The federal and state governments have agreed on a multi-stage easing of the corona protection measures. From March 20, they will then largely be omitted.
Wearing masks on public transport in Germany can also be ordered beyond March 20th.
The German “Freedom Day” is coming – but only slowly and on velvet paws. During their video switch this Wednesday, the federal and state governments agreed to gradually relax the corona protection measures. While government measures will largely cease to apply in Switzerland from this Thursday and in Austria from March 5th, this will only be the case in Germany from March 20th.
However, the federal states should also have the option of ordering certain “basic protective measures” such as wearing masks in public transport and indoors if necessary. Distance rules or proof of tests and vaccination status should also remain possible.
The FDP has campaigned for an end to the measures
When presenting the resolutions, Chancellor Olaf Scholz spoke of a special day and “optimistic prospects”. The pandemic is not over. But we can look ahead with confidence. Scholz did not consider the term “Freedom Day” to be appropriate. He doesn’t do justice to the seriousness of the situation.
In the traffic light coalition, the FDP had recently campaigned for all measures to be abolished. The Greens, but also the Social Democratic Minister of Health Karl Lauterbach, spoke out in favor of continuing them beyond March 20th. This was also a requirement of the federal states. The possibility of imposing the measures provided for in the Infection Protection Act then ends. In his own words, Chancellor Olaf Scholz wants to ensure that the Bundestag decides on an extension and that the federal states have a secure legal basis.
The first of the opening steps that have now been decided provides that private meetings for vaccinated and recovered people are again possible without limiting the number of participants. Most recently, meetings were limited to ten people. However, the new regulation does not apply to unvaccinated people. Once an unvaccinated person attends a meeting, the meeting is still limited to their own household and a maximum of two people from another household. In retail, the 2G or 3G rules will no longer apply and will be replaced by an obligation to wear FFP2 masks. Most federal states had already taken this step recently.
From March 4th, unvaccinated people can go back to the restaurant
In a second step, taking into account the hospitalization rate, the 3-G regulation will be introduced in the catering and hotel industry from March 4th, which will allow access to vaccinated, recovered and people with a daily test. However, the area of clubs and discotheques remains limited to those who have recovered and those who have been vaccinated with a daily test or with a third vaccination (2-G-Plus).
The same regulation applies to major national events including sports. Indoor events may be occupied with a maximum of 60 percent of the respective maximum capacity, whereby the number of 6000 spectators may not be exceeded. For outdoor events, a maximum occupancy of 75 percent of the respective maximum capacity is permitted. The number of spectators is limited to 25,000 people.
In a third and final step, all far-reaching protective measures can be dropped from March 20th if the situation in the health system allows it, according to the federal and state governments. The home office regulations, which are mandatory under the Infection Protection Act, are also no longer applicable. However, employers can continue to offer work from home in agreement with the employees if there are no operational reasons to the contrary and this is in the interest of operational protection against infection, such as when working in open-plan offices.
Experts spoke out in favor of openings
Recently, “opening prospects” had been called for more and more in Germany. In view of the falling number of infections, the skeptical Minister of Health Lauterbach also spoke out in favor of careful easing after a long period of hesitation. The opinion presented on Sunday by the Council of Experts advising the Federal Government on Corona issues was important for the steps that have now been decided. The resolution paper of the federal and state governments is based to a large extent on his assessment. The scientists assume that the omicron wave will flatten out and the number of new infections with the omicron variant BA.1 will decrease.
According to the experts, the time has therefore come to plan and communicate opening strategies with foresight. Literally, the paper, which was passed unanimously, says: “Reducing state infection control measures seems sensible as soon as there is a stable drop in hospitalization and intensive care admissions and occupancy.”
However, the experts assume that the risk of renewed waves of infection could increase again by autumn at the latest. In addition to the risk of further mutations, previous virus variants such as the delta strain continue to circulate and could trigger new waves of infection. According to current knowledge, unvaccinated people who have been infected with the omicron variant are not reliably protected against infections with other variants. From the point of view of the federal and state governments, the vaccination requirement retains its urgency, as Chancellor Scholz and state representatives emphasized.
There are several draft laws on compulsory vaccination
There are currently several draft laws. In addition to a rejection of the general obligation to vaccinate, a vaccination requirement from the age of 18 or 50 is being discussed. The Union faction had also made the proposal for a so-called preventive vaccination law. Accordingly, the framework conditions such as a vaccination register should first be created. People who have been vaccinated can only be obligated to be vaccinated if this is necessary due to the course of the infection. The FDP had enforced that group motions could be voted on without party pressure. As things stand at present, no proposal has the necessary majority. The Bundestag wants to deal with the applications in mid-March.