Germany latest country to pass 100,000 deaths from COVID-19

Official figures released Thursday show Germany has become the latest country to pass the grim milestone of 100,000 deaths from COVID-19 since the pandemic began

BERLIN -- Official figures released Thursday show Germany has become the latest country to record 100,000 deaths from COVID-19 since the pandemic began.

In Europe, Germany is the fifth country to pass that mark, after Russia, the United Kingdom, Italy and France.

The surge in cases prompted Germany's government-in-waiting on Wednesday to announce the creation of a new permanent expert group to advise officials on how to tackle the pandemic.

Hospitals have warned that intensive care beds are running out, and some facilities in the country's south and east have begun transferring patients to other regions.