03/24/2021 8:12 AM
Clarín.com
World
Updated 03/24/2021 9:48 AM
Amid strong criticism, German Chancellor Angela Merkel reversed the decision to increase contact restrictions during Holy Week due to the growth of coronavirus infections.
Merkel made the announcement at a last-minute meeting with the prime ministers of the 16 federal states.
"
An error must be called an error and, above all, it must be corrected
and, if possible, in time. I know that this proposal has caused additional uncertainty, I deeply regret it and therefore I ask for the forgiveness of all citizens," said the Chancellor. in a speech after an emergency meeting with the leaders of the German regional states.
According to sources, Merkel told regional chiefs that the agreement reached at night talks earlier in the week, which called for the
closure of most businesses and the limitation of meetings from April 1 to April 5,
would not apply.
.
Criticism of the deal centered on the fact that, despite marathon conversations,
key elements of the plan remained unclear
.
Merkel during a meeting with the Cabinet.
Photo: EFE
Industrial and commercial leaders criticized that
they did not know what the
Easter
closings meant in practice
.
The chancellor informed the heads of government of her decision as soon as the meeting began.
Merkel is scheduled to appear in the course of the day before Parliament.
In the last hours, Merkel warned that the world is facing "a new pandemic."
He said it when announcing the restrictive measures that finally and due to the criticism will not be carried out.
According to Merkel, the new variant, known as B117, is "
significantly more deadly and significantly more infectious
."
For this reason, for the German leader, it is "a new virus, obviously of the same type but with completely different characteristics."
Meanwhile, in Germany the vaccination campaign has not lived up to initial expectations, largely as a result of a dose shortage: only 9% of the 83 million inhabitants received at least one dose of the coronavirus vaccine and barely 4% both, according to figures given last Sunday.
Asked about the European Union (EU) plans to restrict the export of vaccines and their components, Merkel said she supported the bloc's efforts to ensure contracts were honored, citing in particular the Swedish company's supply problems to the EU. --British AstraZeneca.
JPE
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