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Coronavirus: Gütersloh lockdown extended around meat factory | Coronavirus: Gütersloh lockdown extended around meat factory |
(about 20 hours later) | |
Local authorities have extended a lockdown in and around the German city of Gütersloh after an outbreak at a nearby meat processing plant. | Local authorities have extended a lockdown in and around the German city of Gütersloh after an outbreak at a nearby meat processing plant. |
North Rhine-Westphalia state premier Armin Laschet called the extra week of restrictions a "precautionary measure" as they carry out more tests. | North Rhine-Westphalia state premier Armin Laschet called the extra week of restrictions a "precautionary measure" as they carry out more tests. |
But Mr Laschet said the lockdown in neighbouring Warendorf district would end on Wednesday. | |
State officials had to bring back virus control measures last week. | State officials had to bring back virus control measures last week. |
An outbreak linked to the Tönnies meat processing factory near Gütersloh infected thousands of people, and on Tuesday local lockdown rules came into force for roughly 600,000 people. | An outbreak linked to the Tönnies meat processing factory near Gütersloh infected thousands of people, and on Tuesday local lockdown rules came into force for roughly 600,000 people. |
It was the first time such measures had been reintroduced in Germany since the country began lifting the nationwide lockdown in May. | It was the first time such measures had been reintroduced in Germany since the country began lifting the nationwide lockdown in May. |
When German Chancellor Angela Merkel lifted the national restrictions, she imposed a so-called "emergency brake", requiring local authorities to reimpose rules if cases rose above a threshold of 50 per 100,000 people over a seven-day period. | When German Chancellor Angela Merkel lifted the national restrictions, she imposed a so-called "emergency brake", requiring local authorities to reimpose rules if cases rose above a threshold of 50 per 100,000 people over a seven-day period. |
How bad is the outbreak in Gütersloh? | How bad is the outbreak in Gütersloh? |
Speaking at a press conference on Monday, Mr Laschet said the "rapid containment measures" brought in last Tuesday had stopped the virus "jumping over" into the general population. | Speaking at a press conference on Monday, Mr Laschet said the "rapid containment measures" brought in last Tuesday had stopped the virus "jumping over" into the general population. |
Discounting employees of the meat facility - who accounted for the vast majority of infections - Gütersloh district had a rate of 22.5 infections per 100,000 residents over the past seven days, and Warendorf had just 5.4 per 100,000 inhabitants. | Discounting employees of the meat facility - who accounted for the vast majority of infections - Gütersloh district had a rate of 22.5 infections per 100,000 residents over the past seven days, and Warendorf had just 5.4 per 100,000 inhabitants. |
But including workers, those rates are significantly higher: Gütersloh district's rate rises to 112.6, far more than the 50 per 100,000 threshold. Warendorf's figure increases to 22, enabling the district to exit restrictions at midnight. | But including workers, those rates are significantly higher: Gütersloh district's rate rises to 112.6, far more than the 50 per 100,000 threshold. Warendorf's figure increases to 22, enabling the district to exit restrictions at midnight. |
Once more tests are conducted and their results confirmed, the authorities will decide on when to end restrictions in Gütersloh, Mr Laschet said. | Once more tests are conducted and their results confirmed, the authorities will decide on when to end restrictions in Gütersloh, Mr Laschet said. |
The Tönnies plant remains shut until further notice. North Rhine-Westphalia's health minister Karl-Josef Laumann has ruled that all meat processing sites in the state with more than 100 workers must test each employee twice a week from 1 July. | The Tönnies plant remains shut until further notice. North Rhine-Westphalia's health minister Karl-Josef Laumann has ruled that all meat processing sites in the state with more than 100 workers must test each employee twice a week from 1 July. |