this is the w. news live from berlin germany extends its lockdown even though infection numbers are going down there are some exceptions but fears of corona virus mutations have chancellor angela merkel insisting on keeping restrictions tight chance america will defend her reopening strategy in front of parliament we'll bring you live coverage.

and get out of us welcome to the program german chancellor angela merkel is preparing to address parliament to defend the decision to extend the country's current coronavirus lockdown until at least march 7th these are live pictures you're seeing here from the understand where the chance will shortly be outlining how government's strategy to combat the coronavirus pandemic or certain restrictions will be relaxed earlier chancellor merkel has made clear she fully supports extending the lockdown beyond february the number of deaths and new infections has in germany has been declining recently but merkel says the new variance of covert 19 women is serious cause for concern. as the sun went down behind the chancellor in berlin another showdown about the lockdown. how the state premiers wrestling with the question given the advance of coronavirus mutations in germany how soon will it be possible to open up. the services.

yes the time between now and the middle of march is when the experts are telling us that the mutated virus could gain the upper hand over the initial strain. by that it's crucial that we lower the infection rate and we interrupt. and go straight to our borders and the. ones that aren't i think the country. through this disaster and into that come of water since the outbreak of the pandemic we have jointly trying to stand against the virus it is a nation i thought it's. something which we all. touched by old young and answer children rural urban areas politics administration conscious sports churches everybody all our lives and the way in live together are affected and this year we have all of us learned how the virus works and what works

against it. and learning it doesn't mean one gets it right from the word go to correct something one has done once it's part of it as we have done with our mask wearing recommendation. but that is why i say even if we're in a difficult phase right now where many people feel that they really can't stand it for much longer that is the very reason why i say in this eve of the pandemic we have already. gone past a lot of this very difficult path and we have tried all we can not to overburden our health system it was a maximum stress for the people in the nursing care sector for medicine for i.c. use yes that has existed and still exists unfortunately and we simply cannot thank

all the health care professionals for their comment. thank. you but that is the one that months. we have been able to avoid overburdening our health system gone. clean somebody who has to be taken to hospital with a severe coronavirus infection will get the treatment leader she needs over germany and in many places of the world we see how often this cannot be stated as it can be and we can be happy about it and so saying that what we've achieved together in combating this virus. it's been something we've been paying a higher price will continue to. absolutely clear about what these necessary measures mean for every single one of us here in germany. a restriction of freedom which we haven't seen in this country before i personally restriction of

freedom personal stress loneliness economic problems fear for one's very existence . these are things which are will not like this one in a single day all these measures have been decided. with our democracy the decisions are legitimate yes but i'm also aware that as a democracy it is up to us to keep these restrictions only as long as necessary not one day or longer and to lift them when possible and that is exactly the objective of this government and i am aware also the objective of the parliament hellish. ladies and gentlemen i spoke of what we have achieved together this also means that the 1st wave of the pan am it in the spring 2020 something which hit germany far less harshly than many other countries in europe and the whole world

following on that there was a summer where looking back life began to be much easier with incidence rates are dreamlike looking back 3 or 4 infections of 7 days per 100000 inadvertence. then this is one of the lessons learned when we weren't sufficiently cautious and not fast enough but. the indications of a 2nd wave and the warnings coming from different scientists weren't heard early enough and we didn't. if you could check in on curb public life 526 of november 2021 march and we came to a decision after weeks of dramatic exponential growth the number of infections this month steve growth curves we were able to get that one down but until the beginning of this year the virus spread too fast and far too uncontrolled with beneath i'm

sure it's a consequence of the more hesitant approach we had in the end of summer beginning of the word tonight today as far as infection rates are concerned we're looking a lot better than necessary trim of reversal which i had hoped for the end of november has been achieved a number of new infections has been going down for a time as has the number of active cases and the number of patients in i.c.u. gets what with all due caution i say that even the worst image the saddest of all the numbers namely the number of people dying every day on the curve it virus not number seems and finally to be going down as well at least we're not. high points and these. people who have died by now more than 60000 mothers our fathers in our children friends

