German Chancellor Angela Merkel called on shops in the country to shut until mid-January after a sharp rise in coronavirus deaths.
Germany imposed far less stringent shutdown rules than other major European nations after coming through the first wave of the pandemic relatively unscathed.
The call came after deaths soared by 590 on Wednesday, the highest total since the start of the coronavirus outbreak.
Ms Merkel blamed lax social distancing for the worrying rise and demanded the introduction of strict new measures.
“When mulled wine stands are being built, when waffle stands are being built, that's not compatible with what we had agreed to with only takeaways for food and drinks," she said, in an emotional speech to Germany's Parliament.
"I am really sorry, but if we're paying the price of death tolls at 590 people daily then that's, in my view, not acceptable."
Ms Merkel said it was right to close shops and limit social gatherings. She said a scientific study by Leopoldina Academy backed up the call.
The researchers had called for all shops other than those selling essential items to close between Christmas Eve and January 10 at the earliest.
Employees should also work from home when possible while schools are also kept shut.
Ms Merkel said people had a responsibility to significantly reduce social contact over the festive period.
"If we have too many contacts before Christmas and it ends up being the last Christmas with the grandparents, then we'd really have failed," she said.
Meanwhile, other European politicians sounded the alarm about worrying rises in case numbers.
London Mayor Sadiq Khan said the city could be forced into Tier 3 measures, the highest level of restrictions, if the rate of infection did not improve in the next few days.
Under Tier 3, all pubs, restaurants, indoor entertainment and tourist venues would close, dealing a significant blow to the city’s hospitality industry leading to Christmas.
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson expressed his concern about the rising toll in the capital.
“If you look at what’s happening in London, for instance, we are seeing the disease starting to climb again in spite of all the efforts we’ve made,” Mr Johnson said on Tuesday.
On Wednesday, the UK's Department of Health reported 533 deaths and an additional 16,578 new infections.
Meanwhile, Sweden has proposed temporary legislation that would allow shops and other businesses to be closed where there is a greater risk of transmission.
The country was praised for its light lockdown measures earlier in the pandemic but has been forced to re-examine its strategy in recent weeks.
Swedish health authorities reported 133 new deaths on Tuesday, bringing the total to 7,200, and reported 297,732 cases in total.
Elsewhere, Switzerland resisted calls to close its mountain slopes to skiers. France, Germany and Italy have closed their resorts.
Swiss authorities said on Wednesday that at least 70 people had died with Covid-19 and it reported 5,086 more cases.
UK-EU trade at a glance
EU fishing vessels guaranteed access to UK waters for 12 years
Co-operation on security initiatives and procurement of defence products
Youth experience scheme to work, study or volunteer in UK and EU countries
Smoother border management with use of e-gates
Cutting red tape on import and export of food
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
THE BIO: Martin Van Almsick
Hometown: Cologne, Germany
Family: Wife Hanan Ahmed and their three children, Marrah (23), Tibijan (19), Amon (13)
Favourite dessert: Umm Ali with dark camel milk chocolate flakes
Favourite hobby: Football
Breakfast routine: a tall glass of camel milk
Navdeep Suri, India's Ambassador to the UAE
There has been a longstanding need from the Indian community to have a religious premises where they can practise their beliefs. Currently there is a very, very small temple in Bur Dubai and the community has outgrown this. So this will be a major temple and open to all denominations and a place should reflect India’s diversity.
It fits so well into the UAE’s own commitment to tolerance and pluralism and coming in the year of tolerance gives it that extra dimension.
What we will see on April 20 is the foundation ceremony and we expect a pretty broad cross section of the Indian community to be present, both from the UAE and abroad. The Hindu group that is building the temple will have their holiest leader attending – and we expect very senior representation from the leadership of the UAE.
When the designs were taken to the leadership, there were two clear options. There was a New Jersey model with a rectangular structure with the temple recessed inside so it was not too visible from the outside and another was the Neasden temple in London with the spires in its classical shape. And they said: look we said we wanted a temple so it should look like a temple. So this should be a classical style temple in all its glory.
It is beautifully located - 30 minutes outside of Abu Dhabi and barely 45 minutes to Dubai so it serves the needs of both communities.
This is going to be the big temple where I expect people to come from across the country at major festivals and occasions.
It is hugely important – it will take a couple of years to complete given the scale. It is going to be remarkable and will contribute something not just to the landscape in terms of visual architecture but also to the ethos. Here will be a real representation of UAE’s pluralism.
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Benefits of first-time home buyers' scheme
- Priority access to new homes from participating developers
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Defending champions
World Series: South Africa
Women’s World Series: Australia
Gulf Men’s League: Dubai Exiles
Gulf Men’s Social: Mediclinic Barrelhouse Warriors
Gulf Vets: Jebel Ali Dragons Veterans
Gulf Women: Dubai Sports City Eagles
Gulf Under 19: British School Al Khubairat
Gulf Under 19 Girls: Dubai Exiles
UAE National Schools: Al Safa School
International Invitational: Speranza 22
International Vets: Joining Jack
