Merkel warns Germany faces ‘skyrocketing’ coronavirus cases

Berlin (dpa) – Chancellor Angela Merkel told German lawmakers on Thursday that the nation faced “a dramatic situation” as the number of new coronavirus cases surge across the country, threatening to overwhelm the nation’s health service.

New infections have “skyrocketed,” Merkel said in a statement to parliament just one day after she and the country’s 16 state premiers agreed to tough new restrictions and business closures to curb the spread of the virus.

“Such dynamics will overburden our intensive care units in a few weeks’ time,” said Merkel.

“We are in a dramatic situation at the beginning of the winter season,” Merkel said. “It affects us all. Without exception.”

Germany has recorded 16,774 new coronavirus infections over a 24-hour period, the Robert Koch Institute for disease control said on Thursday, marking the country’s highest daily increase since the pandemic began.

This brings the total number of cases so far to 481,013. The institute gave the death toll as 10,272, an increase of 89 compared to the previous day.

Germany’s federal and state governments agreed on Wednesday to a shutdown for the month of November in a bid to get the situation under control before Christmas.

Cultural and recreational facilities will shut as well as restaurants and bars, and outdoor gatherings will be limited to members of no more than two households, with a maximum of 10 people. The sweeping restrictions come into effect on Monday.

Fans will also be banned from top-level football matches in the Bundesliga, amateur sport will not take place, and gyms, pools, cosmetic studios, massage parlours and tattoo studios will have to close.