Germany is reportedly in need of additional coronavirus restriction to counter multiplying cases of infections and to get through this year’s winter, said Olaf Scholz, the country’s chancellor-in-waiting.

According to Robert Koch Institute (RKI) health agency, Germany has displayed a massive rise in the number of Covid cases in the last 24 hours, recording 50,196 cases.

It is the first time the country has recorded an infection rate exceeding 50,000 cases.

Mortality rate coupled with infections have seen a sharp rise since mid-October, during an outbreak that is blamed on relatively low vaccination rates in Germany (just over 67 percent).

The country recovered from the first three waves of the pandemic, coming out more victoriously as compared to its neighbors. However, the fourth wave fractured the country significantly.

With the current rate of 250 infections every 100,000 people, Germany is struggling to cope up with escalating infections. Its status is way worse as compared to France with 94 cases followed by Italy (73) and Span (41).

The new measures put forth by the incoming coalition parties comprise of restricting access to several facilities only to vaccinated or recovered individuals, a system termed as 2G in Germany.

They also want to enhance the stringency of testing requirements at requirements and are considering revival of free rapid antigen tests. The latter was introduced over summer but was relinquished in mid-October.

A thorough probe will be conducted by the Bundestag lower parliament house over the proposals which will likely be effective by the end of this month.

Mr. Scholz has also called out for a meeting next week among the flagbearers of the 12 states and the federal government, said Hendrik Wuest, North Rhine-Westphalia minister.

Meanwhile, Angela Merkel, Outgoing Chancellor, has called for urgent action and termed the rise in cases as ‘dramatic’.

Source Credits: https://www.deccanherald.com/international/world-news-politics/germany-mulls-new-measures-amid-explosion-in-covid-cases-1049703.html