Concern in Berlin after hundreds ignore social distancing at canal party
Authorities in Berlin have appealed to people to follow social distancing rules after an open air party saw hundreds of people take to the city’s canals in boats at the weekend.
“I am horrified by the images from the weekend in Berlin. Parties and pandemics don't go together at all, ” Dilek Kalayci, the regional minister for health said on Tuesday.
“I said it at the beginning of the pandemic and I say it today, now is not the time for parties. The virus is still here and is a danger to everyone’s health.”
The event, dubbed “All in One Boat”, was organised by members of the Berlin clubbing scene and billed as a demonstration in support of the city’s nightclubs, many of which are struggling financially because of the coronavirus lockdown.
But with glorious weather on what was a Bank Holiday weekend in Germany, it quickly got out of control, with more than 1,500 people flocking to the waters in rubber dinghies.
Social distancing rules were quickly forgotten and few of those present wore facemasks.
“We ask all participants to limit their social contacts to a minimum over the next 14 days, especially when dealing with older or sick people,” the Berlin Club Commission, a professional organisation for nightclubs, said in a statement on Tuesday.
The Commission stressed that the event had been organised by individuals within the club scene.
There is still no sign of a second wave of coronavirus infections more than six weeks after Germany began lifting its lockdown.
Much of life has returned to normal but social distancing rules remain in place and facemasks are compulsory while shopping and on public transport.
The row came as Angela Merkel held talks with her coalition partners on Tuesday on proposals for an €8bn (£7bn) package to help the German economy recover from the effects of lockdown.
The talks were expected to continue late into the night with coalition parties deeply divided over the proposals.
Most controversial are plans for the government to offer a premium to anyone buying a new car in a bid to boost sales for the country’s key automotive industry.
The proposal has run into opposition from environmentalists who say it will undermine existing incentives to buy electric cars.
Norbert Walter-Borjans, leader of Mrs Merkel’s main coalition partners, the centre-Left Social Democrats (SPD), spoke out against “any kind of support for the sale of gas-guzzlers”.
Other proposals set to be discussed include a one-off special child benefit payment for families, and financial support for local authorities, many of which are struggling to meet the costs of lockdown.
