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  • Germany Merkel warns that up to 70% of Germans will become infected with the coronavirus

Germany will close its borders with Austria, France and Switzerland from 08:00 on Monday in a further attempt to stop the spread of the coronavirus in the country, where the cases of contagion have increased exponentially in recent days. There are currently 5,400 confirmed cases and 10 deaths.

The measure has been adopted by Chancellor Angela Merkel and Interior Minister Horst Seehofer , in coordination with the heads of government of the 'Lände' bordering those countries, Bavaria, Baden-Württemberg, Rhineland-Palatinate and Saarland. Poland and Austria, which also share a border with Germany, have not entered the package since those countries have already closed theirs.

At the same time, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has discouraged its nationals from traveling to Spain , due to the incidence of Covid-19 in the country and after the shock measures adopted by the Prime Minister, Pedro Sánchez.

Strong restrictions on domestic air traffic, trains, cruise tourism and river transport are expected to be announced in the coming days. The closure of roads is not ruled out either.

Germany has been taking dropper measures to deal with the pandemic, due to the inherent limitations of the federal system, hence the fight against the coronavirus is taking place at different speeds.

Bavaria, one of the centers of the Covid-19 outbreak in Germany, has been to date one of the federal states that has placed the most restrictions, with the closure of nurseries, schools, universities, shops and restaurants until April 19. , among other. In contrast, the regional government has allowed the holding of municipal elections today.

Austria restricts freedom of movement

For his part, the Austrian chancellor, Sebastian Kurz , has reinforced this Sunday the containment measures to the coronavirus epidemic and restricted the freedom of movement of citizens throughout the country, under penalty of fines that can reach 2,000 euros.

In line with measures already taken in other countries affected by Covid-19, the Austrian Government has banned all movements that are not essential and justified, such as going to work, making purchases or assisting dependents. Sports centers, shops, bars and restaurants are closed. You can go for a walk, but only if you do it alone or in the company of people with whom you share your home and require help. All meetings in public spaces of more than five people will be penalized.

The police will be in charge of ensuring compliance with these measures, for which patrols will be established to walk the streets.

Austria has so far registered 800 cases of coronavirus , a third of them in the Tyrol region, where regional authorities have asked that no one leave their homes if it is not absolutely necessary.

Thousands of Poles ask to return

Some 12,000 Polish emigrants residing in the United Kingdom and the United States have asked the Government to allow them to return to the country, despite strong travel restrictions imposed in the fight against the coronavirus. Poland will shield its borders with the Schengen countries starting this Sunday and will suspend all international flights and rail connections. The entry of foreigners in the country is also temporarily prohibited.

Prime Minister Michal Dworczyk's chief of staff stressed today that, despite the emergency measures taken by the Executive, all Poles residing outside the country have the right to return , which is why the national airline LOT has been asked to study the possibility of organizing charter flights.

Poland currently has 111 coronavirus cases and three deaths . Some 2,000 people are in quarantine, a number Dworczyk expects to grow exponentially to 100,000.

German Defense Minister says Army is ready to intervene against coronavirus

Carmen Valero. Berlin

German Defense Minister Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer today guaranteed the full availability of the Bundeswehr in the fight against the spread of the coronavirus. "We are planning at all levels in such a way that we can safely cover all critical areas and everything that the authorities request," said the minister, who has also asked all reservists to come to help in hospitals and in the health services ", where one is already in an alarm state.

With a forecast of up to 70% of infections in the population in the next two years, Germany follows the upward curve of infections that Italy had. In just one week it has gone to 5,300 cases and ten deaths, according to the latest data from the Ministry of Health.

In the Bundeswehr, 18 cases have been detected and another 120 soldiers are suspected of having contracted Covid-19.

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  • Germany
  • Austria
  • Poland
  • Berlin
  • United Kingdom
  • Angela Merkel
  • Coronavirus

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