German Chancellor Angela Merkel In Quarantine After Meeting Infected Doctor; Germany Bans Meetings Of More Than Two

Addressing the press conference, Merkel, who announced some more restrictions, said, "Our behaviour is the most effective way" of slowing the rate of coronavirus spread.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel, who was tested positive for coronavirus, is in quarantine after meeting a doctor on Friday, as per her spokesman.

Berlin: German Chancellor Angela Merkel, who was tested positive for coronavirus, is in quarantine after meeting a doctor on Friday, as per her spokesman. Merkel was told about the contact after a press conference on Sunday in which she announced further measures to try to curb the spread of coronavirus, the BBC reported. Addressing the press conference, Merkel, who announced some more restrictions, said, "Our behaviour is the most effective way" of slowing the rate of coronavirus spread. In the wake of Chancellor being tested positive, Germany has expanded curbs on social interactions to try to contain the coronavirus outbreak, banning public gatherings of more than two persons. Germany has now banned meetings of more than two people outside work and home for two weeks. People living under the same roof and going out together for a stroll will be an exception. The government has also ordered hairdressers and beauty, massage and tattoo parlours to close and restaurants will only be allowed to offer takeaway services. Schools and non-essential shops have already been closed. Also Watch | No new case reported in Wuhan in the past five days As per data from the Johns Hopkins University's Coronavirus Resource Centre, Germany presently had 23,974 coronavirus cases and 92 deaths, while 266 people have recovered. A doctor who vaccinated her on Friday against pneumococcus, a pneumonia-causing bacteria, had tested positive for coronavirus. The chancellor, 65, will be tested regularly in the next few days and work from home, her spokesman said. Germany, Europe's largest economy, has so far confirmed 18,610 cases and 55 deaths from Covid-19, the disease caused by the virus. People will not be allowed to form groups of three or more in public unless they live together in the same household, or the gathering is work-related. Police will monitor and punish anyone infringing the new rules. Restaurants will now only be allowed to open for takeaway service. All restrictions apply to every German state, and will be in place for at least the next two weeks. "The great aim is to gain time in the fight against the virus," said Merkel, urging citizens to keep contact outside their own household to an absolute minimum and to ensure a distance of at least 1.5m (5ft) from another person when in public. (with inputs froma agencies)