BERLIN: Even if the recently agreed-upon measures are adopted promptly, the fourth wave of the Covid-19 outbreak might reach a "sad high" in intensive care units (ICUs) across Germany around Christmas, acting Health Minister Jens Spahn stated here on Friday. The number of Covid-19 patients requiring ICU treatment is approaching record levels, according to the German Intensive Care Availability Register (DIVI), which reached at 4,797 on Friday.

The country's seven-day incidence rate per 100,000 people increased to 442.1, while daily infections touched new highs, with 74,352 Covid-19 cases reported in a single day, according to the Robert Koch Institute for Infectious Diseases.

"We don't have a single day to waste," RKI President Lothar Wieler remarked. In Germany, the new Omicron variety is present, and it may be even more contagious than the Delta variant.

The federal and state governments agreed on Thursday to enact harsher measures for unvaccinated persons, extending the so-called 2G rules to retail, catering, and cultural events. According to accounts, 2G stands for "geimpft" (vaccinated) or "genesen" (recovered).

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