(ANSA-AFP) - TRIESTE, 27 AGO - Germany plans to keep fans out of stadiums until at least the end of the year and get tougher on mask-wearing to combat a worrying rise in coronavirus infections, under a draft seen by AFP on Thursday. Chancellor Angela Merkel is holding talks with the leaders of Germany's 16 federal states to officially agree a package of new measures, which will apply nationwide. The talks are aimed at creating a more coherent approach to the pandemic after daily infection numbers in recent weeks soared to highs not seen since April.

Although Germany has weathered the pandemic well so far, the recent rise in coronavirus cases "must be taken very seriously", the draft agreement reads. "The goal of the federal government and the states is to work together to reduce the infection numbers as much as possible." (ANSA-AFP).