Germany&nbsp;will end free coronavirus tests in October, regional leaders and the federal government agreed on Tuesday, in a push to incentivise more people to get vaccinated.

Covid-19 tests or proof of vaccination or recovery will be required to access facilities including restaurants, cinemas and gyms, in areas where infection rates rise above a certain threshold.

From October those who refuse to get jabbed will have to pay to prove they are infection-free, or risk being shut out.

Proof of test or vaccination will be required as soon as the rate of infections in a region reaches 35 per 100,000 people over seven days.

Children and people who for health reasons cannot be vaccinated will still be able to get tested for free.

Germany's incidence rate stood on Tuesday at 23.5, but several regions including Berlin and Hamburg are already past the 35 mark.

After delivering well over one million jabs a day at its peak, Europe's most populous country has seen the takeup for inoculation against the coronavirus slow dramatically.

As of Tuesday, 52 million people in&nbsp;Germany&nbsp;-- or 62.5 percent of the population -- have received at least one dose of the vaccine, but Merkel said she hoped another 15 to 20 percent would get the jab.

"It is everyone's responsibility ... to promote vaccination wherever possible," said German Chancellor Angela Merkel, urging "all friends and family members who have been vaccinated to promote this in their circles of friends and families and sport clubs".

'Indirect compulsory vaccination'&nbsp;

Merkel has repeatedly said she does not think it is right to make vaccinations compulsory.

But critics accused her government of using tests as a tool to pressure the population to get jabbed.

Alice Weidel, leader of the far-right AfD who is herself not vaccinated, said the move was an "indirect compulsory vaccination through restrictions, bans and additional burdens".

Merkel countered that vaccinated people cannot simply be asked to continue to be subject to restrictions because part of the population opted against jabs.

"We also have to think about those who work in hospitals, and overloading the health system must be ruled out," she added.

Germany's latest move is similar to new requirements in France of a health pass to access cinemas, cafes or trains.

The push by French President Emmanuel Macron for the health pass which is proof of either vaccination, a recent negative test or recovery from Covid-19, has sparked angry protests across France.

In&nbsp;Germany, regular protests have also broken out against coronavirus restrictions as well as vaccinations.

Germany will end free coronavirus tests in October, regional leaders and the federal government agreed on Tuesday, in a push to incentivise more people to get vaccinated.

Germany will end free coronavirus tests in October, regional leaders and the federal government agreed on Tuesday, in a push to incentivise more people to get vaccinated. Covid-19 tests or proof of vaccination or recovery will be required to access facilities including restaurants, cinemas and gyms, in areas where infection rates rise above a certain threshold. From October those who refuse to get jabbed will have to pay to prove they are infection-free, or risk being shut out. Proof of test or vaccination will be required as soon as the rate of infections in a region reaches 35 per 100,000 people over seven days. Children and people who for health reasons cannot be vaccinated will still be able to get tested for free. Germany's incidence rate stood on Tuesday at 23.5, but several regions including Berlin and Hamburg are already past the 35 mark. After delivering well over one million jabs a day at its peak, Europe's most populous country has seen the takeup for inoculation against the coronavirus slow dramatically. As of Tuesday, 52 million people in Germany -- or 62.5 percent of the population -- have received at least one dose of the vaccine, but Merkel said she hoped another 15 to 20 percent would get the jab. "It is everyone's responsibility ... to promote vaccination wherever possible," said German Chancellor Angela Merkel, urging "all friends and family members who have been vaccinated to promote this in their circles of friends and families and sport clubs". 'Indirect compulsory vaccination' Merkel has repeatedly said she does not think it is right to make vaccinations compulsory. But critics accused her government of using tests as a tool to pressure the population to get jabbed. Alice Weidel, leader of the far-right AfD who is herself not vaccinated, said the move was an "indirect compulsory vaccination through restrictions, bans and additional burdens". Merkel countered that vaccinated people cannot simply be asked to continue to be subject to restrictions because part of the population opted against jabs. "We also have to think about those who work in hospitals, and overloading the health system must be ruled out," she added. Germany's latest move is similar to new requirements in France of a health pass to access cinemas, cafes or trains. The push by French President Emmanuel Macron for the health pass which is proof of either vaccination, a recent negative test or recovery from Covid-19, has sparked angry protests across France. In Germany, regular protests have also broken out against coronavirus restrictions as well as vaccinations.

Germany to end free Covid tests to boost jab take-up

Germans are facing tougher nationwide Covid-19 measures from Saturday, including night curfews and school closures, after the government passed a disputed new law designed to slow infections.

With many of its neighbours lifting restrictions despite higher&nbsp;virus&nbsp;rates, Europe's biggest economy is bucking the trend with the new national law dubbed the "emergency&nbsp;brake". Passed amid huge protests in Berlin this week, the law prescribes uniform national restrictions and is designed to end a tug of war between the federal government and&nbsp;Germany's 16 states.

