Rise in infection rates in Germany as rules eased

Infection rates have risen again in Germany after lockdown restrictions were loosened.

New cases had dropped to fewer than 1,000 per day, but regional spikes were seen over the weekend.

By Saturday the German public health authority said new infections were above 1,000 again.

Officials have expressed concerns about the growing number of large demonstrations, including one in the southwestern city of Stuttgart that drew thousands of participants.

Police in Berlin stepped in on Saturday after hundreds of people failed to respect social-distancing measures at anti-lockdown rallies in the German capital.

Chancellor Angela Merkel and the governors of Germany’s 16 states last week cleared the way for restaurants, hotels and remaining stores to open.

The country’s football league resumes next week, despite a number of professional players testing positive for Covid-19, and more students are returning to school beginning today.

Meanwhile, China and South Korea have also reported new spikes in coronavirus cases, setting off fresh concerns in countries where outbreaks had been in dramatic decline.

China reported 14 new cases yesterday, its first double-digit rise in 10 days.

Meanwhile, South Korea reported 34 more cases as new infections linked to nightclub-goers threatens the country’s hard-won gains against the virus.

It was the first time that South Korea’s daily infections were above 30 in about a month.