Concerts, festivals, trade fairs, football matches with crowds – these are some of the major events in Germany which will not be allowed to go ahead this summer due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Chancellor Angela Merkel of the centre-right Christian Democrats (CDU) agreed with Germany’s 16 states on Wednesday that major events in Germany will be banned in principle until the end of August 2020. Some organisers have already started announcing cancellations, including the Wacken Open Air festival which was due to take place from July 30th until August 1st. This also includes events like Parookaville, Oktoberfest, Gamescom and games of the German national football league Bundesliga.
German Chancellor Angela Merkel has announced the first steps in undoing coronavirus lockdowns in the coming weeks, stressing, however, that the measures had only achieved a “fragile, partial success” against the pandemic. Stores up to 800 square metres (8,600 square feet) will be allowed to reopen once they have “plans to maintain hygiene”, Merkel said on Wednesday following talks with the leaders of Germany’s 16 federal states.
Germany has 132,718 confirmed coronavirus cases to date, including 3,592 deaths, according to data compiled by Johns Hopkins University.
