Germany reports 7-week high in daily COVID-19 cases

BERLIN (AA) – Germany on Wednesday reported its highest daily number of COVID-19 cases in the past seven weeks, fueling a debate within government about further measures to contain the coronavirus.

The Robert Koch Institute confirmed 2,768 coronavirus cases in the past 24 hours, showing a clear upward trend in new infections driven by the highly contagious Delta variant of the virus.

The institute had reported 1,548 daily infections two weeks ago and 2,203 last Wednesday.

The more contagious Delta variant was confirmed as the predominant strain in the country earlier this month and the variant currently accounts for more than 84% of all new cases.

Germany’s active COVID-19 cases has increased to 20,400 on Wednesday, the highest figure since June 24.

Fearing from a rapid exponential growth in coronavirus infections, Health Minister Jens Spahn has presented a plan to the Cabinet, proposing obligatory coronavirus tests for all unvaccinated travelers entering the country.

His plan was backed by Interior Minister Horst Seehofer, but Justice Minister Christine Lambrecht raised objections to it, according to public broadcaster Bayerischer Rundfunk.

Currently only people traveling from “high-incidence areas” are obliged to present a negative test result or proof of vaccination upon arrival to Germany.