Local authorities in several German cities are beginning to lose control over the spread of the new coronavir, German government spokesman Steffen Zeibert said on Friday.
Due to the high number of cases, it is no longer possible to effectively track patient contacts in many cities.
However, Zeibert refrained from commenting on concerns that 20,000 new cases of Covid-19 could be registered in Germany soon.
He emphasized that the situation should also be considered at regional and local level.
“It doesn’t make much sense to toss in concrete figures for new infections across Germany at the moment,” a spokesman for the Ministry of Health added.
Since last week, more people have been registered in Germany per day than at the beginning of the pandemic in March this year, but there are also significantly more Covid-19 tests.
In Germany, 11,242 people were diagnosed with the new coronavir on Friday, bringing the total to 403,291 in the country.
In order to limit the spread of the virus, regulations on the wearing and assembly of masks have been tightened in several areas of Germany, including Berlin.
In the district of Berchtesgaden, in the south-east of Bavaria, people have been ordered to stay at home, but much of North Rhine-Westphalia has been declared a high-risk area.
Hundreds of police officers will be sent to Berlin this weekend to disperse illegal parties and gather at shops selling alcohol.
“Anyone who doesn’t follow the rules when shopping or enjoying Berlin’s nightlife can expect the police to approach,” a Interior Ministry spokesman warned.
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