Thousands quarantined in Germany...18 Jun 2020 12:11
THOUSANDS of people in Germany have quarantined and schools closed after a coronavirus outbreak at an abattoir fuelled fears of a deadly second wave.
More than 650 people have tested positive for the virus at the meat processing plant in Gütersloh, in the north-west of the country.
Meat producer Tönnies apologised for the outbreak as it suspended operations at the site yesterday.
Over 1,000 workers have been tested so far, with thousands more still to be tested.
All the workers and everyone they have been in contact with have been told to go into isolation while they await test results.
Local authorities have also closed schools and childcare centres in the region until the end of the month.
German Chancellor Angela Merkel said she "welcomed" the measures to halt the further spread of the virus in the area.
It comes after another outbreak in Berlin where hundreds of households have been placed under fresh lockdown.
Authorities said they were "alarmed" at how fast the virus was spreading in apartment complexes in southern suburb Neukölln.