Active COVID-19 cases hit all time high in Germany

BERLIN

Active COVID-19 cases in Germany hit a record high of 395,300, official data showed on Friday.

The figure, which is an estimate of the number of people who are currently sick and deemed contagious, has exceeded the peaks of the previous three waves of the pandemic.

The previous record was set on Dec. 25, during the peak of the second wave, with 377,300 active cases.

Coronavirus infections in Germany soared in recent weeks, as people spend more time indoors during the colder months, and a large number of the population remain unvaccinated.

The Robert Koch Institute reported 48,640 new infections and 191 more virus-related deaths in the last 24 hours.

Germany’s Vice-Chancellor Olaf Scholz said Thursday that authorities will introduce new measures to stem the spread of the virus, re-introduce a free testing scheme and organize a wider vaccination campaign.

As of Thursday, 56.1 million people, or 67.4 % of the overall population, have been fully vaccinated against COVID-19.

The country’s overall vaccination rate lags behind other EU member states like Portugal, Spain, and Italy.