With fourth wave raging, Germany agrees booster shots for all

BERLIN, Nov 5 (Reuters)- Germany’s COVID-19 situation is entering a very difficult period with rising numbers of intensive care patients, Health Minister Jens Spahn said, as German state leaders warned the country may need a new lockdown unless it takes urgent action. 

Spahn said he had agreed with regional health ministers that in future everyone should be offered a booster shot of COVID-19 vaccine six months after receiving their previous injection.

“This should become the norm, not the exception,” Spahn said at a news conference on Friday.

The country has already had to relocate some patients from regions with overburdened hospitals, Spahn added, urging German citizens to get vaccinated and observe social distancing measures.

“Anyone who thinks they are young and invulnerable should talk to intensive care staff,” he said.

As of Thursday, there were 2,503 free beds in German intensive care units, down from around 3,100 at the start of October, according to data from the DIVI association for intensive and emergency medicine.