Germany reported a record-high number of more than 50,000 daily coronavirus cases on Thursday as lawmakers mulled legislation that would pave the way for new coronavirus measures.
The Robert Koch Institute, Germany’s national disease
control center, registered 50,196 new cases, up from 33,949 daily cases a week
earlier. Infections have multiplied so quickly in recent days that hospitals in
the hardest-hit regions canceled scheduled surgeries to allow medical personnel
to focus on COVID-19 patients.
The institute also reported 237 daily COVID-19 deaths,
bringing Germany’s pandemic death toll to 97,198. One of the country’s top
virologists, Christian Drosten, warned on Wednesday that another 100,000 people
could die in the coming months if the country’s vaccination rate didn’t
accelerate quickly.
Unlike some other European countries, Germany has balked at
making vaccinations mandatory for certain categories of workers and has
struggled to persuade more people to voluntarily get shots.
At least 67% of the population of 83 million is fully
vaccinated, according to official figures.
“In Germany, I must say, unfortunately, that our vaccination
rate isn’t high enough to prevent the fast spread of the virus,” Chancellor
Angela Merkel said late Wednesday.
Vice Chancellor Olaf Scholz who is likely to take over as
chancellor echoed Merkel, telling lawmakers that everything must be done to get
more people vaccinated.
“The virus is still among us and threatening our health,”
said Scholz. “We must make sure that vaccinations are conducted and that they
are conducted at high speed.”
A caretaker national government has governed Germany since a
September parliamentary election. The three parties that are expected to form
the new government are looking to replace a March, 2020 “national epidemic”
declaration at the end of the month with new legislation for enacting COVID-19
measures.
Scholz announced that the three parties – his own Social
Democrats, the Greens and the pro-business Free Democrats – plan to to re-open
vaccination centers across the country so that people can receive booster shots
swiftly.
Other virus measures include free tests, daily or frequent
testing at nursing homes and schools and tougher enforcement of measures.
Germany has had a patchwork of regional rules throughout the
pandemic. Most places permit access to many indoor facilities and events only
to those people who have been vaccinated, have recovered from COVID-19 or had a
recent negative test.
Scholz said both he and Merkel agreed that the federal
government and all 16 states need to meet again next week to find common
solutions on how to counter the infection spike.
“That is what we need now: for the country to stick together
and pull in one direction so that we can get through this winter,” said Scholz. -AP
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