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COVID-19 RULES

Several German states plan ‘to extend Covid measures’ until early April

Germany is set to significantly relax Covid-19 measures from March 20th. However, a proposed transitional period means that states will be able to keep restrictions in place after that date.

Published: 16 March 2022 17:31 CET

A sign shows the '3G rule' at a restaurant in Augsburg, Bavaria.

A sign shows the '3G rule' at a restaurant in Augsburg, Bavaria. Photo: picture alliance/dpa | Stefan Puchner

The current Infection Protection Act, which forms the legal basis for Covid measures in Germany expires at the end of March 19th.

The German government and states are this week thrashing out new legislation to allow for almost all restrictions to be lifted from March 20th – bar some basic measures – and a clause for ‘hotspots’.

However, it is emerging that several federal states plan to keep the current restrictions in place as part of a transitional phase.

This two-week grace period is in the federal government’s draft amendment to the new Infection Protection Act, reported broadcaster Tagesschau on Wednesday.

It comes as Covid-19 infections reach record highs in Germany.

READ ALSO: How worried should we about Germany’s rising Covid infections?

In Bavaria, the cabinet said that existing 2G or 3G access rules (Germany’s version of the Covid-19 health pass for entry into restaurants and bars) and a mask requirement, including in schools and shops, will remain in place until April 2nd.

Baden-Württemberg also wants to make use of the transitional period, deputy head of government Thomas Strobl (CDU) said.

Meanwhile, Berlin announced that it will maintain the current Covid-19 measures until April 1st.

In Lower Saxony, the state government plans to present a transitional regulation this week – and this will apply until April 2nd.

North Rhine-Westphalia also plans to use the transitional regulation up to the same date, reported DPA.

However, a final decision by the CDU/FDP state government is not expected until after the Bundestag has voted on the future Infection Protection Act. This is set to happen on Friday.

Other states that say they want to extend restrictions as part of the transitional phase are Thuringia, Saarland, Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania and Hamburg.

READ ALSO: Will Germany lift its Covid restrictions amid rising infections?

We should have more information on the plans among German states in the coming days.

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Germany to repeal last protective measures against Covid-19

The remaining restrictions – or the requirement to wear a mask in surgeries, clinics and nursing homes – are falling away a couple of days after German Health Minister Karl Lauterbach (SPD) made an announcement that the Covid-19 pandemic is “over.”

“We have successfully managed the pandemic in Germany,” said Lauterbach at a press conference on Wednesday.

In light of low infection numbers and virus variants deemed to be less dangerous, Germany has been steadily peeling away the last of its longstanding measures.

READ ALSO: Germany monitoring new Covid variant closely, says Health Minister

The obligation to wear a mask on public transport was lifted on February 2nd.

During the height of the pandemic between 2020 and 2021, Germany introduced its strictest measures, which saw the closure of public institutions including schools and daycare centres (Kitas).

“The strategy of coping with the crisis had been successful overall,” said Lauterbach, while also admitting: “I don’t believe that the long school closures were entirely necessary.”

Since the first coronavirus cases in Germany were detected in January 2020, there have been over 38 million reported cases of the virus, and 171,272 people who died from or with the virus, according to the Robert Koch Institute.

Voluntary measures

In surgeries and clinics, mask rules can remain in place on a voluntary basis – which some facilities said they would consider based on their individual situations.

“Of course, practices can stipulate a further obligation to wear masks as part of their house rules, and likewise everyone can continue to wear a mask voluntarily,” the head of the National Association of Statutory Health Insurance Physicians (KBV), Andreas Gassen, told DPA.

But Gassen said it was good there would no longer be an “automatic obligation”, and that individuals could take the responsibility of protecting themselves and others into their own hands.

READ ALSO: Is the pandemic over in Germany?

“Hospitals are used to establishing hygiene measures to protect their patients, even independently of the coronavirus,” the head of the German Hospital Association (DKG), Gerald Gaß, told DPA.

With the end of the last statutory Covid measures, he said, we are entering “a new phase” in dealing with this illness.

“Hospitals will then decide individually according to the respective situation which measures they will take,” he said, for example based on the ages and illnesses of the patients being treated.

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