On Tuesday, according to data from the Robert Koch Institute for infectious diseases, Germany reported a new daily record increase in coronavirus infections, which soared past the 10,000 mark for the first time.
The figures show that new coronavirus cases jumped by more than 3,500 over the past 24 hours, up from 7,595 on Wednesday.
The previous single-day record was 7,830.
A few weeks ago, the country’s disease control agency warned that Germany could see up to 10,000 new coronavirus cases each day if social distancing and similar security measures weren’t adhered to, raising fears about the virus picking up pace.
“It is possible that the virus will spread out of control,” Lothar Wieler, Robert Koch Institute’s head told reporters in Berlin.
“The more people gather in private circles, the more the numbers will increase and the further the virus will spread,” he said.
“The young are currently the most exposed to this virus”.
A day before, Health Minister Jens Spahn tested positive for COVID-19, informing the media that currently he was just suffering from “cold-like symptoms.”
Although Germany’s rates, with regard to the virus, are still not as high as its other European counterparts, the emerging winter season has likely spiked the number of cases.
France, The Netherlands, Switzerland, Austria, Poland, and the Czech Republic have also reported record accelerations in infection rates, pushing authorities to reintroduce restrictions to clamp down on coronavirus.