elations those we could not say. mourning them and the ones they leave these matters we. have at the backs of our mind billy made a decision and we owe it to them. now we have a situation which i could only hope for when i last spoke in this house but it wasn't certain now the vaccination possibility exists because the vaccines of arrived this is something which thanks to brilliant scientists has been achieved in record time thank you i was getting over pearson. we've designed it for a european power of. negotiations with the procurement and no emergency marketing authorizations and i stand by that since the end of the 2nd world war you have been stuck together politically. very logically everywhere in the european union that's a nation to have started no country however small or economically less powerful

needs to wait but we have got gaieties for how much vaccination we were by this is made it possible particularly through the guarantees given by germany for companies like bio to start producing to the scale they've produced and of course that is an element i'm aware that many people have been disappointed by the start to start because the hopes are so huge and every one of us and including myself personally hope of this as a beginning certain amounts were agreed on but then comparatively fewer doses were made available despite the situation we had to make decisions decisions which were very difficult and we have that's an issue commission which advises us on the basis that advice we decided 1st we were in argue that those most in danger old people see. scene health care homes and the doctors and nursing staff looking at them and their patients. today more than 80 percent of people in care homes and more than

1000000 people in. the medical profession have received at least the 1st the initial injection that's very important because it does provide a lot of protection every week every month millions of additional doses will become available and more and more people rude receive protection so that by the end of the summer anyone who wishes will receive the vaccination that is a target we said on the basis of the vaccination is made available for those manufacturers who've already it's a chief marketing officer as a chef for their product so it can be achieved. and we stand by it at the beginning of the negotiations we make financial commitments to the manufacturers of the vaccines and we will continue to support the men ever possible to find new production facilities in order to. really increase production which is very important detail and we're looking at virus mutations biotech has only yesterday started to producing there that scene in your facility marbrook the german

government to set up a task force on questions of that situations and that will meet on a regular basis so that solution is getting a greater impetus infection rate the stats are going down as are many important indicators and if this were all then you would see me despite the difficulties looking quite optimistic bumps. even though not quite visible we seeing more and more clearly emerging one danger which is a danger for the very good way in which we are that's a very real danger namely mutations of the virus. which of manifest themselves in such a way that they have led to much more aggressive virus strains. it had to be expected. in the future there could also be unfortunate developments like this now we're dealing with 3 relevant huge asians the british mutation

a south african and the brazilian one on the british one is most widespread even here not all the research has yet been finalized but will be well advised to listen to what so many experts both in germany and abroad tell us we shouldn't doubt when they explain that all these 3 mutations are significantly more aggressive more transmissible more infectious than the original virus and as is always the case with a view that with a virus because of their properties this mutations. will sooner or later become the dominant strains as has already happened in some european countries and we hope that in time we will be able to combat the dramatic effects we have seen through the mutations which dangers in them because every precaution for the health sector in the last week of january seen these mutations already taking something like 110 percent of all cases but new data to be available soon for the most

frequent of the mutations in germany is the english there and and experts tell us it's only a question of time until these mutations will become the dominant strain and that will crowd out here original virus and that is something we need to prepare for this point the incidence rates going down as they are at the moment we still need to be aware that underlying this situation there is a new there had of the virus emergence of we have to be extremely cautious that we don't get into this exponential growth spiral again. there may be something you don't like hearing but we have to live with reality and find i have many dances to at what will help this well we have a situation where the vaccination campaign of the vaccination this is gaining speed not in the forthcoming months is not good. to give us sort of collective projection but individual protection that many people expect that the time has come to show

very clear easing and openings and we know that the danger of mutations may will destroy any success because then we could see the numbers going up an exponential growth may happen again that was the position we were facing yesterday when the federal and the regional governments met together we looked at this difficult contradictory situation which we were well aware of and given this backdrop we agreed on measures to last until march 7th with most of the restrictive measures will have to be consistently applied. its time and again social distancing reduction of contacts by limiting private meetings to one household plus one additional person making sure that. bearing the medical mass which are not available in public spaces and public transport everywhere

inside the home like in the jungle parliament and that's very true for places of work as long as one in one individual is in a room also this it serves from 2 relatives should be avoided and working at home that is what we should do as far as possible and wherever possible let me appeal once again to the employers. working from home doubly infinites that's a tried and tested way of reducing contacts because private households can do a lot to combat the pandemic. and so let's make business. it possible for people to work from home wherever it can be done. of course expectations regarding yesterday well as what will we. in the way of measures but not with me change if. we want to greet the priority schools childcare facilities

