BERLIN, Mar 21 (NNN-AGENCIES) – The number of COVID-19 cases in Germany has increased by 2,958 within one day to 13,957, the German federal disease control agency Robert Koch Institute (RKI), announced.
So far, 31 deaths had been recorded by RKI, 11 more than a day before. Other European countries, such as France, Spain and especially Italy, where more than 3,400 people died, reported much higher numbers.
“It is a dynamic development and unfortunately it is pointing upwards in almost all countries, as is also the case in Germany,” said Lothar Wieler, president of the RKI, during a daily press conference.
Epidemics “vary from region to region” so that the measures taken by the local authorities were also different, said Wieler.
Large cities in Germany, such as Berlin, Cologne, Munich or Hamburg with 32 COVID-19 cases per 100,000 inhabitants are more affected than many eastern parts, such as the state of Thuringia, where only seven cases per 100,000 inhabitants were recorded.
According to a survey, 54 percent of Germans avoided going outside unnecessarily, and 40 percent were reducing visits to friends or family. However, every fourth German citizen spoke of a panic that was “completely exaggerated.”
Wieler criticised that many Germans were still not taking the pandemic seriously enough. “We can only slow down this epidemic, if we play by the rules.” he said, adding that, keeping a distance to other people was very important.
