“I would have wished for lighter measures. But due to Christmas shopping, the number of social contacts has risen considerably. There is an urgent need to take action," Merkel told journalists following a meeting with leaders of the country's 16 federal states.

Merkel and the governors of Germany's 16 states reached an agreement to tighten up the country's lockdown measures from December 16 to January 10 in order to halt the rise of COVID-19 cases.

Only essential shops, including supermarkets and pharmacies, as well as banks, will remain open under the agreement.

During the period, schools will also be closed, and employers will be asked to close operations or have employees work from home.

As of 12 December 2020, the Robert Koch Institute, a German federal government agency and research institute responsible for disease control and prevention, has officially reported 1,300,516 cases, 21,466 deaths, and approximately 957,500 recoveries. (ILKHA)