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Coronavirus: Germany’s new drastic measures to fight the virus

On Sunday German Chancellor Angela Merkel announced a nine-point plan to stop the spread of coronavirus in the country.

The measures to be implemented throughout the country were announced after Ms Merkel had telephone meeting with the head of Germany’s 16 states.

By Sunday Germany had recorded 23,974 cases of coronavirus (COVID-19) and 92 deaths, DW reported.

The new nine-point plan to fight coronavirus in Germany

• Public gatherings of more than two people have been banned except for families and those living together.
• All contacts with others must be reduced to a minimum.
• In public a 1.5-meter (4.9 feet) distance must be kept at all times.
• All gastronomy businesses ordered to close. Only businesses offering food delivery and collection are allowed operate.
• All business providing services such as hair-dressers, cosmetic, massage and tattoo studios where a 2-meter distance between people is not possible must close. The only businesses and centers allowed to remain open are those offering medical treatments.
• The new rules are to be enforced by police and other law enforcement agencies. They will be issuing fines for infractions of the new rules. Ms Merkel however did not disclose what the punishment would be for anyone not abiding by the new measures in Germany.
• In all workplaces hygiene regulations must be implemented for staff and visitors.
• Those commuting to work are allowed to do so. It is also allowed to help others and do exercises alone outside as long as the activities are carried out in abidance with the guidelines.
• The new measures will initially be in force for two weeks.

The above are the new drastic measures Chancellor Angela Merkel and the Prime Ministers of the federal states agreed on in a telephone conference on Sunday.

“We must do everything possible to prevent an uncontrolled increase in the number of cases and to keep our health system efficient,” Ms Merkel said.