While the German government is expected to extend the coronavirus lockdown for at least three weeks, the country’s Social Democrats have demanded that parents who wish to care for their children receive paid leave.
“Companies give parents paid leave,” SPD general secretary Lars Klingbeil told Bild Live on Sunday.
Klingbeil said his suggestion made a lot of sense as schools and nurseries remained closed after the Christmas holidays.
The Social Democrat said there were indications that schools may be just one source of COVID-19 infections. “It deserves to be clarified whether the face-to-face categories from first to sixth grade, as well as in the last categories, are imaginable. again,” he added.
The German gym said Sunday that the country had recorded 10,315 new coronavirus infections and 312 similar deaths in the past 24 hours.
Meanwhile, Federal Education Minister Anja Karliczek of the Christian Democratic Union party believes all students should quickly return to face-to-face training, adding that the coronavirus infection rate is “still worrying” in the country.
“So, right now there is a full return to face-to-face training in all grades,” he said.
Karliczek said that if face-to-face categories were held, they would be “only in strict compliance with hygiene rules, adding dress with a mask. “
“In any case, it is better to act cautiously than not to be there at some point to allow face-to-face training for an even worse scenario,” said the CDU politician, adding that the scenario will continue to be complicated in the coming weeks.
“I think this year we will get back to normal, in schools and other educational institutions. “
German Chancellor Angela Merkel will hold a consultative meeting with federal heads of state on Tuesday to discuss how to continue the ongoing deadlock.