Germany heading into partial lockdown to curb coronavirus

Angela Merkel believes the German health system could be overwhelmed without action (Kay Nietfeld/dpa via AP, pool)

German officials have agreed to a four-week shutdown of restaurants, bars, cinemas, theatres and other leisure facilities in a bid to curb a sharp rise in coronavirus infections, Chancellor Angela Merkel has announced.

Mrs Merkel and the country’s 16 state governors, who are responsible for imposing and easing restrictions, agreed on the partial lockdown in a videoconference on Wednesday.