COVID-19 deaths surpass 4,000 in Germany

Germany has reported 4,110 deaths of COVID-19 Saturday morning, an increase of 242 from the previous day, according to the Robert Koch Institute, the country's disease control agency.

A total of 137,439 infections have been recorded, an increase of 3,609 over the past 24 hours, statistics showed.

Germany's person-to-person infection rate has dropped to 0.7, meaning each person carrying the coronavirus is now infecting less than one other person on average, according to the agency.

Germany has announced earlier the decision to extend the country's nationwide social distancing restrictions until at least May 3. The current restrictions, including a ban on public gatherings of more than two people, are scheduled to be in effect until Sunday.