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November 23,2021

Anna Murray 

On November 22, Germany's Health Minister Jens Spahn spoke at a press conference in Berlin and issued a stark warning to the country's citizens, telling them that vaccination was the key to their survival.

As of today, over 99,400 people have died in Germany as a result of the pandemic, and over 5.45 million have been infected with COVID-19. Only 68 percent of people have been vaccinated, which is insufficient to prevent the fourth wave of infections. The public, in general, is skeptical of mandatory vaccination.

The upcoming wave, according to health officials, could be the worst yet. As the number of cases continues to rise, the Robert Koch Institute for Infectious Diseases reported more than 30,000 new cases on November 22. This is one of the highest rates in the world.

Meanwhile, the country's outgoing Chancellor, Angela Merkel, issued her own warning. After meeting with the leaders of Germany's 16 federal states, which have largely determined their own Covid response measures during the pandemic, Merkel called on state premiers to decide on tougher restrictions.

Tighter restrictions are being implemented, with the unvaccinated being barred from certain venues, and some of Germany's famed Christmas markets being canceled.