On Tuesday, March 23, 2021, Germany’s Chancellor, Angela Merkel, announced a strict five-day lockdown and extended safety measures through mid-April due to a significant and deadly spike in Coronavirus cases.
“After we were able to sharply bring down the number of new infections in January, we are now experiencing, through the spread of the more contagious British variant, a more dangerous variation — the numbers are going up and the intensive care beds are filling up,” said German Chancellor Angela Merkel.
April 1-5, 2021: 5-Day Strict Lockdown (over Easter). Except for special permitted services (hospitals, fire department, gas stations), no other business will be allowed. Supermarkets are allowed to be open on Saturday, April 3rd. Private meetings limited to no more than two groups of 5 adults. For Easter services, churches have been asked to hold services online. Residents are advised to stay in their homes and not travel.
April 6-18, 2021: Extension of existing restrictions
INTERNATIONAL SHIPPING
As reported in Green’s Trans-Atlantic market update, shippers have already facing heavy congestion, limited vessel space and equipment shortages at German ports, but the new lockdown and extended restrictions are sure to create additional backlogs.
German domestic carriers have begun to refuse both short-term pick-ups and deliveries for the week of April 1st. This is to prevent containers from being rejected by the port, refusing to accept cargo more than 72 hours in advance of vessel arrival. Major ports have already reduced delivery slots in order to process existing cargoes. Warehouse loading operations have also been reduced in preparation for the closures.
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