THE Germany enters a new phase of restrictions on social life, in which a possible national lockdown is envisaged, after the adoption of the controversial legislation that strengthens the powers of Chancellor Angela Merkel in order to be able to deal with the coronavirus pandemic.
At a time when many countries – such as Italy, Belgium and Switzerland – are planning to ease restrictions, Europe’s first economy is going upstream by activating the “Emergency brake”, which is included in the reform for protection against infectious diseases.
The bill was passed by the Bundestag this week despite reactions from thousands of critics who took to the streets in Germany. Essentially focuses the decision-making and enforcement process on the Covid-19 pandemic from the states to the federal government. The “emergency brake” provides for the imposition of specific restrictive measures in the event of an increase in coronavirus cases above the limit of 100 per 100,000 inhabitants for three days.
If the case rate exceeds 100, a traffic ban is automatically imposed from 22:00 to 5:00, restaurants close, while retail stores operate only by appointment and negative coronavirus test. If the cases exceed 150, the stores operate only with the click & collect system, while in 165 cases the schools also close.
Yesterday, the incidence rate averaged 164 per 100,000 inhabitants across Germany, which has so far not had restrictions as severe as in other countries, such as France and Spain.
“It’s difficult, it weighs on us all, but it’s necessary for a limited time,” said Federal Health Minister Jens Spann. The goal is to “break the third wave of the virus” and then “gradually open up with increased use of the tests,” he added.
The automatic activation of the “emergency brake” is expected to end tensions between the states, which define their own health and education policies, some of which until now were unaware of the strict measures.
Strong reactions
It is important for Chancellor Merkel’s government to take control of the pandemic. So far in Germany more than 81,000 people have died from covid-19 and the third wave of the epidemic, which is spreading rapidly due to the most contagious strains of the coronavirus, has not yet reached its peak, according to virologists.
But the curfew provokes strong reactions, mainly from the FDP liberals, as it is considered unconstitutional.
The Karlsruhe Supreme Court has already received 25 appeals against the law, according to a spokesman. One of them was submitted by the Bavarian party “Freie Waehler” (Free Voters), an ally of the Christian Socialists (CSU) who rule this state, which wants the abolition of the traffic ban and the suspension of the operation of the stores.
But also the Prime Minister of Hesse, Volker Buffier, estimated that the measure of the traffic ban should be applied only locally and as a “last resort”.
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