For the first time since the beginning of the pandemic, Germany’s Robert Koch Institute has reported more than 400 coronavirus-related deaths within one day. The number of new infections also increased. 

410 coronavirus deaths in 24 hours in Germany

Health authorities in Germany reported 410 new coronavirus-related deaths to the Robert Koch Institute in the 24 hours to Wednesday morning - more than on any other day since the pandemic began. The previous daily record was set back in April, when there were 315 reported deaths in one day. Wednesday’s record brings the total death toll in Germany to 14.771. 

The number of daily infections also rose again, with health authorities across the country recording 18.633 new infections within the previous 24 hours - 1.000 more than on Wednesday a week ago and over 5.000 more than the day before. The total number of infections in Germany is now over 961.000.

Most of the reported new infections were in North Rhine-Westphalia and Bavaria. After Berlin, the German cities with the highest number of new infections were Stuttgart, Hamburg and Munich. Nationwide, only eight districts did not report any new infections; the previous day, the number was 30. 

German leaders to decide on new rules on Wednesday

The news will place renewed pressure on Wednesday afternoon’s “coronavirus summit”, where Chancellor Angela Merkel and the federal states are hoping to thrash out a plan to bring infection numbers under control, while also allowing people to celebrate with their families over the festive period. It is expected that the leaders will opt to extend the current restrictions until at least mid-December, before easing off a little in the run-up to the national holiday. 

Cultural and leisure institutions have been closed in Germany since the beginning of November, when the federal government and state governments agreed to impose a second, limited coronavirus lockdown. According to the RKI, the restrictions have successfully slowed down the sharp increase in coronavirus infections, but the decline in numbers set as a target by politicians has not yet been achieved.