Germany on Friday recorded its second consecutive daily record for coronavirus cases amid spike in infections across Europe, and its disease control center said people who are not vaccinated now face a “very high risk” of infection.
The country reported 37,120 new cases in the last 24 hours, according to the Robert Koch Institute, compared to 33,949 the day before, which exceeded the previous worst record, 33,777 infections, from December 18 of last year.
While the number may have risen due to delays in testing and reporting due to Monday’s regional holiday in some of the worst-hit areas, it underscores a steady rise in infections in recent weeks that has brought COVID-19 back to life. the front page in the country. In addition, there were 154 deaths that raised the national total since the start of the pandemic to 96,346.
The country’s infection rate has now surpassed its peak during a spring wave, although it is far from its worst December figure, according to Friday’s figures. 169.9 cases have been reported per 100,000 residents in the last seven days, up from 139.2 a week ago.
The figure is lower than in other European nations, but it has set off alarms.
In a weekly report published Thursday night, the Robert Koch Institute said that people who have not been vaccinated or who have not completed the regimen now face a “very high risk” to their health, a change from their previous risk assessment. “high”. “For fully vaccinated people, the threat is considered moderate, but on the rise in view of the increasing numbers of infections,” he added.
Federal and regional health authorities discussed their response at a previously scheduled two-day meeting in Bavaria, which will end on Friday.
The German health minister has called for an increase in the administration of the booster dose, more frequent checks for vaccinated people or tests and the obligation for those who work or visit centers for the elderly to undergo screening tests. In the country, which is highly decentralized, state governments are responsible for imposing or easing restrictions.
The authorities again asked residents who have not yet been vaccinated to do so and note that hospital pressure is increasing, especially in regions where the vaccination rate is relatively low.
Official figures show that around two-thirds of the 83 million Germans received the first dose of the vaccine, but there are important variations by region.
