Health officials say Germany has reported a grim new one-day record for Covid-19 deaths with 962.

The country's disease control agency, the Robert Koch Institute, also reported 24,740 newly confirmed coronavirus cases.

The eastern state of Saxony has seen the highest infection rates and overloaded hospitals have begun transferring patients to other regions. Figures show Saxony had over 414 cases per 100,000 inhabitants, more than twice as high as the national average, according to AP.

In an effort to curb the spread, the German government last week shut most stores, tightened the rules on social contacts, and urged people to think twice about travelling to see relatives over Christmas.