Germany defends border controls as business demands lockdown exit plan

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Germany said on Monday its decision to impose border controls with the Czech Republic and Austria is a temporary measure of last resort and it defended a lockdown extension against business demands for a roadmap to reopening.

FILE PHOTO: German government's spokesperson Steffen Seibert attends the annual summer news conference of German Chancellor Angela Merkel during the outbreak of the coronavirus disease in Berlin, Germany, August 28, 2020. Michael Kappeler/Pool via REUTERS

“We have a situation in which we had to take all the necessary steps to prevent the virus variants...spreading as quickly in Germany as they are doing unfortunately in neighbouring countries,” Steffen Seibert, Chancellor Angela Merkel’s chief spokesman, told a news conference. German police at the Czech and Austrian frontiers have been allowing in only truck drivers, German citizens and cross-border commuters in possession of negative COVID-19 test certificates.

BMW, Volkswagen and Audi said on Monday that the new border regiment has not affected car output so far. Yet, as coronavirus vaccine roll-outs gather pace across Europe, business pressure to reopen economies is growing.

 

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