Germany Extends Existing Lockdown Until February

German Chancellor Angela Merkel listens to Berlin's Mayor Michael Mueller during a press conference following a video conference with the Prime Ministers of the federal states discussing new measures to bring down the numbers of COVID-19 infections, in Berlin on Jan. 19, 2021. Filip Singer-Pool/Getty Images

Germany will extend its ongoing COVID-19 lockdown measures until Feb. 14 amid fears of a new virus variant and continued attempts to bring infection rates down. The existing lockdown was supposed to expire at the end of this month.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel met with the country’s state leaders on Jan. 19, deciding to keep most “nonessential” businesses and schools closed.