By: Lucia I. Suarez Sang | Fox News
Germany, one of the first European countries to cautiously loosen its coronavirus lockdown, is now facing the bleak prospect of having to restore the measures following a slight uptick in new infections.
Earlier this month, the country took its first step to gradually restart public life as the propagation rate of the virus fell.
Small retailers with a surface area of up to 8,600 square feet, car and bicycle dealerships, as well as bookstores, were allowed to reopen while keeping social distancing in place. Next week, some students are expected to return to school.
All states are also moving ahead with regulations requiring protective masks in public transport, shops, or both.
But on Monday, the Robert Koch Institute revealed Germany had seen the first daily uptick in new cases in more than three days. It said the reproduction or infection rate had risen again to approximately 1.0, meaning each infected person passes the virus on to one other person.
When Germany, which was widely praised for its response to the pandemic, decided to lift some restrictions, the infection rate had fallen to 0.7.
Virologists have insisted the infection rate must stay below 1.0 in order to keep the pandemic manageable.
“The number should stay below one, that is the big goal,” Lothar Wieler, head of the Robert Koch Institute, said at a news conference, according to Sky News. “The further it is below one, the more secure we can feel, the more leeway we have, but there are other numbers that are also important.”
The latest figures show Germany has seen more than 160,000 positive COVID-19 cases and at least 6,314 deaths – putting it among the hardest-hit countries worldwide.
Officials told Sky News that while it was too early to say whether easing the restrictions caused the newest increase, they are monitoring closely.
With the now less than encouraging data, Chancellor Angela Merkel is set to discuss the next steps for easing lockdown restrictions on Thursday. The next day for further easing of restrictions had been expected on May 6.
Merkel has warned Germany’s federal states against loosening their lockdowns too quickly, saying the pandemic was “still at the beginning.”
Last week she cautioned that, while the rate of new infections has been slowing, “we’re still walking on thin ice, one could also say the thinnest ice.”
“We’re not living in the final phase of the pandemic, but still at the beginning. We will be living with this virus for a long time.”
She added: “Let us not squander what we have achieved and risk a setback. It would be a shame if premature hope ultimately punishes us all. Let us all stay on the path in the next phase of the pandemic: smart and careful. It’s a long journey; we can’t run out of stamina and air too soon.”
Meanwhile, Germany announced Wednesday it was extending its worldwide travel warning until mid-June, saying the pandemic is too dire to change the guidance.
Foreign Minister Heiko Maas said the warning, due to expire May 3, would be extended to June 14 because there has been no change to the danger posed by the pandemic.
“Naturally, we all hope we won’t need this travel warning after June 14,” Maas said.
The travel warning means Germans who booked vacations for the dates can get refunds, another likely blow to the European travel industry.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.Lucia I. Suarez Sang is a Reporter & Editor for FoxNews.com. Follow her on Twitter @luciasuarezsang