Germany ‘could face 19,200 infections a day’, warns Merkel

Angela Merkel told party allies she is worried

Credit: JOHN THYS/POOL/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock

Angela Merkel is reportedly worried Germany is not doing enough to contain the coronavirus and infections could spiral out of control. 

“If we don’t get on top of this, we could see 19,200 infections a day by Christmas”, she warned party allies privately on Monday, according to reports in German media.

She expressed particular concern over rapidly rising infections in the German capital, saying: “Something has to be done about Berlin”.

Mrs Merkel has yet to speak publicly of her concerns, which emerged in details of a private conference call leaked to the German press.

But the leaked comments suggested she is set to press for new restrictions on daily life in Germany in coronavirus talks with regional leaders on Tuesday

“We have to intervene swiftly and contain the infection process,” she reportedly said in the conference call with senior figures from her Christian Democrat party (CDU).  “We have to establish priorities: keep the economy running, and keep schools and nurseries open.

“Football is of only secondary concern,” she added, in reference to recent public debate over whether to readmit live crowds to Bundesliga matches.

Mrs Merkel's power to impose restrictions is limited by Germany's federal system

Credit: JOHN THYS/AFP

Under Germany’s federal system, Mrs Merkel’s power to impose new lockdowns or other restrictions is limited. Most measures come under the control of regional governments in the sixteen federal states. As chancellor, Mrs Merkel has pressed repeatedly for tougher restrictions, but often without success.

While infections are steadily rising in Germany, so far the country has escaped the sort of dramatic growth experienced in the UK and other European countries.

Germany registered 2,507 new infections on Saturday — its highest 24-hour increase since April, but well short of the 6,041 recorded in the UK, or the 14,412 in France.

“What leaves me at a loss is the way the numbers are exploding in the countries around us,” Mrs Merkel reportedly told allies.

Infections started rising in Germany at the end of the summer, and were increasing at the same rate as the UK in mid-August. Since then the German curve has flattened again, but scientists are at a loss to explain why.

Infections are still rising, albeit at a slower rate, and there is growing concern over the situation in the German capital.

In Berlin-Mitte, the city centre, weekly infections have risen above 50 per 100,000 inhabitants for the first time since the first outbreak.

The rate has risen over 25 per 100,000 inhabitants in four other Berlin neighbourhoods, including the fashionable nightlife quarters of Neukölln and Kreuzberg.

The western city of Hamm, near Dortmund, has recorded the highest rate in Germany, with 112 cases per 100,000 inhabitants.