Germany Tightens Virus Lockdown Rules over Christmas Period

A police officer waves a car out during a traffic control to comply with corona-related exit restrictions, Saturday, Dec. 12, 2020, in Stuttgart, Germany. (AP)
A police officer waves a car out during a traffic control to comply with corona-related exit restrictions, Saturday, Dec. 12, 2020, in Stuttgart, Germany. (AP)
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Germany Tightens Virus Lockdown Rules over Christmas Period

A police officer waves a car out during a traffic control to comply with corona-related exit restrictions, Saturday, Dec. 12, 2020, in Stuttgart, Germany. (AP)
A police officer waves a car out during a traffic control to comply with corona-related exit restrictions, Saturday, Dec. 12, 2020, in Stuttgart, Germany. (AP)

Germany is closing most stores and schools, and further limiting social contacts in an effort to drive down the rate of coronavirus infections that have remained stubbornly high in recent weeks.

Chancellor Angela Merkel said she and the governors of Germany's 16 states agreed Sunday to step up the country's lockdown measures from Dec. 16 to Jan. 10 to stop the exponential rise of COVID-19 cases.

“We are forced to act, and we’re acting too,” Merkel told reporters in Berlin.

Existing restrictions imposed in November failed to significantly reduce the number of new infections, she said.

Germany recorded 20,200 newly confirmed cases and 321 additional deaths Sunday, a high number for the weekend when many local authorities don’t report figures.

With the exception of Christmas, the number of people allowed to meet indoors will remain restricted to five, not including children under 14.

The sale of fireworks traditionally used to celebrate New Year's will be banned.



Two Dead, Four Missing in Spanish Mine Accident

A miner looks on as trucks wait to load soil at a gold quarry in Paso Yobai, Guaira Department, Paraguay, on February 11, 2025. (Photo by Daniel DUARTE / AFP)
A miner looks on as trucks wait to load soil at a gold quarry in Paso Yobai, Guaira Department, Paraguay, on February 11, 2025. (Photo by Daniel DUARTE / AFP)
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Two Dead, Four Missing in Spanish Mine Accident

A miner looks on as trucks wait to load soil at a gold quarry in Paso Yobai, Guaira Department, Paraguay, on February 11, 2025. (Photo by Daniel DUARTE / AFP)
A miner looks on as trucks wait to load soil at a gold quarry in Paso Yobai, Guaira Department, Paraguay, on February 11, 2025. (Photo by Daniel DUARTE / AFP)

At least two miners died on Monday and four were missing in an accident in a mine in the northern Spanish region of Asturias, the regional emergency service said.
The emergency service said another three people had been injured due to a machine malfunction inside the mine in Degana at 9:32 a.m. (0732 GMT) local time. Three helicopters and two ambulances have been sent to the scene.
El Mundo newspaper said earlier there had been an explosion in the mine and that several people were trapped.