Tough measures will apply from Saturday in all regions with incidence rates of more than 100 new infections per 100,000 people over the last seven days, including sweeping shutdowns and overnight curfews.&nbsp;Schools must also revert to virtual teaching in areas where the incidence rate exceeds 165.

Eight German states had an incidence rate above 165&nbsp;on&nbsp;Friday, with the national average hovering at 164.

'Authoritarian fig leaf'&nbsp;

Conservative daily Die Welt called the new law "an authoritarian fig leaf designed to conceal failures of strategy, vaccination and testing".&nbsp;

The liberal, pro-business FDP party has vowed to take legal action to have it overturned, with party chief Christian Lindner calling it "unconstitutional".

With Munich confirmed&nbsp;on&nbsp;Friday as a host city for the upcoming Euro 2020 football championship,&nbsp;which starts in June&nbsp;the new law means that whether fans will be allowed to attend will ultimately depend&nbsp;on&nbsp;the infection rates then.&nbsp;The mayor of Munich said there was no "guarantee", contradicting a UEFA statement that the southern German city would host "a minimum of 14,500 spectators" at its four games.&nbsp;Munich&nbsp;on&nbsp;Friday had an incidence rate of 148.2.

The new restrictions have also caused confusion&nbsp;on&nbsp;the question of travel through areas with high incidence rates.&nbsp;"Anyone who does not want to commit an administrative offence may not cross the affected districts by car, train or even plane during the curfew," the FDP's Wolfgang Kubicki told the Bild daily.

Virus&nbsp;restrictions in&nbsp;Germany&nbsp;had previously been decided in consultations between Chancellor Angela Merkel and the leaders of the 16 states, with the regions ultimately responsible for implementing them.&nbsp;But in many cases, regional leaders have failed to put in place shutdown measures which they agreed with Merkel, with many choosing broad interpretations of the rules.

Germany's Robert Koch Institute health agency reported 27,543 new Covid-19 cases in the past 24 hours&nbsp;on&nbsp;Friday and 265 deaths, with the agency's Lars Schaade warning the numbers were "still too high".&nbsp;

Germans are facing tougher nationwide Covid-19 measures from Saturday, including night curfews and school closures, after the government passed a disputed new law designed to slow infections.

Germans are facing tougher nationwide Covid-19 measures from Saturday, including night curfews and school closures, after the government passed a disputed new law designed to slow infections. With many of its neighbours lifting restrictions despite higher virus rates, Europe's biggest economy is bucking the trend with the new national law dubbed the "emergency brake". Passed amid huge protests in Berlin this week, the law prescribes uniform national restrictions and is designed to end a tug of war between the federal government and Germany's 16 states. Tough measures will apply from Saturday in all regions with incidence rates of more than 100 new infections per 100,000 people over the last seven days, including sweeping shutdowns and overnight curfews. Schools must also revert to virtual teaching in areas where the incidence rate exceeds 165. Eight German states had an incidence rate above 165 on Friday, with the national average hovering at 164. 'Authoritarian fig leaf' Conservative daily Die Welt called the new law "an authoritarian fig leaf designed to conceal failures of strategy, vaccination and testing". The liberal, pro-business FDP party has vowed to take legal action to have it overturned, with party chief Christian Lindner calling it "unconstitutional". With Munich confirmed on Friday as a host city for the upcoming Euro 2020 football championship, which starts in June the new law means that whether fans will be allowed to attend will ultimately depend on the infection rates then. The mayor of Munich said there was no "guarantee", contradicting a UEFA statement that the southern German city would host "a minimum of 14,500 spectators" at its four games. Munich on Friday had an incidence rate of 148.2. The new restrictions have also caused confusion on the question of travel through areas with high incidence rates. "Anyone who does not want to commit an administrative offence may not cross the affected districts by car, train or even plane during the curfew," the FDP's Wolfgang Kubicki told the Bild daily. Virus restrictions in Germany had previously been decided in consultations between Chancellor Angela Merkel and the leaders of the 16 states, with the regions ultimately responsible for implementing them. But in many cases, regional leaders have failed to put in place shutdown measures which they agreed with Merkel, with many choosing broad interpretations of the rules. Germany's Robert Koch Institute health agency reported 27,543 new Covid-19 cases in the past 24 hours on Friday and 265 deaths, with the agency's Lars Schaade warning the numbers were "still too high".

Germany pulls virus 'emergency brake' but not all on board

Germany's vaccine commission said the AstraZeneca coronavirus vaccine should not be given to people older than 65 years.

'AstraZeneca vaccine shouldn't be given to over-65s', says Germany's vaccine commission

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Germany to end free Covid tests to boost jab take-up

Germany pulls virus 'emergency brake' but not all on board

'AstraZeneca vaccine shouldn't be given to over-65s', says Germany's vaccine commission