A locked entrance of Humboldt University of Berlin is seen in Berlin, capital of Germany, March 16, 2020.(Xinhua/Shan Yuqi)
German Chancellor Angela Merkel on Monday announced new tough measures to contain the outbreak of the coronavirus, closing all shops except pharmacies and supermarkets.
At a press conference at the Chancellery, Merkel said that museums, bars and clubs, as well as trade fairs, exhibitions, animal parks, special markets, amusement arcades, and similar facilities will be closed. Brothels and public sports facilities are also to be discontinued for the time being.
What is not to be closed are the retail shops for food, pharmacies, gas stations, post offices, hairdressers, dry cleaners, delivery services, construction, garden and pet stores and wholesale trade.
In addition, hygiene requirements should also be increased. Craftsmen and service providers would be able to continue their services.
"It was very important to all of us that we act uniformly in Germany," said Merkel, who believed that tough measures are needed to limit social contacts as much as possible.
According to Merkel, coach tours, meetings in universities, religious or educational institutions are now prohibited. In addition, there should be changed visiting regulations with a view to nursing homes and similar institutions.
She added that Germans should now no longer have holiday trips in Germany or abroad. Restaurants will be allowed to open at 6 a.m. at the earliest and must be closed by 6 p.m. New hygiene regulations in restaurants and hotels will be introduced, for example, of distance requirements when it comes to tables in restaurants.
"The more each individual adheres to these regulations, the faster we get through this phase," said Merkel.
Merkel's press conference came after the German Federal Government and the heads of government of the 16 federal states agreed on a guideline for a joint approach to further restrict social contacts in the public sphere in view of the coronavirus, as the number of the confirmed cases has climbed to over 6,000 as of Monday afternoon, according to the German federal disease control agency Robert Koch Institute.
Germany has partly closed its borders with France, Austria, and Switzerland on Monday morning. Merkel said the border closures are only intended as temporary measures.
