BERLIN, Dec 18: Germany has closed shops and schools until January 10 in order to check the new surge in coronavirus (covid) transmission.

"There is an urgent need to take action," Chancellor Angela Merkel had said early this week following a meeting with leaders of the country's 16 federal States.

Only essential shops such as supermarkets and pharmacies and banks are open.

Schools also remain closed during the period. Employees mostly will work from home. The sale of fireworks has been banned ahead of New Year's Eve.

For the last six weeks Germany has been in partial lockdown with bars and restaurants closed, while stores and schools remained open till now.

New daily infections and deaths have reached alarming proportions. The number of confirmed coronavirus cases in Germany has increased to 13,20,716. The death toll on Sunday last was 321, and on Tuesday it was 598 to go up to 952 the next day, raising the toll to 23,427. The casualty is 179.8 per lakh population.