The number of corona infections diagnosed in Germany in the past 24 hours has more than doubled compared to Tuesday morning.
The Robert Koch Institute (RKI), the German counterpart of the RIVM, reported no fewer than 9,146 newly diagnosed cases on Wednesday morning.
On Tuesday there were only 4252, a decrease compared to Monday. It is a fixed pattern in Germany that the number of infections detected in and just after the weekend is lower and then increases as the week progresses. In total, more than 2.5 million people have been tested positive for the coronavirus in Germany since the start of the pandemic.
In the past 24 hours, an additional 300 people in the Federal Republic have died from Covid-19. This brings the total death toll to over 72,000.
Chancellor Angela Merkel decided last week, after extensive consultations with state prime ministers, that the lockdown would remain in effect and agreed on a relaxation plan with the states.
Since Monday, residents are again allowed to receive people at home in many places, but the number of guests is limited to a maximum of five people plus children. Bookstores, flower shops and garden centres are mostly open again. In many places, retailers can make appointments with a limited number of customers to come to the store.