Germany is considering imposing fresh Covid restrictions after the country recorded its highest ever Covid infection rates.

Hospitals have begun transferring ICU patients to different states because of dwindling capacity particularly in the south and east of the country.

On Saturday, Germany recorded its all-time highest seven-day Covid incidence, recording more positive tests even than during the second wave of December 2020.

German leaders are set to meet on Thursday to debate further restrictions, including limiting all bars, restaurants, events and close-contact services only to those who have been vaccinated or recently recovered from the virus.

These rules have been adopted in some states, but as yet has not been enforced nationwide. 

Horst Seehofer, the interior minister, on Saturday morning said it was the time to put in place nationally uniform Covid rules.

German chancellor Angela Merkel called upon the country’s unvaccinated to reconsider, hinting that the government would tighten measures across the country. 

“Difficult weeks lie ahead of us, and you can see that I am very worried,” Mrs Merkel warned in her weekly video podcast.

“I urgently ask everyone who has not yet been vaccinated: please reconsider.”

She added: “It has always helped us when states and the federal government worked together and committed to uniform rules”.