Germany sees surge in COVID cases, mulls new restrictions

By FRANK JORDANS
Associated Press

BERLIN (AP) — Germany’s disease control agency has reported 52,826 new coronavirus cases in a day, a number that has roughly doubled in the last two weeks. That is stoking calls for fresh measures to curb Germany’s steadily rising infections. The Robert Koch Institute said Wednesday that 294 more people had died of COVID-19. German Health Minister Jens Spahn has urged doctors not to be too strict about waiting at least six months before giving patients vaccine booster shots. German news agency dpa reports that the three political parties negotiating to form the country’s next government have agreed on new health measures for parliament to debate on Thursday. Outgoing Chancellor Angela Merkel says “the fourth wave is hitting our country with full force.”