German Chancellor Angela Merkel speaks at a news conference after a meeting with state leaders to discuss options beyond the end of the pandemic lockdown, amid the outbreak of the coronavirus disease (Covid-19), in Berlin, Germany, March 23, 2021 — Michael Kappeler/Pool via Reuters
German Chancellor Angela Merkel has called an unexpected meeting with leaders of the federal states for Wednesday morning to discuss the coronavirus pandemic after they agreed early on Tuesday to extend the lockdown, government sources said.
The meeting comes as Covid-19 infections have been rising fast in a third wave of the pandemic in Germany.