The United States remains the leader in new reported infections (reporting more than 1.2 million new cases over the past week), followed by Brazil, which reported more than 295,000 cases, a 35% increase from the previous week.

The Russian Federation, Italy, Germany, and the United Kingdom reported the highest numbers of new COVID-19 cases in the region.

Germany saw a 3% increase in new cases and 26% increase in COVID-19 deaths. Although the partial lockdown that the country has been under for the last 6 weeks has helped slow the rise in new cases, today German Chancellor Angela Merkel supported calls for tougher restrictions recommended by Germany’s National Academy of Science, according to DW News.

The recommended measures include an extended Christmas break for schools, full closure of all but essential businesses starting Dec 24, and as many people working from home as possible. Merkel’s comments came the same day that Germany reported a record daily high of 590 COVID-19 deaths.

“Five hundred deaths a day is unacceptable,” Merkel told German lawmakers.

 

Source: Global cases stabilizing, but COVID-19 deaths continue to climb | CIDRAP