because the repercussions of weeks of closure of all these facilities are there and there are noticeable on. the stress will parents is also significant. certainly despite this what i would have to say is that we decide on the basis of the incidence rates but i have to accept that that is. in the all solitude of the regions they have the right to decide on educational matters which are there and they're all thought to their jurisdiction so it's the lender in germany the regents they will decide what to do within their jurisdiction some schools will open probably next week others and that's when the 2nd but only primary schools and child daycare facilities blended learning's plans very strict hygiene measures just walking up on that is the gentleman discussed another reopening from the 1st of march hairdressers will open we have good

prospects. we have good prospects well 1st of march that we can achieve. incidence of 50 nationwide today the enterprise rate is $64.00. on the basis of what the robert capa institute just saying. and on the basis we're discussing further reopening. this is the one thing which is the greatest interest for people and let me say expressly and i already support the fact that when it comes to further openings and reopening we've decided on the basis of these new mutations not to give the date but infection rates in other words incidents and that would have done some people will say well that doesn't give me the planning certainty i need. that we are battling a virus the virus is an opponent and the virus doesn't go by the deaths but by infection rates and question of how an infection is predicting and that's why any

further reopening has not been set for an incidence rate of 35 some people say well when did you come up with money number 3 and you know that the incidence rate of 50 was in section 28 of the infection protection act after a very far reaching after which far reaching measure. it can be decided as well we're talking much $35.00 now so that's reaching measures after that incidence of $35.00 that's the point when i can go to some reopening and we've decided that's reopening should be retail trade galleries museums and services which require close physical contact and i think this is the right prospect. and the question is what will be the next steps towards easing restrictions and i can tell you the following yes federal and real governments will deliberate about this and we have given the various areas which may be possible it's also

a question about reducing contacts in the private sphere and we'll have to also address of us know what to do with older school aged kids. in groups leisure time activities now after that league astronomy sector and hotel business is going to be staged premises and speaking today we cannot say yet is liz's fire that concerned what we ever to do went into raids are such or such that we have to look at incidents have to look at what we're doing how far we're getting with our covert warning up. we do with better equipping health of forages more testing and improved testing better protection measures all of that will allow us to ease restrictions without risking another exponential growth spiral and i can tell you why target is that any new wave that might happen if the new virus strains become dominant we mustn't. give that wrong we mustn't end up with another 2 digit

exponential growth we must do everything we can in order to keep control of contact tracing because only then will we not kick start a 3rd wave but that also means we have to be extremely cautious i don't not believe that to and fro ing opening here and closing there is something which allows people to be clear. about the situation then to wait a bit and then have a continuous slow process of openings. and that's exactly. that is exactly the sort of tension which we all feel in our lives i feel that just as much as you can you can believe that i mean who wouldn't like to give you good news everybody knows as i said at the beginning how much people suffering from this this might this i believe that yes that it was the right thing to do to say 1st schools and hairdressers and child care facilities and then concentrate on

an incident rate as a prerequisite for further openings and that's what we will do i think we have come to an agreement as necessary and also proportional and there is nothing else that we cundall then consistently reduce contacts in all areas in order to sustain dana blue reduce the infection rate and to get it to a level where we can master what is happening and to keep it there i think yesterday's message was important and we were all very interested and happy. to see . that the applications for the bridging assistance tarc 3 come to be submitted as of yesterday i know that lot of people are waiting for this it says it's for this funding and i know how many people haven't got liquidated and know that the retail trade is suffering as are many others but let me also say one other thing the minister of finance minister of economic affairs or both promised that from february applications can get submitted and these applications will be

answered by lump sum payments from march today's february 11th yesterday was very very 10 what what we promised is something we keep till this point that it's been a very very long time for the people affected and i'm glad that we've got to the situation now this was a very important stand. illegally please mr speaker colleagues ladies and gentlemen this is a hard winter outside. and also when it comes to our lives but we have a much clearer idea of what the target is. so we aren't that far removed from and in effect in right which would allow a staged opening slightly more freedom. because we can contract trace trace the infection because we have managed to prevent the hospital system being an overburdened even now we have to continue our efforts until march so trying to get

the mutations to small scale and hope that the 7 day incidence can be pushed to below 50 from my angle that is worth our effort i think it's always about making sure we have continually reducing numbers we need to persevere we need to show patients and i know that on a day like today that is not an easy thing to do imaging can often. people can rely on a stance on a government which we do want is sensible what is possible to help those in need so that they too can survive this difficult period the end i utterly convinced and this is my mandate and i will fulfill this until the last day of my time in office at the end we will jointly manage to vanquish this pandemic and to see better days thank you very much. and i was.

