Germany's Ministry of the Interior explained in a press release that the decision was taken by the Federal Interior Minister Horst Seehofer, who saw it necessary to extend the border controls in a bid to contain the virus spreading.
“The border controls had been temporarily reintroduced on the internal land borders with Austria, Switzerland, France, Luxembourg, Denmark with effect from March 16, 2020, on the basis of Article 28 of the Schengen Borders Code. These were expanded on March 19, 2020, to include the airside borders with the aforementioned countries as well as with Italy and Spain and with the seaside with Denmark,” the press release reads.
Xavier Bettel on Wednesday lamented that German officials did not notify Luxembourg of this decision. The announcement of prolonged border controls did not sit well with local politicians on both sides of the Moselle river.
Chancellor Angela Merkel also announced on Wednesday evening that all large events are cancelled until 31 August. Shops will be able to open under strict guidelines on 20 April.
