Pandemic will likely last into 2021, top German civil servant says

German Chancellor Angela Merkel’s chief of staff has said the coronavirus pandemic will last at least until the end of this year, “and that’s being very optimistic”.

“We are not living after the pandemic now – rather we are living in the middle of a pandemic, one that will be with us for a while – at least for this year and that’s being very optimistic,” Helge Braun said.

Germany further eased lockdown yesterday, lifting restrictions on shops opening, and allowing people from two households to meet.