https://feeds.thelocal.com/ Read the latest news and views from Germany in English en-us news@thelocal.com (TheLocal) webmaster@thelocal.com (TheLocal) TheLocal RSS Feed The head of the European Commission vaccines task force, Thierry Breton, unveiled the first European "health passport" on Sunday, claiming he hopes Europe will have a summer season "comparable to last year". https://www.thelocal.de/20210328/eu-vaccine-chief-hopes-for-tourism-boost-as-he-unveils-covid-19-passport Sun, 28 Mar 2021 17:35:17 +0200 eu-vaccine-chief-hopes-for-tourism-boost-as-he-unveils-covid-19-passport Germany will enter a strict shutdown for five days over Easter as it fights soaring infection rates fuelled by variants in a "new pandemic", Chancellor Angela Merkel said Tuesday after marathon talks with regional leaders. https://www.thelocal.de/20210323/germany-to-enter-strict-easter-lockdown-to-fight-new-pandemic Tue, 23 Mar 2021 08:58:23 +0100 germany-to-enter-strict-easter-lockdown-to-fight-new-pandemic On Monday Chancellor Angela Merkel was set to meet with the 16 state leaders for a new round of talks on lockdown measures. With the Covid-19 case rate going up rapidly, more restrictions are expected. A leaked draft from Merkel's office shows what's planned. https://www.thelocal.de/20210322/explained-these-are-germanys-planned-new-lockdown-measures Mon, 22 Mar 2021 13:20:48 +0100 explained-these-are-germanys-planned-new-lockdown-measures The German Health Ministry announced on Thursday that a total of 13 cases of cerebral thrombosis have been reported following the AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccine, while the number of fatalities remains at three. https://www.thelocal.de/20210318/number-of-thrombosis-cases-connected-to-astrazeneca-jab-rises-to-13-in-germany Thu, 18 Mar 2021 18:41:22 +0100 number-of-thrombosis-cases-connected-to-astrazeneca-jab-rises-to-13-in-germany The German Chancellor warned on Wednesday that people would have to show patience until the summer before they could expect “a clear improvement” in their lives. https://www.thelocal.de/20210311/germany-still-has-three-or-four-tough-months-to-go-says-merkel Thu, 11 Mar 2021 12:31:44 +0100 germany-still-has-three-or-four-tough-months-to-go-says-merkel Germany's vaccine commission is considering reversing course and recommending AstraZeneca's Covid-19 jab for those over 65 after a study showed it to be effective among the elderly, its chairman has said. https://www.thelocal.de/20210228/german-commission-may-do-u-turn-on-astrazeneca-jab-for-elderly Sun, 28 Feb 2021 11:03:39 +0100 german-commission-may-do-u-turn-on-astrazeneca-jab-for-elderly The chairman of the German government’s economic council has warned of major risks to the economy in the coming year, while advising against a quick relaxation of the lockdown measures. https://www.thelocal.de/20210221/head-of-wise-men-council-warns-against-quick-end-to-lockdown Sun, 21 Feb 2021 17:26:13 +0100 head-of-wise-men-council-warns-against-quick-end-to-lockdown On Monday, a coalition of sport and cultural associations will present a plan they hope will allow them to open safely during the pandemic. Here’s what it entails. https://www.thelocal.de/20210220/heres-how-germanys-sport-and-cultural-venues-plan-to-reopen-safely Sat, 20 Feb 2021 17:18:20 +0100 heres-how-germanys-sport-and-cultural-venues-plan-to-reopen-safely The average German worker experienced a one percent drop in real earnings in the pandemic year of 2020, the most significant drop since records began in 2007. https://www.thelocal.de/20210217/employees-in-germany-see-biggest-drop-in-wages-since-records-began-2020 Wed, 17 Feb 2021 13:10:55 +0100 employees-in-germany-see-biggest-drop-in-wages-since-records-began-2020 As part of its latest coronavirus financial support package, the German government announced that families would receive a one-off payment of €150 per child. https://www.thelocal.de/20210209/heres-when-parents-in-germany-will-receive-a-one-off-kinderbonus-of-150 Tue, 09 Feb 2021 