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GERMANY is set to re-open every shop and school and restart the Bundesliga before the end of May, Angela Merkel said today.

The country has been on a national lockdown since March 22 but has fared better than many of its European neighbours in the battle against coronavirus.

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 German Chancellor Angela Merkel at a Cabinet meeting in Berlin today
German Chancellor Angela Merkel at a Cabinet meeting in Berlin todayCredit: EPA

Germany has seen 6,996 deaths – compared to Spain and France which have both seen more than 25,000, and the UK and Italy which have seen around 30,000 each.

Germany has withstood the pandemic much better than other European nations thanks to widespread virus testing, an excellent healthcare system and strict lockdown measures.

It has already started lifting its lockdown, allowing some shops to open again two weeks ago before sending some kids back to school this week.

Schools and nurseries were ordered to close in Germany on March 13 while borders with five neighbouring countries were shut two days later.

And Germany is now set to ease restrictions even further, Angela Merkel said today.

The German Chancellor announced..

  • People from two different households can meet up
  • All shops will soon be allowed to reopen across Germany
  • Schools will gradually reopen for all pupils this month
  • Bundesliga football can return by the end of May
  • State governments will decide when to re-open bars, restaurants, hotels and cinemas

Germany's federal government and 16 states have agreed all shops can reopen and some sports can restart under certain conditions.

That includes the Bundesliga – Germany’s professional football league which last played on March 8 – which will return by the end of the month.

Schools will also gradually open for all pupils, while states will be left to decide for themselves on reopening restaurants, hotels and gyms.

Based on infection levels, state governments will also choose how and when to reopen universities, bars, trade fairs, cosmetic studios, brothels, theatres, cinemas and discos.

Merkel said: "We are following a bold path.

"We can afford to be a bit bold but we must remain cautious."

The return of some freedoms have led to fears Germany could see a second wave of coronavirus cases which could see restrictions brought back.

But the rate of new infections continues to plunge, the government-funded Robert Koch Institute (RKI) announced yesterday.

The reproduction number, or “R” — the average number of people each person with the virus infects — is close to its lowest recorded level, at 0.71.

Prof Lothar Wieler, the head of the RKI said: “The rate of transmitted infections continues to fall. This is very good news.”

The figures are the first to include reliable data on new infections since Germany began to lift its lockdown two weeks ago, the Telegraph reports.

New infections take time to develop, with many people not showing any symptoms for up to a fortnight, so there’s a lag of 10-14 days before they are reflected in the figures, scientists say.

 

The number of confirmed coronavirus cases in Germany has increased by 947 to 164,807 – keeping it below 1,000 since May 1.

The reported death toll also rose by 165 to 6,996.

The daily increase has stayed below 200 since April 23.

 Shoppers at the newly reopened KaDeWe department store in Berlin yesterday
Shoppers at the newly reopened KaDeWe department store in Berlin yesterdayCredit: Getty Images - Getty
 A visitor wearing a face mask walks among sculptures at Zwinger palace in Dresden
A visitor wearing a face mask walks among sculptures at Zwinger palace in DresdenCredit: Getty Images - Getty
 Kids practice social distancing at school in Ettlingen, Germany
Kids practice social distancing at school in Ettlingen, GermanyCredit: Getty Images - Getty

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Dominic Raab warns that the UK's hopes of lifting lockdown could be hit by second wave of infection similar to Germany
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