, bookstores and garden markets, for example, will also open across Germany. After that, a phased plan kicks in by April 4, with opening steps in various sectors from retail to outdoor dining when the incidence of 50 or 100 is reached. On April 5 at the earliest, the retail sector is to reopen in full, but with restrictions on the number of persons.