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Christmas tree in front of the Brandenburg Gate in Berlin: Quiet time
Photo:
Andreas Friedrichs / imago images / A.
Friedrichs
From the point of view of the state government, the persistently high Corona numbers in Berlin can only be reduced with tougher measures.
The Senate is therefore planning significant restrictions for the retail trade and longer school holidays, as the Governing Mayor Michael Müller (SPD) announced in the House of Representatives.
He did not rule out the possibility that many shops would be closed before Christmas.
"We're going to have to shut down retail," he said.
"Beyond the grocery retail trade, all other shopping offers must be closed by January 10th, there is no other way."
Before Berlin, Saxony, currently the country with the highest numbers nationwide, had already announced a hard lockdown from Monday.
Schools, daycare centers, after-school care centers and many shops are to be closed.
New federal-state consultations are expected at the weekend
In Bavaria, stricter rules such as exit restrictions, alcohol bans in city centers and curfews in hotspots have been in place since Wednesday.
Chancellor Angela Merkel spoke out in the Bundestag on Wednesday for a hard lockdown after Christmas and until January 10th.
Probably at the weekend there will be new consultations with the federal states.
Müller is currently also chairman of the conference of prime ministers.
According to Müller, it has not yet been determined when the stricter corona rules in Berlin will take effect.
"I can't tell you the exact day whether it's the 23rd or the 20th, because we have to and want to coordinate that with Brandenburg," he said.
The Senate wants to deal with the question next Tuesday.
There must also be consequences at schools in Berlin: »There are an incredible number of contacts through school events, through lessons.
And we have to avoid contact, ”said Müller.
»For this reason, I come to the conclusion that we have to extend our school holidays until January 10th, or that it is also a variant to let the holidays end on the 4th, but then the pupils in a digital form or on another Way to teach. "
The partial shutdown since November 2nd with the closure of restaurants, cultural and leisure facilities would have brought something.
“We were able to slow down the infection dynamics.
But that's not enough, ”said Müller.
He referred to full intensive care units and double-digit deaths per day in Berlin in connection with the corona virus.
"None of this is anything to come to terms with."
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