Germany announced the country would go into a hard lockdown over the Christmas period as the coronavirus’ latest figures showed 20,200 more infections and a further 321 deaths.
Chancellor Angela Merkel blamed Christmas shopping for a "considerable" rise in social contacts that likely led to coronavirus infections record levels.
Restaurants, bars and leisure centres have already been closed since November, and starting December 16 it is for non-essential shops and schools to close across the country as well as strict restrictions on gatherings to be adopted.