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Germany threatens a hard lockdown over the holidays.

The National Academy of Sciences Leopoldina has issued a new statement in favor of massive restrictions.

Despite a partial lockdown that has been in place since the beginning of November, the number of new infections is still too high, the paper says.

Those involved include the President of the Robert Koch Institute, Lothar Wieler, the virologists Christian Drosten and Melanie Brinkmann, but also the economist Clemens Fuest.

The scientists recommend a two-stage approach.

From December 14th, contacts in private and professional areas should be reduced to a minimum.

Schools should close by the start of the Christmas holidays and home offices should become the norm.

Between December 24th and January 10th, Germany should go into a tough lockdown.

All shops except everyday necessities should close during this period.

The Christmas holidays should be extended until January 10th.

Vacation trips should be avoided, meetings should only take place in a narrow and stable group of people.

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The Leopoldina justifies its demands with the high number of daily deaths and the currently enormous burden on medical staff in hospitals.

The scientists also point to successes in other countries such as Ireland, which were able to reduce the number of new infections registered with a hard lockdown.

“The Christmas season and the turn of the year, with their traditionally increased and close social contacts, harbor great risks for a further worsening of the infection situation.

But they also offer the opportunity to take a big step forward in order to improve the situation, ”says the paper.

For the restart of classes on January 10, 2021, wearing mouth and nose protection in class should be compulsory for all grades in all federal states.

In addition, uniform country rules should be drawn up for alternating instruction from secondary level onwards, which apply from a certain incidence.

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“What is also required is a long-term political agreement on a clear, multi-level and nationwide uniform system of rules that apply from a certain number of cases per 100,000 inhabitants.

A uniform and comprehensible procedure makes the measures transparent, understandable and plannable for citizens and companies, ”it continues.

According to participants, Chancellor Angela Merkel (CDU) also emphasized on Monday in a video meeting of the Union parliamentary group that the previous measures would not allow the high number of infections to come down.

Health Minister Jens Spahn (CDU) had not ruled out tougher rules.

It is still unclear whether the federal government and prime minister will get together again before Christmas.

Not all country leaders consider this to be necessary.

So far, new consultations are planned for January 4th.