"We have understood that the situation is very serious and that we want to take further measures in addition to those already taken," Merkel told reporters at Thursday's news conference. "The fourth wave must be broken and this has not yet been achieved," she added.
A nationwide vaccination mandate could come into effect from February 2022 -- after it is debated in parliament and following guidance from Germany's Ethics Council, Merkel said.
She added that vaccinated people will lose their vaccination status nine months after getting their last shot, apparently in an effort to encourage booster uptake.
