All travelers coming to Germany by plane are now required to have a negative COVID-19 test result before boarding.

Previously, only people arriving from high-risk areas had to provide a test. The measure was introduced after Chancellor Angela Merkel met with Germany's 16 federal leaders. Merkel and others at the meeting were pushing for a full ban on foreign travel, but opposition from others resulted in testing requirements being adapted.

Coronavirus infections are rising sharply in Germany, even though the country is entering its sixth month of continuous lockdown.

Epidemiologists warn the third wave of the virus could push the number of new infections to record levels of more than 100,000 per day.