Contact restrictions in Germany extended until June 29

Germany’s federal and state governments agreed on Tuesday to extend social distancing regulations until June 29. 

German social distancing rules in place until June 29

Chancellor Angela Merkel’s government announced on Tuesday that she and the leaders of Germany’s 16 federal states had come to a joint decision on how to proceed with corona-related contact restrictions - currently in place until June 5. 

The basic rule of maintaining a minimum distance of 1,5 metres between people will now remain in place until June 29. Up to 10 people or members of two separate households will be allowed to gather in public places. 

Government clashing with federal states

The June 29 date represents a minor compromise on the federal government’s original draft plan, which envisaged extending social distancing rules up until July 5. 

Merkel’s government has been clashing with the leaders of some of Germany’s lesser-affected states, particularly Saxony and Thuringia, who have been pushing to ditch the measures entirely and return to “business as usual”. 

However, the government warned that Germany’s relatively low number of coronavirus deaths - now just over 8.300 - was “based on the fact that the rules on distance and hygiene have been implemented and respected.”