Germany's lockdown extended to April 18

Berlin, March 23 German leaders on Tuesday agreed to extend the country's coronavirus lockdown until April 18 to contain a new wave of infections and to tighten measures for a five-day period over the Easter holidays.

Chancellor Angela Merkel and leaders of the country's federal states reached an agreement on the strict lockdown measures early in the morning following 11 hours of talks, reports dpa news agency.

They leaders agreed that public and private life are to come to a virtual standstill over the long Easter holiday weekend from April 1 through 5.

Shops will remain closed throughout, except for grocery stores and supermarkets which will be allowed to be open on April 3.

People are urged to stay home throughout those five days, the leaders said in a statement.

Public gatherings are generally banned during that time, but Covid-19 testing and vaccination centres will remain open.

Easter services will largely be held virtually, and private gatherings limited to five people from two households, not counting children up to the age of 14.

It was also agreed that once a seven-day incidence of more than 100 new infections per 100,000 inhabitants is registered, local government districts must further tighten lockdown measures.

This would include curfews, stricter contact restrictions or the obligation for people to get daily quick Covid-19 tests in areas where social distancing or consistent mask-wearing are difficult to keep up.

As of Tuesday, Germany's overall coronavirus caseload and death toll stood at 2,678,262 and 74,824, respectively.

( With inputs from IANS )