Germany on Thursday again recorded a daily rise in coronavirus infections of more than 20,000, prompting pointed reminders from the country’s top disease control official about ongoing shutdown restrictions.
“We have to clench our but cheeks together for another couple of months yet,’’ said Lothar Wieler, president of the Robert Koch Institute.
The government agency reported an increase in confirmed infections of 21,866, bringing the country’s caseload in the pandemic so far to 727,553.
The death toll stood at 11,982, after 215 more people died since Wednesday.
Fearing bottlenecks in the nation’s relatively robust health system, Chancellor Angela Merkel and the leaders of Germany’s 16 states agreed to initiate a nationwide shutdown from Nov. 2, initially to stay in place until the end of the month.
Restaurants and bars have been shuttered, as well as leisure and cultural facilities.
Sweeping restrictions on gatherings have also been brought back: members of a maximum of two households were allowed to meet, with some exceptions depending on the region.
Mask-wearing rules have been extended in several urban areas.
Merkel and the premiers are scheduled to conduct talks on Monday to discuss the pandemic response.
Wieler said it was too early to ascertain the effect of the November measures on the infection rates.
Health Minister Jens Spahn said on Wednesday that the numbers were showing “encouraging’’ signs, but that there had not been enough progress yet to lift the shutdown.
