Germany might tighten restrictions to curb the spread of the coronavirus, Health Minister Jens Spahn has said, as a partial lockdown and social distancing rules in place since the start of November have slowed, but not stopped the disease spreading.

Chancellor Angela Merkel told party colleagues that existing lockdown measures in place would not be sufficient to get the European Union's most populous country through the winter, participants at the meeting said.

“A short and comprehensive approach to really make a difference is probably more successful,” Spahn told public broadcaster Phoenix, according to Reuters. “If we don't get there within the next one or two weeks until Christmas, we have to discuss it,” he added.