Chancellor Angela Merkel urged Germans to curb social contacts and keep travel to a minimum on Saturday after federal and state governments struggled to agree on how to contain the second wave of coronavirus infections.
Germany’s Chancellor Angela Merkel removes her mask for the EU summit final news conference at the European Council building in Brussels, Belgium October 16, 2020. Kenzo Tribouillard/Pool via REUTERS/File Photo
“We have to do everything to prevent the virus from spreading out of control. Every day counts,” Merkel said in a weekly video podcast.
While Germany’s infection rates are lower than in much of Europe, they have been accelerating and hit a daily record of 7,830 on Saturday, according to the Robert Koch Institute for infectious diseases. The death toll rose by 33 to 9,767.