|
 New infections have been decreasing in recent days and pressure on
intensive care units has eased slightly, but virologists are worried
about the possible spread of more infectious variants of the virus.
"It is likely that we will agree on a two-week extension," said one
person involved in the talks, confirming a report in Bild daily. The
existing lockdown runs until Jan. 31.
The federal government has proposed that people are obliged to wear
medical masks on public transport and in shops and that aid for
companies should be improved due to the extension, a draft of the
resolution to be discussed showed.
The federal government would also create a working group to draw up
a blueprint for a safe and fair opening strategy, said the draft.
"The infection numbers have been going down for several weeks or
stagnating and that's good. Now we are facing a very aggressive
mutation that we have to respond to," Berlin Mayor Michael Mueller
told German television.
[to top of second column] |
 He said one focus would be
boosting homeworking.
"There is much more room for manoeuvre," said
Mueller, adding states aimed to get employees to
have to justify why employees had to come to
work.
Leaders would also discuss curfews, already in
place in some states, but it was unlikely they
would be imposed everywhere, he said.
The number of confirmed coronavirus cases had
risen by 11,369 to 2.05 million, the Robert Koch
Institute (RKI) for infectious diseases showed
on Tuesday. The death toll was up 989 at 47,622.
(Reporting by Madeline Chambers; Editing by Nick
Macfie)
[© 2021 Thomson Reuters. All rights
reserved.] Copyright 2021 Reuters. All rights reserved. This material may not be published,
broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Thompson Reuters is solely responsible for this content |
