Germany is on high alert, with a record 24,196 cases of covid-19 in the past 24 hours, indicating the severity of the new wave of the epidemic affecting the country, according to the Robert Koch Institute (RKI).
It is the first time the country has surpassed the 50,000 mark in a single day since the pandemic began, with Germany setting a record of negatives. In the past 24 hours, 235 people have died from complications of the disease.
German Chancellor Angela Merkel yesterday, Wednesday, described the rise in covid-19 cases as “dramatic”, a trend that has been evident since October.
“The pandemic is spreading again in an impressive way,” her spokesman said, calling on the state authorities, which is responsible for managing health issues, to take new steps to address the situation.
The pressure is also increasing in hospitals.
The outbreak of the epidemic is attributed to the relatively low vaccination rate among the Germans, which is just over 67%.
Many hard-hit states, such as Saxony, Bavaria and Berlin, have adopted new restrictions on the unvaccinated.
Access only for vaccinated
As of Monday in Berlin, those who have not been vaccinated will not be allowed to enter restaurants that do not have an outdoor area, bars, gyms and hairdressers, the state government announced yesterday, Wednesday.
Under the new rules, only those who have been fully vaccinated against covid-19 and those who can prove they have recovered can enter these areas. The same will apply to museums and open-air events where more than 2,000 people gather, such as football matches.
These measures do not apply to minors and adults who have not been vaccinated against covid-19 for medical reasons. However, they will require a negative coronavirus test.
At the same time, companies are encouraged to ask their employees to work more from home and to limit their presence in offices to 50% of the staff.
The decisions were made due to “an increase in the number of coronavirus cases” and “increasing pressure on intensive care units,” the Berlin Senate said in a statement.
These measures are among the strictest in force in Germany.
In total, almost 4.9 million people in the country have been infected with covid-19 since the beginning of the pandemic.
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