Angela Merkel defends Germany’s ‘urgently needed’ pandemic restrictions

Almost empty roads lead to Frankfurt, Germany (Michael Probst/AP)

Chancellor Angela Merkel has urged Germans to accept nationwide pandemic restrictions that came into force at midnight, resulting in a 10pm-5am curfew, further limits on personal contacts and access to non-essential stores in regions with high infection rates.

In her weekly video address, Mrs Merkel acknowledged that the new rules are “tough” but insisted they are needed to curb the spread of the virus in the country.