Germany easing border restrictions as coronavirus cases rise

Germany reported more than 900 new coronavirus cases on Tuesday as the country begins plans to lift some border restrictions in place to curb the spread of COVID-19. 

The Robert Koch Institute recorded a substantial leap in confirmed COVID-19 cases in the country, from 357 cases on Monday to 933 new cases Tuesday, according to Business Insider.

Last week, Chancellor Angela Merkel announced Germany would begin its second phase of reopening, moving toward plans to reopen borders by June 15.

Interior Minister Horst Seehofer said Wednesday, “The goal is that from mid-June we want to have free travel in Europe,” adding that restrictions could be imposed again if more spikes in outbreaks are reported, according to Reuters.

Merkel also detailed an “emergency brake” for any district to apply if outbreaks see an uptick as the nation’s lockdown measures are lifted, according to Business Insider.

The emergency brake could apply to any region with a rise in cases over a seven-day period at a rate of 50 per 100,000 people.

In the six days since some stores and shops have reopened, at least three districts have applied the brake, according to Business Insider.

Germany has reported 173,546 total confirmed coronavirus cases and 7,780 total deaths related to the disease since the outbreak began, according to Johns Hopkins University data.