Chancellor Angela Merkel is due to meet regional leaders on Wednesday to discuss measures that will mean the closing of restaurants and bars, but schools and nurseries will be kept open.

The plan would be to try and agree on nationwide rules in favor of a confusing patchwork of local measures, a draft document seen by Reuters said.

People are only to guard in public only with members of their own household, but fitness studios, cinemas and theaters would be amongst venues forced to close once more.

Germany is Europe's largest economy on was widely praised for its pandemic handling early in the year, keeping infection and death rates low.

But Europe is now in the midst of a second wave.

Deaths from covert 19 have risen almost 40% on the continent in just a week.

France is likely to follow Germany with similar measures.

Italy and Spain have already moved to re impose their own, according to the document.

Action is needed now to ensure no far reaching limits and necessary either socially or economically for the Christmas period.

Shops will be permitted to remain open if they implement hygiene measures and limit customer numbers.

Almost all regions of Germany face an exponential increase in infection rates on local health.

Authorities have become unable to trace all infections.

The restrictions are set to be put in place next week.

German Health Minister Jens Spahn said.

Quote If we wait until the intensive care units are full, it will be too late.