Angela Merkel's "Every Day Counts" Reminder And Push For More Covid Curbs

Covid In Germany: Chancellor Angela Merkel said, "The situation is still too serious, because we are still in a phase of exponential (infections) growth."

Chancellor Angela Merkel on Thursday renewed her call for tougher curbs to halt record coronavirus infections in Germany, stressing that "every day counts" as the country's Covid-19 death count passed the 100,000 mark.

"We need more contact restrictions," the outgoing German leader said, adding that she had "today clearly told" her successor at the chancellery, Olaf Scholz, that "we can still manage this transition period together and look at all necessary measures".

Calling Thursday a "sad day" over the grim death count, Merkel said she had sought dialogue with Scholz and the leaders of his coalition partners Greens and FDP because of the gravity of the situation.

"The situation is still too serious, because we are still in a phase of exponential (infections) growth and because the cases that are falling ill today will make up the intensive care patients in 10 or 14 days," she said.