Germany Hits Record COVID Infection Rate Since Beginning of Pandemic

'The Guardian' reports that Germany has recorded its highest rate of COVID infections since the beginning of the pandemic.

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Through much of the country mask-wearing mandates in most public settings will come to an end.

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On March 16, the country's disease control agency reported 1,607 new infections per 100,000 people in the past seven days.

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According to the Robert Koch Institute, Germany has recorded 262,593 new confirmed new cases of COVID and 269 deaths in the last 24 hours.

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'The Guardian' reports that the rate of people dying with COVID is considerably lower now than it was during the first winter of the pandemic.

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COVID restrictions across much of Germany are set to expire on March 19.

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The restrictions are to be replaced by a more lenient set of rules seen as a bipartisan compromise.

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Masks will still be required to ride on public transit or visit health care facilities.

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Berlin and Brandenburg are among several German states to extend the current set of restrictions until the end of March.

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On April 1, Berlin is expected to end most COVID-related restrictions and also close many free testing sites.

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The German government has reportedly retained the ability to tighten restrictions amid surges of the virus, including by restricting access for the unvaccinated.