Germany’s Merkel pushes for widening of powers as COVID surges

Chancellor Merkel says gov’t must be able to impose ’emergency brake’ restrictions on regions with high infection rates.

Chancellor Angela Merkel has urged the German parliament to pass a bill granting her government new powers to force coronavirus lockdowns and curfews in areas with high infection rates, as case numbers continue to climb. Addressing legislators in the lower house on Friday, Merkel warned that Germany was “firmly” in the grips of a “third wave”. “The situation is serious, very serious, and we need to take it seriously,” she said, noting that most citizens were in favour of introducing stricter measures.