EPA Chancellor Angela Merkel said she took “ultimate responsibility” for the U-turn German Chancellor Angela Merkel has cancelled plans for a strict lockdown over Easter, just a day after the measures were announced. Calling the plan a “mistake”, Mrs Merkel said she took “ultimate responsibility” for the U-turn. The proposed lockdown was agreed with regional leaders in talks overnight on Monday, with restrictions set to be tightened between 1-5 April. But the plan was reversed following a crisis meeting on Wednesday. It had been widely criticised by business leaders and scientists. The lockdown would have been Germany’s strictest yet, with most shops closed and gatherings limited. For five days over Easter from 1 April, Germans would have been asked to stay at home and reduce social contact. In-person religious services would have been cancelled, large family gatherings banned and almost all shops would have been closed. The head of […]