Chancellor Angela Merkel (CDU) supports the Leopoldina's proposal for a hard lockdown over the holidays.

Catholic News Agency Wednesday, December 9, 2020 - 10:18 a.m. Chancellor Angela Merkel (CDU) supports the Leopoldina's proposal for a hard lockdown over the holidays. "The number of contacts is too high, the reduction in contacts is not sufficient," Merkel urged on Wednesday during the budget debate in the Bundestag. "If we now have too many contacts before Christmas and then it was the last Christmas with the grandparents, then we will have missed something, we shouldn't," added the Chancellor. Merkel accordingly refused to open hotels around the holidays and called for fewer contacts at Christmas. There are scientific findings that are real and that it is better to stick to, said Merkel. The vast majority of Germans accept the restrictions in the interests of the community. Nevertheless, the measures are currently not enough. At the same time, Merkel emphasized that she was aware of the severity of the measures for many, especially in the run-up to Christmas. “I am really sorry in my heart.” Therefore, people's worries and needs must be taken seriously. "We see light at the end of the tunnel," Merkel continued with a view to the vaccinations, but first a joint effort was needed. The National Academy of Sciences Leopoldina is calling for a tough lockdown in Germany for the Christmas holidays and the New Year. Specifically, the scientists are calling for contacts in both professional and private areas to be reduced to the absolute minimum from December 14th. Compulsory schooling should be lifted in all federal states by the start of the Christmas holidays. Group activities in sport and culture should be stopped and, wherever possible, digital opportunities should be used. In a second stage, from December 24th to at least January 10th, public life should largely rest and a hard lockdown should apply. All shops except those for daily needs should be closed and the Christmas holidays in the educational institutions should be extended. Vacation trips should be avoided and meetings should only take place in the closest stable group of people. From the point of view of the experts, a hard lockdown increases the loss of added value in the economy in the short term. At the same time, however, the period until the new infections have decreased so far that loosening is possible.