Coronavirus: Angela Merkel urges German states to stick to agreed lockdown rules as cases surge
- Merkel and the regional leaders had agreed to stick to shutdown measures including an ‘emergency brake’ to be applied in regions with high incidence rates until April 18
- But under Germany’s federal system, each state can ultimately decide its own rules and some have continued with reopening steps, despite fierce criticism
Chancellor Angela Merkel on Sunday urged Germany’s 16 federal states to honour measures agreed to curb Covid-19, with cases spiralling as many regions stray from the national line.
“We need action in the federal states,” Merkel said in an interview with the ARD broadcaster.
“We have to take the appropriate measures very seriously. Some states are doing it, others are not yet doing it,” she said.
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At a tense meeting last week, Merkel and the regional leaders had agreed to stick to shutdown measures including an “emergency brake” to be applied in regions with high incidence rates until April 18.
But under Germany’s federal system, each state can ultimately decide its own rules and some have continued with reopening steps, despite fierce criticism.
The small southwestern state of Saarland has said it is planning to end its shutdown completely and open leisure, sports and entertainment facilities after Easter to those who can provide a negative test.
“If we are creating the impression that we can still open things – that is not the order of the day at the moment,” she said.