From March 20th, most of the corona restrictions will be lifted. Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD) said on Wednesday in Berlin after consultations with the heads of government of the federal states. However, protective measures such as wearing a mask and keeping your distance should be maintained.
“We can look ahead with more confidence than we have been able to in recent weeks,” said Scholz. He spoke of a “very special day” in the pandemic. Germany came through the omicron wave better than neighboring countries. The apex has now been reached.
With the measures taken by the federal and state governments, health and life were protected and a lockdown could be prevented. But the pandemic is not over yet, said the Chancellor. Despite all the optimism, one should not become careless.
Prepare legislation for universal vaccination
According to Berlin’s Governing Mayor Franziska Giffey (SPD), the 2G access restrictions and controls when shopping should also end.
Scholz is sticking to the goal of mandatory corona vaccination. Despite the easing planned for spring, it should not be forgotten that there will also be an autumn and a winter again, Scholz warned.
Therefore, it remains right to prepare the legislation for a general vaccination requirement. “It will be necessary precisely when the weather starts to get colder again.” Most recently, the legislative process in the Bundestag had stalled.
Pandemic does not follow the calendar
The federal states are also demanding a legal basis for basic corona protection measures after the expiry of the far-reaching corona rules on March 20. “We have to combine openings and mindfulness,” said North Rhine-Westphalia’s Prime Minister Hendrik Wüst (CDU).
The country is in a new phase of the pandemic, said Wüst, who is currently chairman of the Prime Ministers’ Conference (MPK). “If the Bundestag does not act actively, then all protective measures will expire on March 20th.”
The pandemic is not based on the calendar. Therefore, not all measures should be thrown overboard. “All countries therefore agree that we need basic protection to secure the openings.” This included the obligation to wear masks, hygiene concepts, tests and distance rules. (SDA)