Germany's health minister has called for further restrictions to contain a “dramatic” surge in coronavirus cases as the country's infection rate hit a record high and the United States advised against travel there.

The seven-day incidence rate — the number of people per 100,000 to be infected over the last week — hit 399.8 on Tuesday, up from 386.5 on Monday, data from the Robert Koch Institute (RKI) for infectious diseases showed.

Health Minister Jens Spahn called for more public spaces to be restricted to those who were vaccinated or recently recovered from Covid-19 and also had a negative test, in a bid to contain Germany's fourth wave, Reuters reported.

Spahn did not rule out lockdowns, although he said this would be decided region by region.