The ministers of health in Germany, on Thursday as called for the postponement of the elective surgery as the country passed the grim milestone of 100,000 Covid-19 deaths amid a fourth wave of the pandemic.

Germany gives COVID-19 restrictions.

In a videoconference, Bavarian Health Minister Klaus Holetschek (CSU) said the decision had been agreed. “It is clear to all of us that the situation is very, very serious,” he told dpa after the meeting.

Holetschek also thanked states with spare intensive care capacity for taking in patients from badly affected areas. Transfers are currently being planned from Bavaria, Saxony and Thuringia.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel also called for increased restrictions to contain the coronavirus pandemic, as more state leaders indicated willingness to consider tough measures to stop the diseases’ spread.

“We need more contact restrictions contact,” the outgoing chancellor said, while declining to comment on calls from state leaders to bring forward a crisis meeting planned for December 9.

The current situation is extremely dangerous and care has to be taken to ensure that hospitals are not overwhelmed. “Every day counts here,” Merkel says.