— Germany’s daily COVID-19 infections hit new high;

— France reports 13,406 new cases, hospitalizations continue to fall;

— UK records another 21,672 cases.

(Xinhua) — The following are the latest developments of the COVID-19 pandemic in European countries.

BERLIN — The daily COVID-19 infections and deaths kept climbing in Germany and reached new highs on Friday, according to data from the Robert Koch Institute (RKI).

Germany reported a record 29,875 new infections within one day, pushing the total to over 1.27 million, according to the federal government agency for disease control and prevention. The country’s new COVID-19 deaths increased by 598, also a record high, bringing the total to 20,970.

 In view of rising infections, Chancellor Angela Merkel is expected to meet with the minister presidents of the federal states on Sunday to discuss stricter nationwide measures.

 People visit the Lafayette department store during its first reopening day in Paris, France, Nov. 28, 2020. (Xinhua/Gao Jing)

PARIS — France registered 13,406 COVID-19 cases in the past 24 hours, pushing the total to more than 2.35 million, while hospitalization-related figures continued the downward trend, data released by health authorities showed on Friday.

Since the country reported its first COVID-19 death in mid-February, a total of 57,567 people have died in hospitals and nursing homes, according to the health authorities.

Hospital admissions fell by 256 to 24,975, while the number of patients in intensive care units (ICUs) dropped by 75 to 2,884, maintaining a running slowdown first recorded on Nov. 14.

A woman wearing a face mask is seen among Christmas trees in London, Britain, on Dec. 4, 2020. (Xinhua/Han Yan)

LONDON — Britain reported another 21,672 COVID-19 cases on Friday, bringing the country’s total to 1,809,455, according to the latest official figures.

The COVID-19 death toll in Britain rose by 424 to 63,506, the data showed.

Meanwhile, data from the Public Health England (PHE) showed Thursday that London recorded an average infection rate of 191.8 per 100,000 people for the week between Nov. 30 and Dec. 6, the highest in England.