FILE - In this April 24, 2020 file photo, a man with a face mask watches empty chairs with names of bars and restaurants on the Roemerberg square in Frankfurt, Germany. More than 50,000 people have died after contracting COVID-19 in Germany, a number that has risen swiftly over recent weeks as the country has struggled to bring down infection figures. (AP Photo/Michael Probst, File)
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BERLIN (AP) - The death toll from the coronavirus in Germany has passed 50,000, a number that has risen swiftly over recent weeks even as infection figures are finally declining.
The country's disease control center, the Robert Koch Institute, said Friday that another 859 deaths were reported over the past 24 hours, taking the total so far to 50,642.
Germany had a comparatively small number of deaths in the pandemic's first phase and was able to lift many restrictions quickly.
But it has seen much higher levels of infections in the fall and winter. Hundreds of deaths, sometimes more than 1,000, have been reported daily in the country of 83 million people over recent weeks. Germany hit the 40,000 mark on Jan. 10.
President Frank-Walter Steinmeier will leave a light shining in a window at his Bellevue palace in Berlin every evening starting Friday in memory of the dead and those fighting for their lives, his office said. He encouraged other Germans to do the same.
Steinmeier plans to lead a central memorial event for the dead after Easter.
The lights are meant as a sign that 'œthe dead in the corona pandemic are not just statistics for us,'ť Steinmeier said. 'œEven if we don't know their names and families, we know that every figure stands for a loved one whom we miss infinitely.'ť
Chancellor Angela Merkel echoed those comments this week, describing the recent death figures as 'œterrible.'ť Still, she said that daily infections are dropping and somewhat fewer people are receiving intensive care than over Christmas.
In Europe, the U.K., Italy, France and Spain, all of which have smaller populations, still have higher death tolls.
The head of the Robert Koch Institute, Lothar Wieler, said this week the explanation for the high death figures is 'œrelatively simple but relatively depressing.'ť
'œThe increase is simply linked to the fact that the case numbers went up so much,'ť he said.
Wieler said there are still a lot of outbreaks at nursing homes - over 900 at present. Some homes are better-prepared than others to combat the pandemic, he said. There are also large numbers of cases among the over-80s.
Overall, new infections peaked in December. On Friday, the Robert Koch Institute reported 17,862 new cases, down from 22,368 a week ago. Germany's total so far is a bit over 2.1 million. The number of new cases per 100,000 residents over seven days stood at 115.3, after reaching nearly 200 a month ago. It's still well above the government's target of a maximum 50.
There are currently 4,787 COVID-19 patients in intensive care, said Gernot Marx, the head of Germany's intensive care association, DIVI.
That is down from a peak of nearly 5,800 on Jan. 3, he said - 'œthat was the most critical situation, in my opinion, since there has been intensive care in Germany.'ť He added that there has been no sign of a Christmas or new year peak.
Germany's current lockdown was extended this week until Feb. 14 amid concern about the possible impact of virus mutations such as the one first detected in England.
Authorities are trying to encourage more people to work from home, thus reducing the numbers who use public transport. Restaurants, bars, sports and leisure facilities have been closed since early November. Schools and nonessential shops followed in mid-December, and professional sports events are taking place without spectators.
Merkel says everyone in Germany will be offered a vaccination by late September. There has been frustration with the slow start to vaccinations. By Thursday, nearly 1.39 million people had received a first dose and over 115,000 a second dose.
Britain has delayed giving second doses for up to three months so it can give the first dose to as many as possible. But Health Minister Jens Spahn signaled that Germany won't follow suit, pointing to concerns over a lack of study data and the need for the most vulnerable and elderly to get 'œcomprehensive'ť protection.
'œWe will, according to all the scientific groundwork we have at the moment, stick to the '¦ recommended rhythm for the second dose,'ť Spahn said Friday.
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Frank Jordans in Berlin contributed to this report.
