Germany's Merkel warns that coronavirus pandemic is not yet over

German Chancellor Angela Merkel and the head of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, hold a joint news conference via video conference to mark Berlin taking over the EU's rotating presidency from July 1 until the end of the year, in Berlin, Germany, July 2, 2020. Kay Nietfeld/Pool via Reuters

German Chancellor Angela Merkel said Europe was facing the toughest situation in its history and warned the coronavirus pandemic that has wreaked havoc on the economy has not yet disappeared.

"We see every day that the virus is not gone," she said in a joint press conference with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen on Thursday, adding that the pandemic was testing Europe's ability to stick together.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel and the head of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, hold a joint news conference via video conference to mark Berlin taking over the EU's rotating presidency from July 1 until the end of the year, in Berlin, Germany, July 2, 2020. Kay Nietfeld/Pool via Reuters

(Reporting by Thomas Escritt and Madeline Chambers; Writing by Maria Sheahan)

German Chancellor Angela Merkel and the head of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, hold a joint news conference via video conference to mark Berlin taking over the EU's rotating presidency from July 1 until the end of the year, in Berlin, Germany, July 2, 2020. Kay Nietfeld/Pool via Reuters