(Bloomberg) --
The number of daily recoveries from coronavirus in Germany for the first time exceeded new cases, adding to evidence that shutdowns across the country are starting to take effect.
Some 7,381 people recovered from the illness in 24 hours, compared with 3,252 new cases, the lowest growth in infections in two weeks, according to data from Johns Hopkins University. Deaths rose by 226 to 1,810 on Tuesday, the highest number of new fatalities in a day for the country.
“It seems that the measures are beginning to have an effect. If that is confirmed over the longer term then we can start to think about how we can perhaps return to normality step by step,” German Defense Minister Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer said Tuesday in an interview with DLF radio.
Read More: Denmark Joins Austria in Easing Virus Curbs as Europe Cases Slow
Germany put strict social-distancing rules in place last month and the government has recently extended those until April 19. While the country has “moved forward” in efforts to slow the spread of the virus, it's too early to set a time frame for relaxing measures, Chancellor Angela Merkel said Monday.
Covid-19 has presented the European Union with the biggest challenge since its foundation, Merkel said. She made her comments as Europe entered a decisive week for its response to the disease. The euro area's finance ministers are set to discuss proposals to mitigate the economic and financial fallout later on Tuesday.
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