Sources: Merkel overturns decision on Easter anti-virus measures

Berlin (dpa) – German Chancellor Angela Merkel has overturned a decision to limit economic activity over Easter after widespread criticism, sources told dpa, leading to more confusion over the government’s strategy to combat the coronavirus pandemic.

Merkel told the meeting that an agreement hammered out earlier this week stipulating that most shops would be shut and gatherings further restricted from April 1-5 would not be implemented.

“The mistake was my mistake,” Merkel was cited by participants as saying.

The sources said the reason for the decision was that shutting down or vastly limiting business activities on April 1 and 3 would have been too difficult to enforce.

“In the end it is better to clear it up now if it is not legally viable,” Markus Soeder, the powerful premier of the southern state of Bavaria, was cited as saying.

It was initially unclear whether was an alternative plan in place to contain a severe third wave of infections.

Criticism of the agreement earlier this week had centred on the fact that despite marathon talks, key elements of the plan remained unclear.

Industry and business leaders said they have been left in the dark as to what the Easter closures meant in practice.