The rate at which Germans are getting infected with the coronavirus has jumped above the level at which authorities say healthcare systems will be overburdened, raising pressure on political leaders to tighten lockdown measures.

Reuters reports that national and regional leaders are due to meet by videoconference on Monday to decide on the next round of measures to deal with the pandemic.

The number of confirmed coronavirus cases in Germany increased by 13,733 to 2,659,516, according to the Robert Koch Institute for Infectious Diseases. The reported death toll rose by 99 to 74,664, the tally showed.

A man walks along a closed shop at the main shopping street Hohe Strasse amid the coronavirus pandemic in Cologne, Germany, March 18. — Reuters
A man walks along a closed shop at the main shopping street Hohe Strasse amid the coronavirus pandemic in Cologne, Germany, March 18. — Reuters

Opinion

Editorial

Sustainable path?
Updated 13 Jun, 2026

Sustainable path?

The FY27 budget is the first clear signal that the government is ready to transition from stabilisation to growth.
Prioritising education
13 Jun, 2026

Prioritising education

THOUGH the improvement in the country’s literacy rate may be slight, as highlighted by the Economic Survey, it ...
Poverty’s rise
13 Jun, 2026

Poverty’s rise

AS attention turns to the government’s plans for the coming fiscal year, one set of figures deserves particular...
A difficult story
Updated 12 Jun, 2026

A difficult story

Unless productivity becomes the dominant target of economic policy, Pakistan will continue to oscillate between crises and fragile recovery.
Rough waters
12 Jun, 2026

Rough waters

AMONGST the key potential triggers for fresh conflict in South Asia is water. The Indian state is behaving in an...
Politicised football
12 Jun, 2026

Politicised football

ALMOST three-and-half years since Lionel Messi led Argentina to FIFA World Cup glory, the latest edition of...