Chancellor Angela Merkel faced growing pressure to set out a clear roadmap to reopening German society from months of pandemic lockdown, with Finance Minister Olaf Scholz joining the chorus of voices saying existing plans did not go far enough.
Germany to start easing COVID-19 lockdown next week, draft says swissinfo.ch - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from swissinfo.ch Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
By Reuters Staff
(Adds Altmaier, Dehoga)
BERLIN, Feb 26 (Reuters) - German Economy Minister Peter Altmaier said on Friday he was confident that restaurants could be allowed to partially open soon so that outdoor dining on terraces and in beer gardens should be possible around the Easter weekend in early April.
Chancellor Angela Merkel and state leaders are expected to meet on March 3 to discuss a gradual easing of lockdown measures that are currently in place until at least March 7.
Restaurants, bars and entertainment venues have been shut since early November. A stricter lockdown from mid-December forced non-essential shops, services and schools to close as well. Factories and offices have remained open.
Angela Merkel is facing a rebellion from regional leaders and voters over Germany s call to extend lockdown restrictions following of a terrible start to the vaccine rollout.
Several of the country s state leaders defied the Chancellor by allowing garden centres, florists and nail parlours to reopen from Monday.
Mrs Merkel had pushed for an extension to current lockdown restrictions, warning the country faced a third wave of coronavirus if rules were lifted too quickly.
But Germany s government system means regional leaders have power over lockdowns. Even Bavarian leader Markus Söder, one of Mrs Merkel s staunchest supporters on the lockdown, is said to have moved away from her position.
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