addressing the german border czar defending her reopening strategy after yesterday's announcement that the lockdown here in germany will be extended until at least march 7th machall said she was acutely aware of how difficult this lockdown has been for people on the government's objective is to lift the wrist. actions as soon as it is possible actually spoke of the people who have lost their lives to the coronavirus and said leticia is owed to them to make the right decisions now. defended the slow vaccine rollout in germany but said she's confident things will speed up and she spoke of our concern about the dangerous virus mutations now emerging and the challenges they pose to chance are also explained any reopening will be based on the level of infections rather than specific dates. let's bring in political correspondent nina

has a joins me now from our parliamentary studios you know what did you make of speech in the german border is that what stood out for you. i think i heard one thing became very clear today we are seeing a chancellor who is not standing again in the next elections this fall in september uncle americal has decided herself that she is not going to run again which means in a way and you saw that very clearly in this speech in this address to be honest tack i found that she is not under the same pressure as other politicians to sort of make compromises she try to convince the bundestag politicians yet again that her ultimate goal is to not to overburden the health system and that she feels that this promise that she essentially made has been kept by her and her government and by the state as a whole so this is an angle americal always trying to get other people to agree on

the strictest of measures possible so that we can really battle fight the battle against this virus and bring the numbers down and this came out very very clearly and if you look at what was decided in the big round between state premiers and anglo american yesterday and america again wanted the maximum possible extension of the current lockdown measures she wanted them to be extended until at least the 14th of march and there are some state premiers who are under a lot more pressure because of course many people want the restrictions to be lifted and they are going to stand in local and regional elections which are happening on the 14th of march so people from those states that are seeing elections on the 14th of march opted for the 7th of march for restrictions to be lifted so that they could give a present to voters that is only one of the many things that became very very clear

in america's address you know the infection rate in the house been improving though over the last couple of weeks how did marco defend and justify extending the lockdown for another month. i actually looked at my watch or rather at the clock here in the studio and i wrote down that she spent 8 minutes talking about the virus and all the threats and the entire strategy she went through all of last year again and the measures that we took and what happened during the summer when figures were low 8 minutes before she even mentioned the mutations and the current threats and 8 minutes she used that time to highlight all the successes she said it was the right strategy we fought the battle very well during the 1st wave then we had a more relaxing situation in the summer but then she said that she wanted to have more strict restrictions again before the 2nd wave hit germany and it's true that

she did warn everybody said we are risking a period of exponential growth if we don't take measures now in the autumn and then of course the state premiers decided to go the other way so she said now with a mutations there is a real risk that we are destroying all our successes and that cannot happen. if we have. by from address prepared right now let's have a listen to that. a simple cut you can go after democracy it is our duty not to have the restrictions one day longer the needed and to lift them when they are no longer necessary that is exactly the goal of the government and i know what's also the goal of the entire german parliament. destructions until they are no longer necessary she said that and she linked that not to a specific date that was discussed to numbers of incidents how many people get

infected in a certain period of time but what did she have to say about that. well as he is a scientist by trade and so you see no use that you need to i mean there are scientific models that you can use as a basis for. political decision making but of course we are in a political situation so the legal situation here in germany says that you can only extend the measures by a maximum of 4 weeks before the bundestag will have to have a say in those legal. in those legal situations again so uncle americal would prefer to base all the decisions that everybody is taking on the number of new infections on certain other scientific measures but really she is also limited by the legal situation here she said for example that she would have preferred a situation where the state premier as would have based their decision making on when it comes to reopening schools and kindergartens on the number of new

infections bazzi said she's also facing the reality that state premiers when it comes to reopening schools and connect arms have lots of other factors to take into account and so she staying out of that and she is very aware she said that she can't interfere that these the elections coming up for many of these state premiers she also mentioned the vaccination vaccination strategy that has gone off to a very very slow start here in germany and pointed also to europe and defended the decision to leave the buying of the vaca vaccination of the vaccines to the european union what did she have to say about that it is very rare when angle americal uses. political tools like referring to the world war.