German air force to transfer Covid patients as hospitals run out of ICU beds

A woman receives a vaccination against coronavirus at a shopping centre in Magdeburg, Germany (Klaus-Dietmar Gabbert/dpa via AP)

The German air force is to transfer intensive care patients as the government warned that the situation in the country is more serious than at any point in the pandemic.

Citing the sharp rise in cases, Health Minister Jens Spahn said contacts between people need to be sharply reduced to curb the spread of the virus.