⁍ To compensate firms hit by the new measures, Finance Minister Olaf Scholz wants to make available up to 10 billion euros in aid.

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⁍ The drastic steps are aimed at curbing the spread of the coronavirus in Europe’s biggest economy.

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⁍ Almost all areas of Germany face an exponential increase in infection rates.

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– Germany is planning a partial shutdown of the country’s restaurants, bars, and theaters to combat the H1N1 virus, Reuters reports. According to a document seen by the news agency, the shutdown will start Nov. 2 and last until the end of November. Restaurants and bars will be allowed to stay open, but only if they put in place hygiene measures and limit customer numbers. People will be allowed to go out with only family members and one other household member. Health officials say the shutdown is necessary because almost all areas of Germany are experiencing an exponential increase in infections. “The aim is to interrupt the dynamic of the infection fast so no far-reaching limits on personal contact and economic activity are needed over the Christmas period,” the document states. Germany was praised for keeping infection and death rates below those of many of its neighbors in the first phase of the crisis but is now in the midst of a second wave. Cases rose by 14,964 to 464,239 in the last 24 hours, Germany’s infections diseases agency, the Robert Koch Institute, said yesterday. Deaths jumped by 85 to 10,183. “If we wait until intensive care is full, it is too late,” said Health Minister Jens Spahn, who last week tested positive for the virus. The government is desperate to avoid another blanket lockdown after one in March-April decimated growth, with the economy shrinking by a record 9.7% in the second quarter. Economists expect a rebound for the third quarter, but a further lockdown could wipe out growth in the last quarter.