People walk by a COVID 19 testing station on Kurfuerstendamm shopping street, amid the coronaviruses disease COVID 19 in Berlin, Germany, December 1, 2021. BERLIN, December 2, Reuters -- Germany is expected to impose restrictions on the unvaccinated on Thursday as it seeks to break a surge in daily coronaviruses that have been exacerbated by the discovery of the Omicron strain.
Chancellor Angela Merkel and her successor, Olaf Scholz, will discuss with leaders of Germany's 16 states limiting access to all but the most essential businesses, such as grocery stores, pharmacies and bakeries.
They are expected to keep businesses open to 69% of the population who have recovered from the coronaviruses, as well as businesses that have been vaccinated to avoid the lock downs that could derail a fragile recovery of Europe's biggest economy.
More than 73,000 new infections and 388 deaths were caused by resistance to vaccine by a large part of society, according to virologists. They also criticised politicians for acting too late.
Germany's vaccination rate is just under 70%, but it is less than the EU average, as well as countries such as Portugal and Ireland.
There are measures to be discussed, including making vaccination compulsory and restricting the number of people at large events such as soccer matches.
There have been signs that the curve is starting to flatten. The 7 day incidence among 100,000 residents fell for the third consecutive day to 439.2.
Scholz's Social Democrats will govern with the help of the progressive Greens and the pro-business Free Democrats and will be the top priority for the virus.
Scholz wants the Bundestag lower house to vote on making vaccination compulsory and that he would vote for the proposal.
Merkel will bow out after 16 years with a military tattoo at the chancellery on Thursday and hand over to Scholz next week.