Berlin (dpa) - Chancellor Angela Merkel was set to meet with German state premiers in Berlin on Thursday as the coronavirus outbreak poses challenges for the country's federal division of powers.

All but one of the leaders of Germany's 16 states is expected to attend the meeting in the capital.

Winfried Kretschmann of the Greens, head of the government in the south-western state of Baden-Wuerttemberg, will not take part after having had contact with a person who tested positive for the new coronavirus, a statement from the state government in Stuttgart said.

According to government figures, Germany has confirmed 1,567 cases of infection so far and three deaths, all of which were in the hard-hit western state of North Rhine Westphalia.

Baden-Wuerttemberg and neighbouring Bavaria are also facing hundreds of infections.

Under Germany's federal system, it has been up to states to implement the advice from the central government on how to respond to the coronavirus, which so far has included cancelling all gatherings of 1,000 or more people.

Some regions have been quicker than others to respond, with officials in the city-state of Berlin coming under criticism for initially saying Saturday's football match between Union Berlin and Bayern Munich would go ahead with the fans.

All matches in the German football Bundesliga are now to be held behind closed doors.

"Federalism is not there to push responsibility away, rather federalism is there for everyone to take responsibility in their area," Merkel told a press conference on Wednesday.