Politicians in Germany call for a ban on private parties

German politicians are calling private parties to be banned as Germany records the highest number of coronavirus infections since the end of April.

Coronavirus cases soar in Germany

According to new data released by the Robert Koch Institute on Saturday, the number of confirmed coronavirus cases in Germany has risen by 2.034 over 24 hours to take the total number to 232.082.

A large number of these new cases have been traced back to private parties. For example, it has been reported that, in North Rhine-Westphalia, 33 percent of new coronavirus cases have been traced to home visits and private parties. In Berlin, 60 percent of new cases have been traced back to private dwellings, with either cohabitants infecting each other or parties being to blame.

Politicians speak out against private celebrations

Saskia Esken (SPD) said that people who continue to throw parties are endangering the freedom of others around them. “We must not risk forcing kindergartens and schools to close again and children to stay at home for weeks because we have allowed an increased infection rate by holding family celebrations with overly loose rules," she said.

Federal Health Minister, Jens Spahn, has warned of the problem of private parties and said that new legislation will be discussed at the Conference of Ministers-President, a meeting of Germany’s 16 state leaders, on Thursday.

Furthermore, regional politicians have warned that new lockdown measures may have to be brought in if the current rate of infection remains high. The Health Ministers for Brandenburg and Baden-Wurttemberg, Ursula Nonnemacher and Manfred Lucha, have both warned of the possibility of new restrictions. New restrictions have also been promised in North-Rhine Westphalia, Schleswig-Holstein, Berlin, and Lower Saxony.