Contact restrictions will be extended until June 5. Keeping personal contact to a minimum is important in preventing infections from spreading quickly, Merkel said.

Currently, a person is allowed to socialize with only one person outside of their household. The rules will be relaxed to allow members of two households to meet.

While Germany has succeeded in slowing the spread of the virus, the health-care system must be protected from becoming overloaded, Merkel said. This has been possible because of citizens accepting restrictions and living their lives responsibly, saving the lives of others.