Germany ‘in new pandemic’ - Merkel
The German chancellor has held Covid-19 crisis talks with regional leaders
We can now bring you more from Germany, where lockdown measures have been extended for a further three weeks after a surge in coronavirus infections.
German Chancellor Angela Merkel announced the new restrictions on Tuesday morning, after marathon crisis talks with regional leaders.
The chancellor said Germany was in a “very serious" situation, leaving the country racing against time to roll out coronavirus vaccinations.
Merkel said the highly contagious UK variant of coronavirus had become dominant in Germany, plunging the country into what she called "a new pandemic".
“Essentially, we have a new virus,” Merkel said. “It is much deadlier, much more infectious and infectious for much longer.”
Some research does suggest the UK variant may be associated with a higher risk of death.
National day of reflection trends on Twitter
The hashtag #NationalDayofReflection is trending on Twitter as the UK marks a year since the first coronavirus lockdown.Labour Leader Sir Keir Starmer used the hashtag to tweet that he would be taking part in a minute's silence to remember all those who have lost their lives in the pandemic.
He tweeted: "As we mark one year since our country entered the first lockdown, my thoughts are with all those who have lost loved ones since the pandemic began. Today at 12pm, I will join people across our country to observe a minute's silence on this National Day of Reflection."
by 
61-BLUES
