Germany's recent surge in coronavirus cases has not deterred some state ministers from suggesting that schools could be re-opened in two weeks' time. 

Baden-Württemberg Cultural Affairs Minister Susanne Eisenmann caused consternation among her peers on Tuesday by telling the DPA news agency that she wanted to re-open schools and kindergartens on January 11 "regardless of the incidence numbers."

Saskia Esken, co-leader of the Social Democratic Party (SPD), described Eisenmann's proposal as "downright irresponsible." At least one state, Hamburg, has already said it would be keeping schools closed for longer.

Each of Germany's 16 states organizes its own education system, giving Chancellor Angela Merkel's federal administration little say over school lockdown rules, though the current nationwide measures were agreed at a summit of all the governments in November.

The lockdown is due to end on January 10, but national leaders have already warned that it will have to be extended, given the current coronavirus infection rates and death figures. Germany's daily death toll reached 1,000 for the first time on Tuesday, and the country has consistently seen over 20,000 new infections a day for several weeks.

"I don't see how in the current situation we can return to pre-lockdown mode," Health Minister Jens Spahn said at a press conference on Wednesday. But he stopped short of actually ruling out re-opening schools, referring reporters to another governments' summit on January 5.