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Chancellor Angela Merkel (CDU) has described the planned changes to the Infection Protection Act as "necessary".

A nationwide uniform emergency brake from an incidence of 100 is "overdue", said Merkel on Tuesday in Berlin.

The decision is an "equally important and urgent decision on how to proceed in the corona pandemic".

Merkel emphasized: "The situation is serious."

She referred to the increasing number of new infections and the increasing number of intensive care patients.

The third wave has the country under control.

“If we were to wait until all the intensive care beds were occupied, then it would be too late.

We cannot allow that, ”stressed Merkel.

The previous approach to fighting pandemics is no longer sufficient to slow down the third wave.

The fight against the pandemic must be "more stringent and consistent," said the Chancellor.

"The previous federal-state consultations are no longer sufficient for this."

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The federal cabinet had previously decided to change the Infection Protection Act.

For the first time, this provides for a nationwide emergency brake for measures in the corona pandemic.

In addition, the cabinet cleared the way for an ordinance by the Federal Ministry of Labor on mandatory test offers in companies.

The nationwide emergency brake is to apply in rural districts and urban districts in which the incidence of new infections in 100,000 residents has risen to over 100 within a week.

The new regulation also contains strict contact restrictions and the controversial night curfew for the time between 9 p.m. and 5 a.m.

Merkel on the vaccination campaign: "Better every day"

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The new law means "reduced to a common denominator: we are implementing the emergency brake nationwide," said Merkel.

"The emergency brake is then no longer a matter of design, but it works automatically."

"I am aware that there are tough restrictions," said Merkel about the planned regulations.

She emphasized that Germany had already succeeded in reducing the corona numbers through consistent action.

"We can and will succeed again."

The CDU politician also emphasized that the vaccination campaign was “getting better every day”.

As a result, “we are walking towards the light at the end of the tunnel with ever larger steps”.