(Credit: RKI official website)

Dr. Lothar Wieler, President of the Robert Koch Institute, stated that Germany needed an immediate massive contact reduction without further delay.

On the press conference with the Health Minister Jens Spahn, Wieler sounded clearly frustrated with the current epidemiological situation in Germany.

“How many more people have to die?” asked  the President of the Robert Koch Institute.

Germany is undergoing a political turmoil as the new ruling coalition made up by Socialdemocrats, Greens and Liberals rejected calls for an immediate hard lockdown. The acting Chancellor Angela Merkel wanted to declare a full lockdown on Nov. 24, but her plans were thwarted by the center-left coalition.

Prime Ministers of several federal states in Germany have called for an immediate lockdown.

“We cannot afford 100 days to observe the situation,” said Prime Minister of Bavaria Markus Söder. “We don’t even have 100 hours.”

Oper Leipzig and Semperoper Dresden are closed for the time being until Jan. 9, 2022, and Dec. 12, 2021, respectively. The Bayerische Staatsoper and Oper Frankfurt have tightened rules for entry.

Germany has logged new 76,414 coronavirus cases and 357 deaths on Nov. 25, 2021.