Merkel takes tentative steps
German chancellor Angela Merkel on Wednesday announced plans for the partial reopening of shops and schools starting next week. Shops up to 8002m in size, as well as bookstores, bicycle and car dealerships will open again on 20 April and some schools will start classes again on 4 May. Social distancing rules will be maintained, and authorities also strongly recommend the wearing of masks. However, bars and restaurants and culture venues will stay closed and large public gatherings will remain banned until end of August. Reuters, the BBC, The New York Times (paywall) and Deutsche Welle have more. The Guardian looks at how the exit strategy plans have caused a rift in the future leadership of Merkel’s CDU party.
Commission offers coordination guidelines
European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen on Wednesday set out guidelines for a gradual and continuously monitored ending of lockdowns across the European Union and requested governments to coordinate the reopening of economies. The Commission’s guidelines paper says that even a gradual rollback of confinement measures “will unavoidably lead to an increase in new cases of infection with the coronavirus and a possible reintroduction of restrictive measures.” The Irish Times says that the Commission wants to avoid the chaos that ensued when member states closed borders unilaterally at the start of the pandemic. Forbes interpreted von der Leyen’s words as suggesting borders may not be re-opened in time for summer holidays. And Politico says at least half a dozen EU countries have already made unchoreographed announcements.
Luxembourg’s exit strategy
As we reported on Wednesday evening, prime minister Xavier Bettel has unveiled cautious plans for Luxembourg to get back to work and for the reopening of schools and creches. The timing of different phases will depend on health care capacity as the spread of coronavirus slows down across the grand duchy.
Trump to announce guidelines for reopening
US President Donald Trump has said he would announce “new guidelines” for reopening the economy at a news conference on Thursday. “We'll be the comeback kids, all of us," he said at his daily media briefing on Wednesday. He said that the country has passed the peak of new infections of the coronavirus. “We have 20 states, at least, but you really have 29 that are in extremely good shape.” United States coronavirus response coordinator Dr. Deborah Birx told reporters that over the past six days the rate of new cases has declined across the country. The US has conducted 3.3 million tests and 24% of all counties in the country have not reported a single case of covid-19. CNN, CNBC, Reuters, and the BBC report. But The New York Times says the rollout of the president’s “Opening Our Country Council” has been confusing.
Moon wins in Korea
South Korean President Moon Jae-in’s Democratic Party has won 163 seats in the country’s parliamentary election. The result gives his party a majority in the 300-seat National Assembly. The election was conducted under strict social distancing measures. The BBC, Bloomberg (paywall) and Aljazeera all have reports.
Poles defy lockdown to protest
A proposal from the Polish government that would almost completely ban abortion has sparked widespread criticism and even lockdown defying protests in the country. The BBC and the Warsaw Business Journal say videos from Warsaw and Poznan showed socially-distancing protestors holding placards.
Trump could force Congress to adjourn
US president Donald Trump on Wednesday said he may try to force Congress to adjourn so he could fill his administration’s vacancies without Senate approval. He said that lawmakers staying away from Washington when they should be voting on his nominees for federal judgeships and other government positions, was a “dereliction of duty”. Reuters, Politico, Fox News and The Washington Post have more.
Lockdown essentials
The BBC has a video from 5 countries explaining which shops can remain open to serve what is deemed essential needs. They include chocolate and cheese vendors in Paris, gun shops and marijuana dispensers in the United States and liquor stores in Australia.
Station life
The Washington Post has a heartwarming story about how passengers stranded at the main train station in the north Indian city of Varanasi are being looked after by railway staff. Some 50 passengers are stuck, like Tom Hanks in “Terminal”, and unable to leave the station during lockdown. They get three meals a day, hot tea, a morning yoga session and nightly film screenings.
Today’s breakfast briefing was written by Duncan Roberts