German army mobilizes 4,000 extra troops to aid pandemic fight

The German army says it will mobilize thousands more troops to help fight the fourth wave of Covid-19 infections currently overwhelming parts of the country, reported dpa.

By Tuesday, the 8,000 troops currently engaged in assisting authorities will be joined by a further 4,000 troops, German military headquarters in Bonn announced.

National Territorial Commander, Lieutenant General Martin Schelleis, said that coping with the pandemic was the country's top priority.

"Everyone is called upon to do this - including our Bundeswehr. We will offer support in this emergency for as long as we are needed," he said.