Germany has reported a record 410 Covid-19 deaths over 24 hours just before federal state leaders and Chancellor Angela Merkel are due to discuss an extension of pandemic-related restrictions into December and for the Christmas and New Year holidays.

The number of confirmed coronavirus cases increased by 18,633 to 961,320, data from the Robert Koch Institute (RKI) for infectious diseases showed , 5,015 less than the record increase reported on Friday.

However, the death toll jumped 410 to 14,771, up from 305 a week ago, and just 49 on Nov 2, the day Germany introduced a partial lockdown.