Germany should take many more measures to tackle the coronavirus pandemic and get through the winter, Chancellor-in-waiting Olaf Scholz told parliament.

His intervention came as the country has recorded more than 50,000 coronavirus cases in one day for the first time since the pandemic began.

"We must take very many measures necessary to get through this winter. We must shelter our country from the winter," the current Vice-Chancellor said, as his Social Democratic Party (SPD) put forward new proposals along with its future coalition partners the liberals and the Greens.

In particular, prospective new provisions include tightening restrictions on unvaccinated people.

According to the Robert Koch Institute of Health Surveillance, there were 50,196 additional COVID-19 cases in the last 24 hours, with 235 deaths.

 

Europe Covid deaths rise by 10% over past week

The World Health Organization reports that coronavirus deaths rose by 10% in Europe over the past week, making it the only world region where both Covid-19 cases and deaths are steadily increasing.

It was the sixth consecutive week that the virus has risen across the continent as many nations experience their fourth or fifth waves.

WHO said there were about 3.1 million new cases globally, about a 1% increase from the previous week. Nearly two-thirds of the coronavirus infections - 1.9 million - were in Europe, where cases rose by 7%, according to a weekly report.