Germany reports 2,369 cases of COVID-19, five deaths

Germany reported two more deaths from the novel coronavirus, bringing the death toll to five, according to the disease control agency, Robert Koch Institute, on Thursday.

And Germany's total confirmed cases stood at 2,369, as 802 new cases have been detected on Thursday, the agency's statistics showed.

The western state of North Rhine-Westphalia is the most affected with 688 cases in total, followed by Bavaria and Baden-Wurttemberg in the south with 500 cases and 454 cases, respectively. The number in the capital city of Berlin jumped to 137.

The party conference of Germany's ruling Christian Democratic Union (CDU) on April 25 was postponed for an indefinite period of time, CDU party leader Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer announced in a statement.

The Kiel Institute for the World Economy (IfW Kiel) is expecting a severe economic downturn in Germany this year and lowered its GDP forecast the same day.

In reaction to the coronavirus epidemic, Halle in Saxony-Anhalt announced on Thursday that it would close all schools and child care facilities for two weeks starting on Friday.

Source(s): Xinhua News Agency