Over 50,000 killed by COVID-19 in Germany

Fresh outbreak of coronavirus in Germany

COVID-19 deaths in Germany surpass 50,000

COVID-19 deaths in Germany surpass 50,000

Agency Report

Germany has counted more than 50,000 deaths since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, figures released on Friday showed.

German health authorities recorded 859 new deaths in 24 hours, bringing the total death toll up to 50,642, according to the Robert Koch Institute (RKI) for disease prevention.

The RKI counts as Coronavirus deaths those who died directly from COVID-19 and those recorded as infected with pre-existing illnesses whose deaths cannot be conclusively attributed.

It is at the discretion of the health department whether to note a death as from COVID-19 or with COVID-19.

The country recorded its highest number of daily deaths, 1,244, on Jan. 14.

The record high in daily infections is 33,777 on Dec. 18.

The Friday figures showed 17,862 new cases of infection in the last recorded 24 hour period.

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The number of new infections per 100,000 people in a week (known as the seven-day incidence) fell to 115.3 on Friday morning.

The incidence has fallen consistently over the past 10 days.

It had reached its highest level so far of 197.6 on Dec. 22.

However, there are substantial regional differences.

The highest incidence is in Thuringia at 218.4, while the lowest is in Bremen at 80.9.

The country is under lockdown with sweeping restrictions in place until Feb. 14.

Authorities are seeking to bring the seven-day incidence rate back down to below 50, which will allow overwhelmed health authorities to resume tracing infections.

More than 2 million cases of infection have been recorded in Germany since the pandemic began.

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