The coronavirus outbreak has spiralled “out of control” in Germany after an “exponential growth” in the number of infections and deaths in recent days, the economy minister has warned.
Peter Altmaier said that “less intrusive measures were not enough” as the country braces itself for a hard lockdown from Wednesday, which will see all schools and shops closed for the next six weeks.
Germany recorded a further 16,362 positive Covid-19 cases – 4,000 more than the week before – and 188 new deaths on Monday, bringing the total number of cases to 1.34 million, with 21,975 fatalities from the virus.
Mr Altmaier also warned that the number of intensive care patients needing treatment would exceed hospital capacity within weeks without harsher lockdown measures.
Chancellor Angela Merkel and the governors of the country’s 16 states agreed on Sunday to tighten lockdown measures from Wednesday until 10 January, as she said existing restrictions imposed in November had failed to significantly reduce the infection rate.
In November, restaurants, bars, theatres and gyms stayed shut but schools and retail shops could stay open. However, cases began to surge again as people met with friends and family more often ahead of the festive season.
It comes as the German government called on citizens to forgo Christmas shopping in the next two days to stop the figures from rising further.
Mr Altmaier said: “I wish and I hope that people will only buy what they really need, like groceries. The faster we get these infections under control, the better it is for everyone.”
Markus Söder, prime minister of Bavaria, also said the virus “has got out of control” during a press briefing after his meeting with Ms Merkel, adding: “We are at five minutes to midnight.”
Ms Merkel acknowledged that the incoming restrictions would affect Christmas celebrations, but said there was “an urgent need for action” to prevent the health system from being overwhelmed.
From Wednesday, no more than five people will be allowed to meet indoors, not including children under 14. However, this will be slightly relaxed between 24 and 26 December to allow families to spend Christmas together.
The German Hospital Federation welcomed the new measures, but added that it was “difficult to understand” why the regulatory European Medicines Agency (EMA) has not yet approved the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine candidate.
“If there is a further delay, the federal government must check whether a national emergency license is not necessary,” said the organisation. “It is also imperative that all employees in clinics are included in the first prioritisation group.
The EMA is facing mounting pressure to approve the vaccine, after the UK, Canada, Bahrain and the US authorised the jab in recent weeks. The agency is expected to make a decision by 29 December at the latest.