Germany’s total coronavirus pandemic death toll has crossed the 50,000-mark on Friday, according to the Robert Koch Institute (RKI), the country’s public health agency for disease control and prevention.
The country reached the grim milestone when health authorities recorded 859 new coronavirus deaths in 24 hours.
In Germany, authorities count all deaths of people who died directly from COVID-19 as coronavirus deaths.
Additionally, anyone recorded as infected with COVID-19 alongside pre-existing illnesses, but whose deaths cannot be conclusively attributed to their condition, is also counted as a COVID-19 death.
The country has been under lockdown since mid-December 2020. Sweeping restrictions that have seen most areas of public life shuttered are set to remain in place until February 14.
It appears to be having an effect. Germany has recorded a consistent drop in cases, according to its 7-day cases incidence metric.
Authorities hope to bring the seven-day incidence rate back down to below 50, to allow the resumption of contact tracing.
Leave a Reply