COVID restrictions lifted in Germany
By Nidz Godino
ON March 20, 2022, German government’s requirements to wear mask will be dropped in indoor places like schools and at supermarkets but will remain mandatory in medical clinics and care homes.
Germany will lift most restrictions to contain coronavirus despite infections hitting record in the country.
Chancellor Olaf Scholz said after talks with leaders of Germany’s 16 states record of almost 300,000 infections in one day was not good news, but easing of restrictions was justified given intensive care units were not overwhelmed.
Germany’s 16 states will have the power to impose restrictions if they identify hotspots where both infections and hospitalizations peak.
The German parliament has been debating vaccine mandate but it could take weeks before any vote on the divisive measure.
Germany is set to ease COVID-19 restrictions as wave of infections from omicron coronavirus variant seems to have passed its peak in most federal states, a draft plan seen by media showed.
In the 3-stage plan, restrictions on private indoor meetings will be dropped for those vaccinated or recovered from the virus, according to the draft, prepared for a meeting between Chancellor Olaf Scholz and the heads of the federal states.
Checks at non-essential stores for a proof of vaccination or a negative test result will be abolished but a requirement to wear a mask will remain in place.
In the 2nd phase, the maximum permitted size for outdoor events will increase to 25,000 people and night clubs will re-open for those who have received a booster shot or who are fully vaccinated and can show a negative test.
Unvaccinated Germans will be allowed into restaurants with negative test from March 4, the draft showed.
Germany has been slower in easing restrictions than some other European countries such as Denmark, Switzerland and Austria, which announced it was lifting most COVID-19 restrictions by March 5. Switzerland will lift most pandemic restrictions from midnight on Wednesday, the government said.
German health minister Karl Lauterbach said the country could not relax restrictions too quickly, since Germany has lower vaccination rate than some of its neighbors.
On Wednesday, Germany reported 219,972 new daily coronavirus cases, down 6% compared to the same day last week. The 7-day infection incidence per 100,000 people also dropped to 1,401 from 1,438 on Tuesday.
ISKUP! 