According to data from the National Center for Disease Control, more than 40,000 people have died of symptoms related to the new coronavirus in Germany.
The Robert Koch Institute’s daily census showed 465 additional deaths in the space of 24 hours, bringing the total death toll in the country to 40,343.
The country also registered 16,946 new infections in the same time frame, bringing the total number of cases to 1,908,527.
Germany, which has been lauded for tackling the first wave of the pandemic, reported its largest 24-hour rise in Covid-19 fatalities Friday. This has increased the country’s death toll by 1,188 in 24 hours.
Lockdown extended as the number of cases increases: Earlier this week, the government extended the country’s national lockdown – originally scheduled for January 10 – to the end of the month, while restrictions on traffic and contact were tightened to stop the spread of the virus.
Germany continues with vaccination: Health Minister Jens Spahn announced on Saturday that half a million people across the country have been vaccinated against Covid-19.