German Chancellor Angela Merkel on Tuesday urged people to accept offers of Coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccinations in view of rising infection numbers.

Merkel said there is now enough vaccine, after consultations with the country’s 16 federal state premiers.

She said everyone would protect themselves, and also those who could not be vaccinated can go get their jabs adding that this was “a contribution to the community.”

Merkel was speaking as the pace of vaccination in Germany has slowed down considerably.

Merkel said that it would be good to achieve a vaccination rate of “well over 70 percent and up to 80 percent,” which cannot be regarded as certain at the moment.

At present, 55.1 percent of the total population is fully vaccinated with the two necessary jabs.

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“We all want low-threshold measures to stem the rise in the number of infections,” Merkel said.

For those who are not vaccinated, more testing should be used, she said.

In view of the more contagious Delta variant of the coronavirus, basic protection with physical distancing and mandatory masks, for example in retail and public transport, should remain mandatory for everyone.