Some 42 per cent of respondents to a survey conducted on behalf of the Bundeswehr University Munich said that under certain circumstances they would violate the rules, which currently include contact restrictions and the closure of bars and restaurants.

Meanwhile, more than three-quarters of respondents said they were in favour of the curbs.

“A disproportionate number of people wrongly believe that they have an above-average assessment of the situation … which is why they approve of restrictions for other people, but ignore them themselves,” said Philipp Rauschnabel, a professor at the university.

Chancellor Angela Merkel has urged the premiers of Germany’s 16 states to come together before Christmas to decide on additional restrictions to bring down the country’s doggedly high infection rate.

New curbs under consideration include putting restrictions on retail business after Christmas and restricting access to in-person learning.