FILE - In this Sunday, March 22, 2020 file photo, the autobahn along the airport is deserted when the first nationwide restrictions came in place in Germany to avoid the spread of the corona virus. More than 50,000 people have died after contracting COVID-19 in Germany, a number that has risen swiftly over recent weeks as the country has struggled to bring down infection figures. (AP Photo/Michael Probst, file)
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FILE - In this Thursday, Nov. 12, 2020 file photo, a woman walks away from a subway station in Oberursel near Frankfurt, Germany, as the numbers of new Coronavirus infections went over 20,000 again. More than 50,000 people have died after contracting COVID-19 in Germany, a number that has risen swiftly over recent weeks as the country has struggled to bring down infection figures. (AP Photo/Michael Probst, file)
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FILE - In this April 13, 2020 file photo, young musicians plays the trumpet, right, and trombone in the garden of a retirement and nursing home in Karben near Frankfurt, Germany. They played various pieces for the old people who are due to the coronavirus not allowed to leave the building. More than 50,000 people have died after contracting COVID-19 in Germany, a number that has risen swiftly over recent weeks as the country has struggled to bring down infection figures. (AP Photo/Michael Probst, File)
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FILE - In this March 15, 2020 file photo, an Asian couple looks at timberframe houses at the almost empty Roemerberg square, the main tourist spot in Frankfurt, Germany. More than 50,000 people have died after contracting COVID-19 in Germany, a number that has risen swiftly over recent weeks as the country has struggled to bring down infection figures. (AP Photo/Michael Probst, File)
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FILE - In this April 1, 2020 file photo, the buildings of the banking district are reflected in the river Main in Frankfurt, Germany. Due to the coronavirus the economy worldwide expects heavy losses. More than 50,000 people have died after contracting COVID-19 in Germany, a number that has risen swiftly over recent weeks as the country has struggled to bring down infection figures. (AP Photo/Michael Probst, File)
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FILE - In this Dec. 15, 2020 file photo, a medical worker waits for customers at a corona quick test center that is located in an empty tequila bar in Frankfurt, Germany. More than 50,000 people have died after contracting COVID-19 in Germany, a number that has risen swiftly over recent weeks as the country has struggled to bring down infection figures. (AP Photo/Michael Probst, File)
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FILE - In this Oct. 21, 2020 file photo, pupils of a fifth class at a high school wear face masks as they take part in an electronic learning session in Frankfurt, Germany. More than 50,000 people have died after contracting COVID-19 in Germany, a number that has risen swiftly over recent weeks as the country has struggled to bring down infection figures. (AP Photo/Michael Probst, File)
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FILE - In this April 4, 2020 file photo, Priest Christian Rauch stands in front of photos with parishioners in the catholic St. Andreas church in Lampertheim, Germany. Due to the coronavirus no services are held these days. More than 50,000 people have died after contracting COVID-19 in Germany, a number that has risen swiftly over recent weeks as the country has struggled to bring down infection figures. (AP Photo/Michael Probst, File)
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FILE - In this Tuesday, May 12, 2020 file photo, Iulian, Romanian worker who stands behind the fence that was set up at the entrance of a housing of Romania slaughterhouse workers in Rosendahl, Germany. Hundreds of the workers were tested positive on the coronavirus and were put on quarantine.More than 50,000 people have died after contracting COVID-19 in Germany, a number that has risen swiftly over recent weeks as the country has struggled to bring down infection figures. (AP Photo/Michael Probst, file)
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FILE - In this June 17 2020 file photo, a security wearing a face mask to prevent the spread of the new coronavirus stands on the empty tribune of the WWK Arena during the German Bundesliga soccer match FC Augsburg against TSG 1899 Hoffenheim in Augsburg, Germany, Wednesday. More than 50,000 people have died after contracting COVID-19 in Germany, a number that has risen swiftly over recent weeks as the country has struggled to bring down infection figures. (AP Photo/Michael Probst, File)
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FILE - In this Dec. 2, 2020 file photo, people wear face masks but stand close together as they wait for a subway train in Frankfurt, Germany, Wednesday. More than 50,000 people have died after contracting COVID-19 in Germany, a number that has risen swiftly over recent weeks as the country has struggled to bring down infection figures. (AP Photo/Michael Probst, File)
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FILE - In this Dec. 10, 2020 file photo, a hotel has switched on the lights in some rooms to form a heart near the buildings of the banking district in in Frankfurt, Germany. More than 50,000 people have died after contracting COVID-19 in Germany, a number that has risen swiftly over recent weeks as the country has struggled to bring down infection figures. (AP Photo/Michael Probst, File)
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FILE - In this April 27, 2020 file photo, a woman working for the regional public transport company offers a face mask to an elderly man in the main train station in Frankfurt, Germany. More than 50,000 people have died after contracting COVID-19 in Germany, a number that has risen swiftly over recent weeks as the country has struggled to bring down infection figures. (AP Photo/Michael Probst, File)
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FILE - In this Nov. 24, 2020 file photo, plush pandas and Corona beer bottles decorate the tables of a closed restaurant in Frankfurt, Germany. Restaurants all over Germany were closed as a partial lockdown began in November to avoid the further outspread of the coronavirus. More than 50,000 people have died after contracting COVID-19 in Germany, a number that has risen swiftly over recent weeks as the country has struggled to bring down infection figures. (AP Photo/Michael Probst, File)
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FILE - In this March 15, 2020 file photo, Lufthansa aircraft are parked on a runway at the airport in Frankfurt, Germany. Due to the Coronavirus Lufthansa had to cancel half of its flights. More than 50,000 people have died after contracting COVID-19 in Germany, a number that has risen swiftly over recent weeks as the country has struggled to bring down infection figures. (AP Photo/Michael Probst, File)
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