German cities ground to a near-halt on Wednesday, as many businesses shut their doors in accordance with a new set of national COVID-19 regulations.

Despite a "light" lockdown that's been in place since November, the virus has continued to spread quickly across the country. The number of new cases reported daily has remained above 20,000 for weeks.

In addition to closing retail shops, the tougher lockdown will keep students at home and force personal care providers to stop offering treatments.

The rules are planned to remain in effect until January 10.

Health officials have been unsatisfied with progress to stop the virus and had previously warned of "difficult days" ahead. On Tuesday, the Robert Koch Institute reported a record 952 deaths from COVID-19, in what's now the deadliest day since the pandemic began.

The virus is spreading quickest among older, more vulnerable parts of the population. Hospitals say they're struggling to keep beds in intensive care units open and in some regions capacity has reached a critically low level.

"Our intention has always been to avoid a strain on the health system," Germany's Chancellor Angela Merkel said Sunday, while announcing the new lockdown measures. "That is why there is an urgent need for action."

However, long before a new lockdown was announced, many of the country's top doctors pleaded for the government to do more.

Doctors and nurses across the country say they're exhausted.

"If you ask me, we are at breaking point," said Christian Kleber, a doctor at Dresden University Hospital. "In some hospitals in Saxony we are already beyond it."

Ahead of Christmas, Merkel and regional leaders have asked Germans to stay at home and limit their contacts.

But speaking before parliament on Wednesday, the chancellor didn't say much about the country's new normal or the recent pressure on hospitals.

Epidemiologists advising the government have voiced concern about a severe post-Christmas spike in cases.

"Serious cases and deaths are always reported with some delay, we must prepare for the situation to get worse over Christmas," Lothar Wieler of the Robert Koch Institute said on Tuesday.

If new virus cases don't subside after the holidays, officials have that there is a chance the lockdown could be extended.