Germany's Pandemic Death Toll Tops 30,000

World

December 28th, 11:59am

Asharq Al-Awsat

A nurse prepares a syringe with the COVID-19 vaccine at La Bonne Maison de Bouzanton care home in Mons, Belgium, Monday, Dec. 28, 2020. (AP Photo/Francisco Seco, Pool)

Germany´s confirmed death toll in the coronavirus pandemic has topped 30,000 as the country hopes its lockdown will bring down case numbers. The national disease control center, the Robert Koch Institute, said Monday that another 348 deaths were reported over the past 24 hours, bringing the country´s total to 30,126. The number of confirmed coronavirus cases rose by 10,976 to 1.65 million. That increase is much lower than a week ago, but lower testing and reporting over the Christmas period likely accounts for much of the difference. Germany had a relatively low death rate in the first phase of the pandemic but has seen hundreds of deaths per day in recent weeks. Among major European nations, Italy, the UK, France, and Spain still have higher death tolls. A shutdown that was deepened on Dec. 16 with the closure of schools and most shops is scheduled to remain in place until Jan. 10 and appears likely to be extended.

from Asharq AL-awsat https://english.aawsat.com/home/article/2708246/germanys-pandemic-death-toll-tops-30000