German Chancellor Angela Merkel has withdrawn tough Covid-19 restrictions planned over the Easter holiday after the decree sparked a public uproar as well as within her own party.
In a video message today, Merkel told state prime ministers that she would lift the five-day lockdown, which would have closed all businesses, with supermarkets only allowed to operate for one day during the period.
The planned restrictions also banned private gatherings of more than five adults from two different families and required Easter church services to be held virtually.
"This mistake is mine alone." - Merkel said, adding that the shutdown was 'created with the best of intentions' but should not have been proposed because there was no way to implement it properly.
The move was hailed from within her Christian Democratic political alliance.
Earlier, the German chancellor was harshly attacked on the masses. The ban on church services was particularly controversial, with clergy and even Interior Minister Horst Seehofer, a longtime political ally, calling for a review of the measure.
