The lockdown would apply from December 16 at the latest, according to the report in Business Insider, which said that the heads of the states’ chancelleries had reached agreement on this with the federal chancellery on Saturday evening.

The federal chancellery would prefer the lockdown to begin on December 15, according to the report.

According to the report, gatherings are due to remain capped at two households and a maximum of five people, excluding children under the age of 14.

This limit would be raised to a maximum of 10 people between December 24 and 26, and more than two households would be able to meet if they are directly related.

The most divisive question is whether schools and daycare should be closed or kept open, according to the report. Apparently, all agree there should be no in-person teaching until after January 10, but how this is implemented depends on regulations in the different states.

The Federal Chancellery is reportedly in favour of closing daycare centres, while the states are keen to keep them open.

A decision is expected on Sunday, when Chancellor Angela Merkel is due to meet the nation’s 16 state premiers to discuss their response to a surging second wave of infections.