German cities ramp up-anti COVID measures

Berlin has imposed its first curfew in 70 years

The number of COVID-19 cases has been ramping up all across Europe and Germany is no exception. The local governments of three of its largest cities have now seen the surpassing of the 50 cases per 100,000 inhabitants threshold and stand ready to impose stricter rules and regulations meant to stop the further spread of the disease.

Berlin, Cologne and Frankfurt – bustling with life, bustling with cases

As one can expect, the busiest cities and those with the most infamous nightlife are the ones that are having the most problems. Berlin, Frankfurt and Cologne have all been seeing a rapid rise in cases and have exceeded the safety benchmark – which in turn has forced their local governments to take action.

Yesterday in Berlin, for example, local authorities implemented the city’s first curfew in over 70 years – a marked departure even from the policies of earlier this year. The measures were announced earlier this week but came into force on Saturday and included mandatory closing hours for the German capital’s traditionally infamous 24-hour bars as well as limits to gatherings – currently, a total of 5 people are allowed to gather, coming from at most 2 households.

The situation in Cologne is not much different. Local authorities have steadily been reintroducing older anti-COVID measures, while simultaneously tinkering with new ones. The city’s government has already imposed limitations on the consumption of alcohol in public (now banned after 10 pm on streets and squares), as well as caps on public meetings. Yet the city’s mayor Henriette Reker has already stated that this could just be the start as the local government is considering enacting even harsher rules.