Thousands Protest COVID-19 Measures in Germany (+Video)

Opponents of vaccinations and the German government's coronavirus policies demonstrated in several German cities on Saturday.

Several thousand people took to the streets in the northern port city of Hamburg, then marched in several blocks through the city center, police said. About 8,000 attendees were registered, Deutsche Welle reported.

"No to compulsory vaccination!" was written on self-made placards, as well as "Hands off our children."

Several thousand people took to the streets in the northern port city of Hamburg, then marched in several blocks through the city center, police said. About 8,000 attendees were registered.

In Dusseldorf, hundreds of protesters marched through the streets on Saturday.

Some participants were dressed up as medical staff, carrying signs reading, ‘We work with love, not with compulsory vaccination' and ‘My body, my choice.’ Several others held on to balloons while marching.

In the western city of Düsseldorf, police said an estimated 4,000 protesters marched through the city center. Around 1,000 people were registered.

Pandemic deniers have become increasingly displeased with virus-related regulations.

Vaccinations for children are beginning in Germany, following recommendations made by the country's top vaccine body. However, many parents are divided on the issue.

Those who are against vaccinations are also up in arms over the possible introduction of compulsory vaccinations in the upcoming year.

Demonstrations also took place in the financial hub of Frankfurt am Main, as well as the southwestern cities of Karlsruhe and Freiburg.

Police said around 3,500 people marched through the center of Freiburg, adding that they sporadically split up groups because some attendees were not wearing obligatory face masks.

Around 900 people took to the streets in Karlsruhe to protest mandatory vaccinations, particularly for health care workers such as nurses.

In Osnabrück, Lower Saxony, nearly 2,000 people demonstrated under the slogan "Basic rights are not negotiable," according to police.

Around 1,900 people attended a protest against restrictions in Schwerin, the capital of the northern state of Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, police said. The protesters reportedly marched peacefully through the city center.

Meanwhile, officials in Berlin banned a demonstration that had 2,000 registered protesters, citing the expectation that demonstrators would violate coronavirus rules such as the obligation to wear a mask and maintain social distance. However, protesters have gathered on many occasions despite police bans.

Germany has a relatively low vaccination rate, with just 70% of the total population inoculated against the virus. Over 6.76 million cases and 108,000 deaths have been reported since the start of the pandemic.

According to the Robert Koch Institute, at least 43 million (51.7 percent) of the German population has received a third booster shot.