Germany extends COVID emergency aid for companies until year-end

BERLIN - Germany is extending its COVID-19 emergency aid for struggling companies by three months until the end of this year, the finance and economy ministries said on Wednesday.

Companies with a pandemic-related drop in sales of at least 30 percent can now apply for liquidity aid of up to 10 million euros per month until the end of December, the ministries said. The government also extended additional aid schemes to support companies hit particularly hard by the pandemic as well as musicians, artists and other solo self-employed. The aid had been due to expire on Sept. 30.