Germany Covid surge: 'you'll be vaccinated or dead', govt warns citizens

Germany is battling a renewed surge of coronavirus infections.

The health minister on Monday issued a grim warning to citizens stating that "they would be either vaccinated, cured or dead from Covid-19 by the end of winter".

The government has imposed tough restrictions in worst-hit regions as intensive care beds fill up fast. Authorities have ordered new shutdowns, including the closure of Christmas markets.

In regions with high hospitalisation rates, the unvaccinated will be barred from public spaces like cinemas, gyms and indoor dining.

The government is urging the people to get the jab.

Outgoing Chancellor Angela Merkel has warned that Germany’s current Covid restrictions, including barring the unvaccinated from certain public spaces “are not enough”.

Almost 100,000 people have died so far in Germany, including 62 during the past 24 hours.

Health minister Jens Spahn described the situation in many hospitals as "very, very difficult".