More than 40,000 people have died from symptoms related to the new coronavirus in Germany, according to data from the country’s disease control center.
The Robert Koch Institute’s daily count showed an additional 465 deaths over a 24-hour period, bringing the country’s total death toll to 40,343.
The country also recorded 16,946 new infections in the same period of time, accounting for a total of 1,908,527 cases.
Germany, which was praised for its treatment of the first wave of the pandemic, reported on Friday its biggest 24-hour increase in deaths from Covid-19. With this, the number of deaths in the country increased by 1,188 in 24 hours.
Extended lock as cases increase: Earlier in the week, the government extended the country’s national closure (initially scheduled until Jan. 10) until the end of the month, while tightening circulation and contact restrictions to curb the spread of the virus.
Germany advances with the vaccine: On Saturday, Health Minister Jens Spahn announced that half a million people across the country had been vaccinated against Covid-19.