Merkel says as much as 70% of Germany could contract coronavirus

German Chancellor Angela Merkel on Wednesday said that experts estimate 60 to 70 percent of her nation's population could contract the coronavirus.

She noted that people have not developed an immunity to the virus and there are no vaccines for it.

“When the virus is out there, and the population has no immunity and no vaccination or therapy exists, then a high percentage - experts say 60 to 70 percent of the population - will be infected, so long as this remains the case,” she said according to Reuters.

There have been three coronavirus deaths reported in Germany.

The World Health Organization on Wednesday classified the worldwide coronavirus outbreak as a pandemic.

Concerns over the virus have been taking a toll on markets, sporting events and even the Democratic presidential primary, where Sunday night's debate between Joe Biden and Bernie Sanders was moved to a no-audience format.