TOPSHOT - The near-empty Pariser Platz square in front of Berlin's landmark Brandenburg Gate (Brandenburger Tor) is pictured on January 22, 2021, during the ongoing novel coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic. - Europe's top economy Germany this week extended its partial lockdown until February 14, 2021 and Chancellor Merkel has not ruled out border checks to slow the spread of the new strains. (Photo by Tobias Schwarz / AFP)