Merkel backs tougher coronavirus curbs as German deaths hit record high

German Chancellor Angela Merkel (AP/Markus Schreiber)

German Chancellor Angela Merkel has pleaded with her compatriots to cut down on socialising as the country reported its highest single-day death toll of the coronavirus pandemic.

Germany is gradually moving towards a tighter lockdown, at least for a limited period after Christmas, as new virus cases remain stubbornly high – and are even beginning to creep higher – despite a partial shutdown that started on November 2.