(Credit: Federal Government/Steffen Kugler)

Both chambers of the German Parliament – Bundestag and Bundesrat – have approved changes to the Infection Protection Act, giving Chancellor Angela Merkel’s cabinet the power to impose tougher nationwide measures against COVID-19 pandemic in Germany.

The federal states will have to comply with the federal government’s orders and the law will initially apply until the end of June 2021.

The new law prescribes that if the 7-day incidence rate rises above 100 in a district or city for three consecutive days, local authorities must impose tougher measures. The measures include a curfew from 10 p.m. – 5 a.m.; closure of nonessential shops except by appointment and with a negative COVID-19 test; full closure of cultural and leisure facilities, with the exception of outdoor areas of ZOOs and botanical gardens.

Schools must close if incidence rises above 165.

Germany is undergoing a fierce third wave of COVID-19 driven by the highly infectious and aggressive new SARS-CoV-2 variants. The 7-day incidence in Germany currently stands at 164. Opera houses in Berlin have shut down until June.