RTTNews reports that German Chancellor Angela Merkel and regional leaders of 16 federal states agreed late Monday to impose a hard lockdown during Easter amid an exponential growth in the number of coronavirus cases in the country, in what is being called a "third wave".

The government also decided to apply the hard lockdown "emergency brake" in regions with an incidence value above 100 for a seven-day period.

Germany also extended the current lockdown measures, which includes partial shutdown of non-essential stores, until April 18.

"We are in a very, very serious situation", Merkel said in a press conference following her meeting with the regional leaders. She said there is a new pandemic caused by a new virus which is more deadly and more infectious.

Several other European countries have also delayed plans for a gradual opening of the economy in the backdrop of the rising coronavirus cases and slower vaccinations.