Angela Merkel says coronavirus lockdown must be lifted cautiously

The chancellor reportedly told a closed-door meeting of conservative lawmakers that Germany is already in a “third wave,” and warned against a hasty reopening.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel said Tuesday that Germany will need to re-open cautiously and step-by-step in order to avoid a sudden return to lockdown if COVID infections pick up again.

“We cannot afford ups and downs,” Merkel told participants of an online conference of the center-right CDU/CSU parliamentary group, according to several sources who spoke to reporters following the meeting.

Next Wednesday, Merkel will meet with the leaders of Germany’s 16 states to discuss the way out of a lockdown that began in November and was  extended until at least March 7. Read DW.com’s full story.