Germany may extend lockdown until March 28

Owing to the aggressive spreading of the new coronavirus variant, Chancellor Angela Merkel and leaders of the 16 federal states have agreed to extend the lockdown until March 28, the Focus Online report said. However, according to the draft prepared after the discussion, Chancellor and the states have agreed to ease the restrictions from March 8 on wards, the report said.

According to Reuters, starting from March 8 a maximum of five people from two households, excluding children younger than 14, will be allowed to meet, up from a maximum of two people under current rules.

Flower and book stores, garden centers, tattoo and nail parlors as well as massage salons will also be permitted to reopen.

The discussion between Merkel and the heads of the states was held amid the vast spreading of coronavirus in the country which reached more than 2.4 million so far.

While some children have returned to schools and hairdressers were allowed to reopen on Monday, most of Germany’s lockdown restrictions remain in place. With the pandemic-weary public growing restless ahead of national elections, some officials are keen to ease the strain, while others are more cautious, a LiveMint report said.