Germany's total coronavirus pandemic death toll crossed the 50,000-mark on Friday, according to the Robert Koch Institute (RKI), the country's public health agency for disease control and prevention. The country reached the grim milestone as health authorities recorded 859 new coronavirus deaths in 24 hours. In Germany, authorities count all deaths of people who died directly from COVID-19 as coronavirus deaths. Additionally, anyone recorded as having been infected with COVID-19 alongside preexisting illnesses, but whose deaths can not be conclusively attributed to that condition, is also counted as a COVID-19 death. The country has been under lockdown since mid-December. Sweeping restrictions that have seen most areas of public life shuttered are set to remain in place until February 14. The new lockdown appears to be having an effect. Germany has recorded a consistent drop in cases, according to its seven-day cases incidence metric. Authorities hope to bring the seven-day incidence rate back down to below 50, to allow the resumption of contact tracing.

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