Germany sees its fewest coronavirus cases since March 22
Germany sees its smallest rise in new coronavirus cases for more than three weeks with 2,082 yesterday as numbers continue to fall, but deaths rise to 170
- The 2,082 new cases bring the total from 123,016 to 125,098, a jump of only 1.7%
- Germany last recorded fewer cases on March 22 when curve was on its way up
- Daily death toll of 170 is more than Sunday’s 126, taking total from 2,799 to 2,969
- Learn more about how to help people impacted by COVID
Germany today saw its smallest rise in coronavirus cases for more than three weeks as the epidemic continues to lose pace.
The 2,082 cases added to the tally today are the fewest since March 22 and mark a fourth straight day of decline in new infections.
The increase from 123,016 cases to a new total of 125,098 is a jump of only 1.7 per cent, the smallest since the crisis began.
However, the daily death toll of 170 is higher than yesterday’s 126, bringing the total from 2,799 to 2,969.
Doctor Mimu Abou Taleb (right) and paramedic Daniel Rowan (left) move a coronavirus tent to a rescue helicopter at an airfield in Giessen, Germany
Germany last saw fewer cases on March 22 when 1,948 were added to the tally while the curve was still heading upwards.
Cases were spiralling by a regular 15-25 per cent per day at the height of the crisis, but the jump was down to 2.1 per cent yesterday and 1.7 per cent today.
The average of 3,696 daily cases in the last week is well below the average of 5,330 in the previous seven days.
Bavaria remains the worst-affected state with 33,569 confirmed cases, including more than a quarter of today’s new infections.
Berlin has seen 4,668 cases and 56 deaths, while Hamburg has also been relatively hard hit.
Germany’s death rate remains relatively low at 2.4 per cent, meaning that one out of every 42 confirmed patients has died.
The low rate is thought to be linked to mass testing, meaning that many people with mild symptoms are counted in official figures but missed in other countries.
By contrast, the equivalent rate is 12.8 per cent in Italy, 10.3 per cent in Spain and 12.8 per cent in Britain.
Germany’s 170 new deaths are higher than the weekend figures of 129 and 126, but still lower than Friday’s record high of 266.
A team of experts yesterday recommended a gradual lifting of restrictions if infections continue to stabilise at a low level.
A woman wearing a mask has her body temperature checked by a health worker in a protective suit after landing at Hahn Airport in Germany yesterday
Angela Merkel is due to meet the leaders of Germany’s 16 states on Wednesday to discuss the lockdown rules, which are currently due to expire on Sunday.
They will draw on advice from the Academy of Sciences Leopoldina which has recommended re-opening primary and middle schools as soon as possible.
The Academy, which includes medical researchers and social scientists, said shops and restaurants could re-open with rigorous social distancing measures.
Childcare facilities would remain closed under the Academy’s scheme, but government offices could re-open.
The head of the Academy, Gerald Haug, said people would have to wear masks on public transport to prevent a resurgence in new cases.
‘Every citizen should in the future have this type of protection for their mouth and nose and wear it each time social distancing measures can’t be respected,’ he told Der Spiegel.
Over the weekend, Germany’s health minister Jens Spahn had already signalled a phased easing of restrictions that may vary by region.
He did not specify which sectors in Europe’s largest economy could first see loosened restrictions.
The economy is projected to contract 9.8 per cent in the second quarter, the biggest decline since records began in 1970.
A 9.8 per cent drop would be more than double the decline seen during the global financial crisis in 2009.
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