FX.co ★ Chancellor Merkel to take control of COVID-19 fight

According to Bloomberg, Germany’s Chancellor Angela Merkel may reduce the powers of 16 state leaders who have opted not to introduce restrictions agreed with her administration. Merkel intends to take control from state officials and deprive them of the right to tighten or ease COVID-19 restrictions.

Germany’s regional authorities are ready to transfer their powers to impose COVID-19 restrictions throughout the country to the government. The responsibilities of 16 state officials in this matter will be limited. A draft of legislation has been prepared to grant Angela Merkel the right to control containment measures in Germany that are currently managed at the states level.

The Chancellor plans to enforce a curfew (from 9:00 pm to 5:00 am) in the regions with the high infection rate. These are the territories where the number of new infections exceeds 100 cases per 100,000 people. Meanwhile, non-essential shops and schools will be closed in the areas with the rate of over 200 cases per 100,000 people.

Bloomberg states that Merkel’s initiative is controversial and its implementation requires additional debates. It is possible that the German Bundestag will not approve the bill. Earlier, Bloomberg reported that the Chancellor showed uncharacteristic bursts of temper in meetings with regional officials. Merkel believes that many regional authorities did not take necessary measures to stem the Covid-19 pandemic.