Germany enforces a nationwide quarantine

Businesses affected by the new restrictive measures will receive state support of up to 500,000 euros.

German authorities have announced strict quarantine for the period from December 16, 2020, to January 10, 2021. As part of the campaign to combat the virus’s spread, the government decided to close all non-food stores and move schoolchildren to homeschool. The measures were approved during a videoconference with the participation of German Chancellor Angela Merkel and the prime ministers of the federal states of the republic. 

During the quarantine, will continue to work only stores selling household chemicals and dry goods, pharmacies, gas stations, branches of banks and post offices, and churches, which on holidays will operate by appointment. 

Authorities have also imposed a ban on public events, including during the New Year vacations. From December 24 to 26, groups of no more than nine adults can meet in a family circle. Citizens are also advised to refrain from traveling to other regions and abroad during the quarantine. 

Businesses whose activities will be affected by the new restrictive measures will receive state support. Business owners who are at risk of bankruptcy will be able to count on the compensation of up to 500 thousand euros, depending on the operational performance in the pre-crisis period. 

A repeated lockdown as part of the second wave of the virus was announced in Germany on November 2. Since then, the country has had lenient restrictions for businesses and citizens. Initially, the measures were supposed to be in effect until December 20. Still, later the government decided to extend and tighten the restrictions against the background of the country’s problematic epidemiological situation.

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