Merkel warns German citizens of difficult time ahead

The COVID-19 pandemic is not yet over and, particularly with regard to the autumn and winter season, there is a "difficult time ahead of us," German Chancellor Angela Merkel said on Wednesday, reported Xinhua.

"This is a long haul," Merkel said in a speech at the Bundestag, the lower house of the German parliament, calling on German citizens to continue to act "patiently and sensibly."

She also urged the citizens to continue to follow the anti-virus measures such as keeping distance, wearing mouth and nose coverings, washing hands regularly and using the official COVID-19 warning app.

New COVID-19 infections have been increasing in Germany since the end of July. Daily cases in the country went up by 1,798 over the past 24 hours to 289,219 on Wednesday, according to the Robert Koch Institute (RKI).

In view of the upcoming cold season and the rising COVID-19 numbers, Merkel and the federal states' minister-presidents agreed on a new framework on Tuesday. Family gatherings in public or rented facilities would be limited to 50 people in districts where the number of infections per 100,000 people in seven days exceeded 35.

Registration of personal data, for example in restaurants, would be more closely monitored in the future and anyone who would make a false declaration would have to pay a minimum fine of 50 euros (59 U.S. dollars).

"I am sure that life as we knew it will return. The families will celebrate again, the clubs and theaters and the soccer stadiums will be full again," stressed Merkel.