Angela Merkel reverses plans for Easter Covid lockdown in Germany

Chancellor admits decision to close churches and shops over five-day period was a mistake'

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Angela Merkel has performed a U-turn on plans to put Germany under a hard lockdown over Easter following a critical backlash, describing the decision to close churches and shops over a five-day period as a mistake".

Addressing the public at a press conference on Wednesday morning, the German chancellor said the plan for an Easter lockdown had been her personal mistake, and mistakes should to be called out as such".