Covid-19: Germany tightens coronavirus lockdown over Christmas

German Chancellor Angela Merkel Picture: Bernd von Jutrczenka/dpa via AP

Germany is to close most shops and schools, and further limit social contacts in an effort to drive down the rate of coronavirus infections that have remained stubbornly high in recent weeks.

Chancellor Angela Merkel said she and the governors of Germany’s 16 states had agreed to step up the country’s lockdown measures from December 16 to January 10 to stop the exponential rise of Covid-19 cases.