Merkel insists on basics as states take bigger role in virus controls

BERLIN (Reuters) - Chancellor Angela Merkel has conceded more responsibility to Germany's 16 states for tackling the coronavirus epidemic, but insisted that social distancing and mask-wearing were needed to avoid a new wave of infections.A row has erupted between central government and several states that want to shift away from strict rules to looser recommendations as the number of new cases falls. The states are in charge of most day-to-day enforcement issues. Germany has managed to keep its..