Germany Hits Record COVID Infection Rate Since Beginning of Pandemic

Germany Hits Record COVID Infection Rate Since Beginning of Pandemic

'The Guardian' reports that Germany has recorded its highest rate of COVID infections since the beginning of the pandemic.

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Through much of the country mask-wearing mandates in most public settings will come to an end.

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On March 16, the country's disease control agency reported 1,607 new infections per 100,000 people in the past seven days.

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According to the Robert Koch Institute, Germany has recorded 262,593 new confirmed new cases of COVID and 269 deaths in the last 24 hours.

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'The Guardian' reports that the rate of people dying with COVID is considerably lower now than it was during the first winter of the pandemic.

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COVID restrictions across much of Germany are set to expire on March 19.

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The restrictions are to be replaced by a more lenient set of rules seen as a bipartisan compromise.

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Masks will still be required to ride on public transit or visit health care facilities.

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Berlin and Brandenburg are among several German states to extend the current set of restrictions until the end of March.

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On April 1, Berlin is expected to end most COVID-related restrictions and also close many free testing sites.

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The German government has reportedly retained the ability to tighten restrictions amid surges of the virus, including by restricting access for the unvaccinated.