German Chancellor Angela Merkel said on Friday the coronavirus pandemic was likely to worsen in coming months, and that life would not return to normal until a vaccine to combat it had been developed, Reuters reports.

Even though Germany would not fully repay debt incurred due to relief measures to offset the virus's economic impact until 2058, such a stimulus was essential as the economy could not be allowed to grind to a halt in the meantime, she said.

In response to the pandemic, her government would also work in a spirit of social cohesion, she said, urging citizens not to drop their guard against the virus.

“This is a serious matter, as serious as it's ever been, and you need to carry on taking it seriously,” she told a news conference.

Meanwhile, the European Commission was working on signing further contracts with drug companies to secure Covid-19 vaccines, she said.