Germany: Hair salons are open again

Hair salons reopened today in Germany after two months in another cautious opening move in a country trying to strike a balance between the desire to ease coronavirus restrictions and efforts to limit the spread of more contagious strains.

A week earlier, a large number of elementary school students returned to school after the decision of Chancellor Agne Merkel and the governors of 16 states on February 10. Merkel and the governors will meet again on Wednesday to decide how to proceed with other coronavirus-related restrictions in Germany that are now in place until March 7.

Some states have allowed businesses such as florists and hardware stores to open today. Most shops have been closed across the country since December 16. Restaurants, bars, sports and entertainment facilities have been closed since November 2, and hotels are only allowed to receive business travelers.

There are more and more calls for further relaxation of restrictions, but also others who ask for continued caution.

The steady decline in the number of newly infected people has stalled, and even in some parts of the country the number of infected people has started to rise again as the more contagious strain of the corona virus first discovered in Great Britain spreads.

"This week it will be established how it will be done in the coming months," said Bavarian Governor Markus Zeder, who advocates a more cautious approach.

He called the situation with the virus unstable and emphasized that it is important to make "smart" decisions this week and that the right balance must be found between caution and openness, and that governors simply must not lose their temper and fulfill all wishes.

Germany's Centers for Disease Control reported 4.732 new cases of the coronavirus in the past 24 hours, compared to 4.369 a week ago. Another 60 people died in the previous day, bringing the total to 70.105.

By Friday, 4,7 percent of the German population had received the first dose of the vaccine, and 2,4 percent had received the second dose, a relatively slow progress in vaccination that has been widely criticized.

Bavaria and two neighboring states plan to give 15.000 doses of the vaccine to the neighboring Czech Republic, which currently has the highest infection rate in the European Union.

Zeder said the "symbolic measure" ultimately helps Germany because Czech authorities want to use vaccines in high-risk areas near the border and for people using small border crossings.