Germany reports 1,785 new COVID-19 cases

Germany reported 1,785 new infections of COVID-19, with total cases reaching 143,457, according to data from disease control agency Robert Koch Institute Tuesday.

A total of 4,598 deaths have been recorded, an increase of 194 over the past 24 hours. Around 95,200 people are considered to have recovered, 3,700 more than the previous day, statistics showed.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel stressed Monday that the country is "still at the very beginning of the pandemic," despite the fact that person-to-person infection rate is now under 1 and that there are more convalescents than newly infected persons each day.

"We must remain vigilant and disciplined," she said.

Germany's federal and state governments had last week agreed to allow smaller businesses and some public places to reopen since Monday, while keeping nationwide restrictions measures of people's movements in place until at least May 3.

Several German states such as Bavaria, Saxony and Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania have announced directives for people to cover their noses and mouths with masks in public transport or in shops.