Germany's disease control centre has reported a new daily record increase in coronavirus infections, which rocketed past the 10,000 mark for the first time as the pandemic continues to spread.
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The Robert Koch Institute said that it had recorded 11,287 new cases over the past 24 hours, shattering the previous record figure of 7830 daily infections set on Saturday.
The news comes the day after health minister Jens Spahn tested positive for Covid-19 himself.
He has been quarantined at home and told Bild newspaper that so far he is just suffering from "cold-like symptoms".
The government said Chancellor Angela Merkel's Cabinet members have always followed distancing, hygiene and mask rules, so there is no reason for other ministers to quarantine.
Coronavirus infections are also rising steeply in the Czech Republic, where a new record number of cases was set for the second straight day.
The health ministry said the daily increase soared to almost 15,000 on Wednesday. That is almost 3000 more than the previous record a day earlier.
Australian Associated Press
