German leaders have ordered the closure of all non-essential shops and told people to ‘stay at home’ as part of sweeping nationwide measures to scale back public life in order to slow the spread of the coronavirus.
Chancellor Angela Merkel called on Germans to cancel any holidays at home and abroad, while president Frank-Walter Steinmeier told people to ‘stay at home’.
The government has banned gatherings in churches, mosques and synagogues and ordered non-essential shops as well as playgrounds shut.
At a press conference in Berlin, Merkel said that under the new measures, ‘there shouldn’t be any holiday trips undertaken inside the country or outside it’.
The Brandenburg Gate and Pariser Platz, usually filled with tourists, stand almost empty on Monday
Empty benches, chairs and tables are seen in front of a restaurant in Berlin on Monday. Germany’s federal and state governments have agreed sweeping rules shutting everything from non-essential shops to bars, clubs, theatres, museums, brothels and churches
‘There have never been measures like this in our country before. They are far-reaching, but at the moment they are necessary.’
Meanwhile, Steinmeier called on Germans to ‘work together to ensure the virus spreads as slowly as possible’.
‘So wherever possible: stay at home! Avoid close contact… and have understanding for all restrictive measures,’ he said in a statement.
The sweeping restrictions aimed at ‘limiting social contact in public places’ will leave most sites from museums to swimming pools to gyms shuttered.
But supermarkets, banks and post offices will stay open, as will pharmacies and petrol stations.
Hairdressers, construction supply stores and laundromats will also keep operating, said the government, saying that the move was to ensure that ‘service providers and craftsmen can continue to carry out their trade’.
Restaurants and cafes can stay open, but only until 6pm daily.
Hotels will only be used for ‘essential and explicitly not for tourist purposes’, the government added.
Schools, museums, bars and entertainment venues are closed as a precaution against coronavirus in Berlin, Germany
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 6am and 6pm.
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.
Germany has reported 5,000 coronavirus cases out of a population of 82.7 million, and 12 deaths.
It comes as Europe goes into self-isolation, with the EU today revealing plans to shut itself off from all outsiders as it takes drastic measures to halt the spread of coronavirus.
German Chancellor Angela Merkel speaks during a press statement prior to meeting with economic and labor unions leaders at the Chanceller. Germany has reported 5,000 coronavirus cases from a population of 82.7 million, and 12 deaths
German police near the border between Germany and Denmark today as Germany introduced severe restrictions at its borders
European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen unveiled a proposed ban on all non-essential travel by non-citizens into the 26-nation Schengen free travel area for 30 days.
In addition, emergency medical and food supplies into the bloc will be able to use special ‘fast lanes’ to ensure health services and supermarkets can cope with demand.
The Schengen area includes 22 EU countries but not member states Ireland, Cyprus, Croatia, Romania and Bulgaria.
A vehicle of the Military Emergency Unit (UME) patrols in an almost empty Puerta del Sol square in Madrid during partial lockdown as part of a 15-day state of emergency
People line up to get into a coffeeshop in Amsterdam, the Netherlands, today as they stock up on essential supplies
Non EU-members Iceland, Norway, Switzerland and Liechtenstein are also within it.
Ms von der Leyen told a press conference: ‘The UK citizens are European citizens so of course there are no restrictions for the UK citizens to travel to the continent.’
She added: ‘Here in Europe we are heavily affected by coronavirus and we know that everything that reduces social interaction also reduces the speed of the spread of the virus.
‘The less travel, the more we can contain the virus.
‘Therefore, as I have just informed our G7 partners, I propose to the heads of state and governments, to introduce temporary restrictions on non-essential travel to the European Union.’
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen addresses the media after a video-conference with G7 leaders at the European Council building in Brussels on Monday. Ursula von der Leyen unveiled a proposed ban on all non-essential travel by non-citizens into the 26-nation Schengen free travel area for 30 days
She said exemptions would include long-term EU residents, family members of EU nationals, diplomats, doctors and researchers working on containing the health crisis.
Doctors, nurses, care workers and experts tackling the coronavirus pandemic would also be exempt, Ms von der Leyen said.
It came as the number of deaths in Europe came close to 2,000, with 48,277 confirmed cases.
Worldwide there have been 6,648 deaths and 173,204 cases.