Germany mulls new Covid-19 framework as cases soar

Country’s national disease control centre reports 50,196 new cases, up from 33,949 daily cases a week earlier

Germany’s national disease control centre reported a record-high number of more than 50,000 daily Coronavirus cases on Thursday as the country’s parliament was set to discuss legislation that would provide a new legal framework for Coronavirus measures. The Robert Koch Institute registered 50,196 new cases, up from 33,949 daily cases a week earlier. Infections have risen so quickly in recent days that hospitals in especially affected regions cancelled planned surgeries again so medical personnel could focus on Covid-19 patients.

The institute also reported 237 daily Covid-19 deaths, bringing Germany’s pandemic death toll to 97,198. One of the country’s top virologists, Christian Drosten, warned on Wednesday that another 100,000 people could die in coming months if the country’s vaccination rate didn’t accelerate quickly. Unlike some other European countries, Germany has balked at making vaccinations mandatory for certain categories of workers. Yet the country has struggled to find ways to persuade more people to get shots voluntarily. At least 67 per cent of the population of 83 million is fully vaccinated, according to official figures.

“In Germany, I must say, unfortunately, that our vaccination rate isn’t high enough to prevent the fast spread of the virus,” Chancellor Angela Merkel said on Wednesday night. Germany has a caretaker national government following a September parliamentary election. The parties that are expected to form the next government plan to introduce legislation that would allow an “epidemic situation of national scope” declaration, in place since March 2020, to expire at the end of the month. They want to replace it with a new legal framework for instituting Coronavirus measures. As during other periods of the pandemic, Germany has a patchwork of regional rules. Most places restrict access to many indoor facilities and events to people who have been vaccinated, have recovered from Covid-19 or tested negative for the virus.

Over 70,000 people die of Covid in Texas

Over 70,000 people have died from Covid-19 in the US state of Texas, where a deadly third wave of the pandemic is finally showing signs of easing, local media reported. As of Monday, 2,755 Texans were hospitalised for the Coronavirus, down 578 from a week ago, Xinhua news agency quoted a report by the Texas Tribune as saying on Wednesday.

Oz to have travel bubbles with Japan, S Korea

Australia’s Prime Minister Scott Morrison has flagged travel bubble arrangements with Japan and South Korea as the country gradually reopens to the world. Morrison recently told the Victorian Chamber of Commerce and Industry that quarantine-free travel between Australia and the two Asian countries would soon resume after a suspension of more than 18 months, reports Xinhua news agency.

Covid in Denmark now ‘socially critical disease’

Denmark has again classified Covid-19 as “socially critical disease” as the country is currently under a worrying third wave of the pandemic, according to the Health Ministry. The categorisation will come into force from Thursday and be valid for a period of one month, reports Xinhua news agency. Therefore, the ‘corona passport’ will be re-introduced in a number of facilities such as restaurants, cafes, hospitals and zoos.

53,60,60
No. of new cases reported globally in the past 24 hours

25,16,56,566
Total no. of cases worldwide

50,76,440
Total no. of deaths worldwide

Source: WHO/Johns Hopkins

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