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FILE PHOTO: Members of the District Administration Department patrol through the city to check if distancing regulations are respected, as the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) continues in Munich, Germany, April 27, 2020. REUTERS/Andreas Gebert

Germany extends COVID-19 distancing rules to end of June

BERLIN: Germany has extended social distancing rules aimed at containing the spread of the coronavirus epidemic to Jun 29, Chancellor Angela Merkel's government said on Tuesday (May 26).

Up to 10 people will be allowed to gather in public places but Germans should be in contact with as few people as possible, according to the rules agreed between the federal government and 16 states.

Merkel's government had been embroiled in disagreements with the least-affected states, some of which wanted to ditch the measures and open up entirely.

Germany's virus caseload now tops 179,000 with more than 8,300 deaths - much lower than European counterparts such as Britain, France, Spain and Italy.

"This success is mainly based on the fact that the rules on distance and hygiene have been implemented and respected," the government and the regions said.

However, officials warned that further restrictions could be imposed if local outbreaks made them necessary.