Bavaria Tightens Coronavirus Lockdown Ahead of Holiday Season as Cases Continue to Increase

The Münchner Christkindlmarkt at Marienplatz in Bavaria

Declaring a “Katastrophenfall” or disaster situation, officials in Bavaria said they were tightening restrictions in the state.

The new measures, which include a stay-at-home order, go into effect on December 9 and will remain in effect through January 5, 2021.

“We will not be defeated by this virus,” said Minister-Präsident Markus Söder to reporters at a news conference Sunday.

The Bavarian government said that current and previously undertaken measures didn’t bring down the infection rate in the region, which in the southeastern most part of Germany. Formally known as Freistaat Bayern, or the Free State of Bavaria, it is the largest state in Germany by area and the second most populous, with 13 million inhabitants.  It is home to a number of global companies and brands including BMW, Audi, Siemens, Adidas, Puma, Allianz, and Osram.

Under the new rules people will only be allowed to leave their homes for 14 specified reasons including exercise, grocery shopping, doctors visits, religious services, and work.

In areas of the state with more than 200 infections per 100,000 inhabitants within a rolling seven-day period, there will be a curfew in effect from 9 p.m. to 5 a.m.

Germany has seen a dramatic increase in cases since mid-October, when the daily number of new infections climbed above the record numbers seen in the spring.  Bavaria has recorded the country’s highest death toll

(Photo: Accura Media Group)