Berlin mayor stresses need to prevent lockdown

Germany has recorded a sharp jump in new coronavirus cases in a sign that the pandemic is picking up pace in the country again.

The capital Berlin is one of many virus hotspots in the country.

Berlin's mayor Michael Mueller told reporters on Friday that large gatherings had to be avoided and people need to take precautions on public transport, among other things.

"We are now back in this situation where we have to be quick in order to be able to control this situation," he said.

Heyo Kroemer, Head of the Berlin Charite hospital, warned virus admissions were increasing and the number of patients on ventilators was rising to numbers similar to March and April.

Germany's disease control centre, the Robert Koch Institute, reported 4,516 new cases of coronavirus overnight Friday, and many cities have now reached the critical warning level of 50 new infections per 100,000 residents.

Berlin's figure was at 51 per 100,000 residents, while Bremen was at 53.9, and Cologne and Essen were close, with 49.8 and 48.4 per 100,000 respectively, according to the Robert Koch Institute.

Overall, German has counted 314,660 coronavirus cases, with 9,589 deaths, a toll one-fourth that of Britain and one-third that of Italy.

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