Germans stage protests against lockdown measures, social distancing rules

Thousands of Germans across the country took to the streets on Saturday to protest against restrictions imposed by the government to contain the coronavirus pandemic.

Some lockdown measures have already been relaxed in the country. But the protestors have been voicing their opinion against the measures Chancellor Angela Merkel had imposed. They staged demonstrations at several locations across the capital Berlin and the surrounding state of Brandenburg.

These people have also been derided on social media as "covidiots" who risk causing a second wave of infections that could lead to a tightening of restrictions.

Merkel last week agreed to a gradual re-opening of schools, shops and restaurants and even soccer. She, however, has repeatedly warned about a second wave of infections.

The hard core of protesters is being led by several new groups.

One group is Resistance 2020, led by a lawyer from eastern Leipzig and a doctor from south-western Germany who question official corona statistics and view the main political parties as constructs of an elitist rule.

Another group called COMPACT describes itself as the "sharp sword against imperial propaganda". It declares on its website that it is helping the "information offensive" for the growing protest movement.

The novel coronavirus has so far infected more than 1,73,000 people in Germany and killed nearly 7,900.

German media have suggested Russia could be behind a misinformation campaign that is spurring on the protestors.

(with inputs from Reuters)