Coronavirus: Germany daily deaths cross record 1,000

Germany recorded a total of 1,129 deaths from coronavirus within the last 24 hours, reported the Robert Koch Institute (RKI) for infectious diseases on Wednesday.

It is the first time that more than 1,000 daily deaths from COVID-19 have been reported in the country.

This is an increase from the previous record number of 962 deaths within 24 hours — registered on Wednesday last week.

The RKI also registered 22,459 new coronavirus infections within the same 24 hour time period.

German lockdown set to be extended

The high daily death rate comes as Germany is in the middle of a second hard lockdown. Most stores, along with bars, clubs and restaurants are closed. Schools and daycare centers are also largely closed. The measures are set to remain in place until January 10.

Reacting to the latest figures on Wednesday morning, German Health Minister Jens Spahn said he believed they showed a need for restrictions to be extendedbeyond that date.

Any relaxation of restrictions after January 10 is to be decided at a meeting of the federal government and state premiers on January 5.

Push for approval of UK vaccine

Spahn also said he hoped for "a quick and thorough examination" of a coronavirus vaccine developed by Oxford University and Astrazeneca vaccine by the European Medicines Agency.

That came after British regulators cleared the vaccine for use in the UK earlier on Wednesday.

Germany, along with many other EU nations, also began to roll out vaccinations from December 27, with the elderly and health care workers first in line.

kmm/rt (Reuters, AFP)