Germany calls for support amid virus 'emergency brake'

German Health Minister Jens Spahn has called for support as new nationally binding rules for stricter coronavirus measures are to take effect in the country.

A plan by German Chancellor Angela Merkel's government to mandate uniform restrictions in areas where the virus is spreading too quickly cleared its final legislative hurdle on Thursday as it was passed by parliament's upper house.

The legislation to apply an "emergency brake" consistently in areas with high infection rates is intended to end the patchwork of measures that has often characterized the pandemic response across highly decentralized Germany's 16 states.

The measures include closures and a 10 p.m.-5 a.m. curfew, the most controversial element.

"It's hard for every one of us, but it's necessary for a transitional period, and that's the important thing", Spahn said Friday in Berlin.

"It's about breaking the wave now, and to then be able to open, supported by testing, also to be able to open significantly more, because we can test more," he added.

Spahn said that the situation in Germany continues to be "very, very difficult", with ICU's still filling up and increasing numbers of COVID-19 infections of younger people.

"More and more COVID-19 patients need to be treated in hospital, the numbers are rising especially in the 35 to 59 year-olds, " said Prof. Dr. Lars Schaade, the vice-President of Germany's national disease control institute, the Robert Koch Institute.

The bill for the "emergency brake" was approved by parliament's lower house on Wednesday. It will apply until the end of June.