Germany to shutter most shops, bars, churches

[Eugene]

Source: Reuters

WORLD NEWS MARCH 16, 2020 / 11:16 AM / UPDATED 11 MINUTES AGO

BERLIN (Reuters) - Germany’s federal and state governments agreed sweeping rules shutting everything from non-essential shops to bars, clubs, theatres, museums, brothels and churches in order to slow the spread of the coronavirus, the federal government said.

In a statement published on Monday, they said grocery shops, markets, banks, pharmacies and delivery services would remain open, while restaurants and other eating establishments would generally be allowed to open between 6 a.m. and 6 p.m.

The government said the new guidelines aimed “to further limit social contacts in public spaces in response to the corona epidemic in Germany.” Shops that remained open would have to implement heightened hygiene measures and monitor their entrances in order to avoid long queues building, it added.

Reporting by Thomas Escritt; Editing by Riham Alkousaa


Read more: https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-germany-closing/germany-to-shutter-most-shops-bars-churches-idUSKBN2132JN

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Short article. No more yet at link.

[appalachiablue]

1. K/R Thanks and here's a similar report from the BBC:

Germany has become the latest country to close borders as European nations try to stem the spread of the coronavirus.

Its borders with France, Austria and Switzerland were shut on Monday morning, except for commercial traffic.

- France is considering more stringent lockdowns, with its health chief saying the situation is "deteriorating fast".

Latest World Health Organization (WHO) figures list 164,000 confirmed cases and 6,470 deaths worldwide.

However, last week it said Europe was now the "epicentre" of the virus and urged governments to act aggressively to control the spread of Covid-19, the disease caused by the coronavirus.

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-51905129