10:54:17 +0100 heres-when-parents-in-germany-will-receive-a-one-off-kinderbonus-of-150 The German government has dampened hopes that a step-by-step loosening of lockdown measures will be agreed at the next meeting of state leaders set to be held on Wednesday. https://www.thelocal.de/20210208/german-government-dampens-hopes-of-relaxing-lockdown-ahead-of-crunch-wednesday-talks-february Mon, 08 Feb 2021 10:56:12 +0100 german-government-dampens-hopes-of-relaxing-lockdown-ahead-of-crunch-wednesday-talks-february Germany’s health minister said on Saturday, January 30th, that the country had already ordered vaccines for 2022, in case people need booster jabs, Reuters reports. https://www.thelocal.de/20210131/germany-has-already-secured-vaccines-for-next-year-report Sun, 31 Jan 2021 17:23:58 +0100 germany-has-already-secured-vaccines-for-next-year-report Germany's government on Sunday threatened legal action against laboratories failing to deliver coronavirus vaccines to the European Union on schedule, amid tension over delays to deliveries from AstraZeneca. https://www.thelocal.de/20210131/germany-threatens-legal-action-if-pharma-firms-favour-other-countries Sun, 31 Jan 2021 10:16:03 +0100 germany-threatens-legal-action-if-pharma-firms-favour-other-countries The onset of winter in the northern half of Germany has led to train cancellations, but also given families the chance to escape the mundanity of lockdown. https://www.thelocal.de/20210130/winter-onset-in-north-germany-brings-snow-sledging-and-police-call-outs Sat, 30 Jan 2021 17:58:31 +0100 winter-onset-in-north-germany-brings-snow-sledging-and-police-call-outs There is growing concern in Germany about incidents of primary school children being exposed to pornography during distance learning classes, after several such hack attacks have occurred in recent weeks. https://www.thelocal.de/20210123/hack-attacks-on-distance-learning-lead-to-fears-of-child-exposure-to-pornography Sat, 23 Jan 2021 17:36:07 +0100 hack-attacks-on-distance-learning-lead-to-fears-of-child-exposure-to-pornography The are growing calls in Angela Merkel's Union party to end the lockdown in the middle of February, as concerns grow for the future of small businesses. https://www.thelocal.de/20210123/calls-grow-in-merkels-party-for-end-to-lockdown-in-february Sat, 23 Jan 2021 11:58:54 +0100 calls-grow-in-merkels-party-for-end-to-lockdown-in-february The German government has warned that people will only be able to go on holiday after Whitsun this year, meaning a wait until the end of May before Germans can travel. https://www.thelocal.de/20210112/dont-expect-to-be-able-to-travel-until-late-may-german-government-warns Tue, 12 Jan 2021 10:48:33 +0100 dont-expect-to-be-able-to-travel-until-late-may-german-government-warns Spaces to queue up are already marked out on the way to the 64 miniature doctors' offices where thousands of people per day will be vaccinated against Covid-19 in Hamburg. https://www.thelocal.de/20201220/how-germanys-largest-covid-jab-site-is-getting-ready-for-business Sun, 20 Dec 2020 11:02:40 +0100 how-germanys-largest-covid-jab-site-is-getting-ready-for-business The World Health Organization in Europe Wednesday urged families to wear face masks during this year's Christmas family gatherings, as it warned of a "further resurgence" of Covid-19 in early 2021. https://www.thelocal.de/20201216/who-warns-of-covid-19-resurgence-and-ask-families-to-wear-face-masks-during-christmas-celebrations Wed, 16 Dec 2020 13:43:22 +0100 who-warns-of-covid-19-resurgence-and-ask-families-to-wear-face-masks-during-christmas-celebrations From distilling alcohol for pharmacies to printing takeaway bags and delivering order-in cocktails, Germany's food and beverage sector has been forced to get creative to keep their companies going through coronavirus shutdowns. https://www.thelocal.de/20201206/we-invented-work-bars-tell-of-attempts-to-keep-busy-during-lockdown Sun, 06 Dec 2020 10:22:47 +0100 we-invented-work-bars-tell-of-attempts-to-keep-busy-during-lockdown