Lockdown extends in Germany, new rules for flyers

German Chancellor Angela Markel announced an extended lockdown during a meeting with the country’s 16 state governors. The lockdown was previously supposed to be until March 28, but has now been extended to April 18. Besides the extended lockdown, Germany has also added some new measures and restrictions.
The nation has also made it amply clear that the lockdown means that Easter holidays would be affected. Public life will largely remain shut over the Easter holidays to limit the spread of the virus.

Germany is being cautious since the infection rate has largely increased with the new strain of the contagious virus that has reached the country. The new strain of the virus was first detected in Britain. In fact, Germany’s daily number of cases per capita has passed the United States’ with the advent of the new strain.
Chancellor Angela Merkel told reporters in Berlin that the country now basically has a new pandemic.


Merkel said in a statement, "Essentially we have a new virus, obviously of the same type but with completely different characteristics. Significantly more deadly, significantly more infectious (and) infectious for longer.”

In Germany, the weekly rate per 100000 people was 107 on Monday. The number was somewhere in the 60s about three weeks ago. The number is a large jump in infections, and it was made possible due to the new strain.

There is also a blanket rule for COVID-19 test for travellers, who are boarding an aeroplane heading towards Germany. The authorities are also looking into the possibility of providing free-testing for all students, and teachers in schools.