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According to information from WELT AM SONNTAG, the federal and state governments will in all probability extend the lockdown beyond January 10th - although, according to statements from those involved in the negotiations, it is still unclear to what extent individual restrictions, for example at daycare centers and primary schools, could be relaxed.

Lower Saxony's Prime Minister Stephan Weil told WELT AM SONNTAG that the known number of infections gave "no reason to give the all-clear".

The SPD politician went on to say: "That's why I initially assume that the previous restrictions will continue, as burdensome as that is in many areas." .

Thuringia's head of government Bodo Ramelow (left) also considers a quick end to be ruled out in view of the number of infections: "In the near future, our primary goal must be to reduce the number of infections and thus relieve the burden on the health system," said Ramelow WELT AM SONNTAG.

Bavaria's Prime Minister Markus Söder (CSU) also brakes: "We just have to cut the numbers sustainably."

Education ministers are already advising on Monday

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Hamburg's Mayor Peter Tschentscher also sees no basis for “substantial easing”.

However, the SPD politician wants to discuss the schools that are currently closed, he told WELT AM SONNTAG.

He expects "that the federal government will explain on what scientific basis or data basis it is calling for a further blanket closure of daycare centers and schools and how it envisions that the essential functions of basic care and medical treatment capacities are to be maintained." the education ministers of the federal states.

Above all, they consider the early opening of daycare centers and primary schools to be a priority.

Carsten Linnemann, vice parliamentary group and head of the SME association, warned WELT AM SONNTAG about the possible late effects "beyond medical questions".

Linnemann said: “It is already foreseeable how schoolchildren from socially disadvantaged families and non-German-speaking households will get out of this crisis.

Linnemann is convinced that the problem of “parallel societies” could take on a new quality.

Linnemann's colleague, parliamentary deputy Andreas Jung (CDU), calls for “an expanded set of economic aid instruments” before the summit, as he said.

“Because the companies urgently need liquidity in order to survive the crisis.” Losses should be offset more easily and quick loans from the Kreditanstalt für Wiederaufbau (KfW) can also be used by all small companies.

Advice with Drosten and Wieler

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Before the summit meeting, there will be an unusually extensive exchange between politics and science on Monday afternoon.

The Chancellery and Prime Minister want to consult with five experts - about the infection situation after the holidays, the risk of virus mutations and the consequences.

According to the negotiating circles, the virologist Christian Drosten, Lothar Wieler from the Robert Koch Institute, Michael Meyer-Hermann from the Helmholtz Center for Infection Research, the physicist Viola Priesemann from the Max Planck Institute for Dynamics and Self-Organization and the Charité CEO Heyo Kroemer are invited.

The “Frankfurter Allgemeine Sonntagszeitung” also reports that the federal states have agreed to extend the current lockdown beyond January 10th.

The agreement was reached on Saturday afternoon in a telephone line in preparation for the conference of prime ministers with Chancellor Angela Merkel on Tuesday.

The heads of the state chancelleries, however, had not agreed on whether this should initially be decided for two or three weeks.

Spahn advocates extending the lockdown

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Federal Minister of Health Jens Spahn is in favor of maintaining the nationwide lockdown beyond January 10th.

"In view of the still too high numbers, it is necessary to extend the measures, the restrictions," "RTL Aktuell" quotes the CDU politician.

There is currently a maximum number of corona patients in the intensive care units.

It is now essential to reduce the incidence of infections and keep them low for a long time.

"That is better than loosening up too early and then possibly facing difficult questions again in a few weeks."

Schools and daycare centers should also remain closed.

That is difficult for students and parents.

"But the same applies here: It is easier for everyone to have the schools closed for a week longer than to open them and then be faced with debates again at some point in a few weeks", explained Spahn.