An-Najah News - The Robert Koch Institute for disease control announced the country's COVID-19 reproduction rate, or R, had risen to 1.1 because Coronavirus infections in Germany are rising, just days after the country eased its lockdown restrictions.

When it goes above 1, it means the number of infections is growing.It had fallen to 0.7 before Chancellor Angela Merkel bowed to pressure from leaders of Germany's 16 federal states to restart social life and revive the economy on Wednesday.

Despite the acceleration in cases and her announcing measures that included more shop openings and a gradual return to school, thousands took to streets in parts of the country on Saturday to demand an end to all restrictions.
Karl Lauterbach, a professor of epidemiology and Social Democrat lawmaker, warned a rapid spread of COVID-19 was likely after he saw large crowds out and about in his home city of Cologne.

"It has to be expected that the R rate will go over 1 and we will return to exponential growth," he said in a tweet.