Merkel warns of virus-relapse risk as Germany eases curbs

Bloomberg

Chancellor Angela Merkel warned that public debate about easing restrictions to contain the coronavirus risked sparking a new wave of infections even as Germany took its first tentative steps towards normalcy.
In a closed-door meeting of her Christian Democratic party on Monday in Berlin, she said “discussion orgies” about loosening lockdowns threatened to destroy the progress in fighting the pandemic, according to a participant, who asked not to be identified because the discussions were private.
While Merkel made clear that her government currently doesn’t plan any further restrictions, that option remains on the table, saying the next steps will be decided when she meets with leaders of Germany’s 16 states on April 30. The German chancellor also pointed out that the more relevant date would be May 8, when the impact of the current easing steps become evident.
At the meeting, Merkel expressed her hope that people would continue to follow rules designed to limit contact between people, but that she was skeptical about the latest developments. The unusually blunt comments indicate Merkel’s unease as the country embarks on what will be a critical test of Europe’s ability to recover from the crisis.
Smaller stores across the region’s largest economy were allowed to reopen on Monday after a month-long shutdown deprived German retailers of 30 billion euros ($33 billion) in sales and pushed many shops to the brink of bankruptcy.
The country is among the first in Europe to cautiously revive business activity as the pandemic continues to shutter factories, restaurants and shops from Madrid to Prague.
Retailers like Philipp Frese eagerly awaited the opportunity to see shoppers again. The lockdown, which closed all but essential retailers, has crushed his hopes for a profit this year at his bed and mattress store in southern Germany, putting his focus on survival.
The restrictions have been “a threat to our existence as a business,” said Frese, whose sales slumped by 90% in March while costs only went down by a third.
“You need to meet customers face to face to sell them pillows and mattresses.”
Initial signs weren’t encouraging. Traffic on the Zeil shopping street in downtown Frankfurt — typically the busiest retail street in Germany — was subdued on Monday morning.