Soldiers, experts to help German cities as virus cases rise

BERLIN (AP) — Chancellor Angela Merkel said Friday that the federal government will offer the help of soldiers and public health experts to German cities that are seeing a sharp rise in coronavirus cases. Authorities are concerned that the situation could spiral out of control unless urgent action is taken. Merkel said she and the mayor of 11 large cities have agreed upon measures to slow the spread of the virus by ensuring social distancing and hygiene rules are respected and contact tracing can continue. Germany has won wide plaudits for slowing the spread of the coronavirus when it first broke out but is grappling with what to do now that it seems to be picking up again. The country’s disease control center reported 4,516 new cases of coronavirus overnight Friday.