Coronavirus: German officials ‘very concerned’ about the increase in cases

The head of Germany’s public health agency said he is “very concerned” about the increase in infections in the country.

“We are in the midst of a rapidly developing pandemic,” Lothar Wieler, director of the Robert Koch Institute (RKI), told reporters.

Wieler said the Germans had become “negligent” and urged people to wear masks and respect the rules of social distancing and hygiene.

Last week, the country registered 3,611 new infections.

The warning comes as countries in Europe face new infections and the problem of travelers moving across the continent for summer vacations.

On Tuesday, Germany issued a travel warning for three regions in Spain: Aragon, Catalonia and Navarra, which have seen a recent increase in infections.

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It comes after the UK imposed a 14-day quarantine on all arrivals from Spain, a move that Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez called “unfair”.

Germany announced a free and free coronavirus testing program on Monday for travelers returning from a list of high-risk countries. The list currently includes Brazil, Turkey and the United States, and authorities said it will be updated daily.

What did Mr. Wieler say?

At a press conference Tuesday, Wieler asked people for the first time to wear a mask outdoors if they can’t maintain a physical distance of at least 1.5 meters (5 feet).

Previously, the guide had been to wear masks indoors in public.

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The RKI chief said the Germans must stop the virus once again by spreading “quickly and uncontrollably” by following hygiene and distancing measures.

“We don’t know yet if this is the start of a second wave, but of course it could be,” Wieler said. “But I am optimistic that if we follow hygiene rules we can avoid it, it is up to us.”

How is the virus spreading in Germany?

Overall, Germany has recorded 206,242 cases and 9,122 deaths.

These numbers, particularly the death toll, are lower than many other European states, and Germany has received praise nationally and internationally for its rapid response to the pandemic and its massive testing program.

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But in recent days the cases have jumped. New registered infections increased by 633 on Tuesday, almost double the 340 increase on Monday. Over the past week, the country reported an average of 557 new infections daily, compared to about 350 in early June.

Additionally, the increase is widespread, and counties across the country report new cases. An RKI official said just a few weeks ago, nearly 150 counties were not reporting new infections, compared to just 95 counties now.

How are other European countries?

On Monday, Belgium reduced the size of its social bubbles to five people after an increase in cases.

Antwerp city authorities have imposed a night curfew on all but the essential workers, and have ordered that all people over the age of 12 wear a mask in public.

Spanish authorities are still waiting for the UK to revoke or modify its quarantine order in a bid to save its struggling tourism industry. New infections remain high in the Northeast, although the outbreak is still under control nationwide, with few new cases emerging in other regions.

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The most affected part of the continent is the southeastern region of the Balkans. Kosovo reported a record increase of nearly 300 new infections on Tuesday, and its public health officials warned that the number of cases overwhelms hospitals and health personnel.

Serbia, Albania and North Macedonia are also struggling to contain the outbreaks. But Slovenia and Croatia have reported few infections compared to neighboring states, and since Tuesday UK travelers can head to Slovenia without having to quarantine when they return.