This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-53622797
The article has changed 2 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
Previous version
1
Next version
Version 0 | Version 1 |
---|---|
Coronavirus: Thousands protest in Germany against restrictions | Coronavirus: Thousands protest in Germany against restrictions |
(about 7 hours later) | |
Thousands of people in the German capital Berlin have taken part in a protest against the country's coronavirus restrictions. | |
Demonstrators said measures including the wearing of facemasks violated their rights and freedoms. | |
Police broke up the protest, saying organisers had not respected coronavirus hygiene regulations. | |
Germany has been less badly affected by the pandemic than some European countries, but cases are rising. | |
On Friday it recorded more than 900 new cases and seven deaths. | On Friday it recorded more than 900 new cases and seven deaths. |
What happened at the protest? | |
Officials say about 20,000 people attended the Berlin protest on Saturday. | |
Organisers had declared it a "day of freedom" from months of coronavirus restrictions. | |
Demonstrators held up banners featuring such slogans as "Corona, false alarm" and "We are being forced to wear a muzzle". | |
The BBC's Damien McGuinness said some participants were from the far right and some were conspiracy theorists who do not believe Covid-19 exists, but others were ordinary people who simply object to the government's approach to the pandemic. | |
While the mood at the demonstration was peaceful, hardly anyone was wearing a face-covering or observing the required social distancing, our correspondent reported. | |
"Our demand is to go back to democracy. Away with these laws that have been imposed on us, away with the masks that make us slaves," one woman said. | |
Police ordered demonstrators to disperse at the end of the afternoon. They said they had launched legal action against organisers for not respecting coronavirus hygiene rules. | |
Health Minister Jens Spahn criticised people for failing to adhere to regulations, including the 1.5m (5ft) social distancing requirement. | |
"Yes, demonstrations should be allowed even amid the pandemic. But not like this," he wrote on Twitter. | |
Social distancing rules and hygiene requirements apply throughout the country, and people must wear face-coverings in shops and on public transport. Mandatory testing has been introduced for holidaymakers returning from high-risk areas. | |
Germany has had more than 210,000 cases of coronavirus and more than 9,000 related deaths since the pandemic began. | Germany has had more than 210,000 cases of coronavirus and more than 9,000 related deaths since the pandemic began. |
Previous version
1
Next version