Germany's chancellor Merkel and premiers of Germany's 16 states expect to get recommendations from the German National Academy of Sciences on Monday, according to Reuters. And these recommendations are to weigh heavily in considerations for a possible loosening in movement and social distancing rules, which were imposed around mid-March. The discussion takes place as the number of new cases and deaths drops in the country.

The chancellor plans to discuss the recommendations with her cabinet on Tuesday and to hold a video conference with the state governors to discuss a possible path out of the lockdown on Wednesday.

Over the Easter weekend, Armin Laschet, the conservative governor of North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany's most populous state, sent recommendations of his state's experts to the chancellor and his fellow premiers. He has emphasized the importance of easing restrictions.