Germany, Austria hit record Covid cases as Europe faces surge in infections

International Desk, Nov 11 (EFE).- Germany reported on Thursday a daily record of coronavirus cases with 50,196 new infections in the last 24 hours, according to the Robert Koch Institute of Health Surveillance.

The seven-day incidence rate also hit its highest level since the pandemic began with 249,1 infections per 100,000 people.

Germany is one of the European countries that are facing a spike in infections in recent days as vaccination rates stall.

Under 70% of Germans have received the full course of the Covid-19 vaccine.

Olaf Scholz, who is likely to become the future German chancellor, announced on Thursday new restrictions which include banning unvaccinated people from entering restaurants, bars, gyms and hair salons.

Austria also hit a record number of coronavirus cases with 11,975 new infections reported in the last 24 hours, the highest since the pandemic outbreak, health ministry data showed.

The health ministry’s proposal to impose a lockdown for unvaccinated people in the Salzburg and Upper Austria regions, where the incidence rate is highest, has been rejected.

Unvaccinated people, however, are banned from entering venues with a capacity of over 25 people.

In Russia, which is also facing a spike in coronavirus cases, 40,759 new infections were reported in the last 24 hours, compared to 34,656 cases the previous day.

The figure is the highest the country has reported in the last five days, according to official data.