Despite the appeals from the conference of sports ministers for gradual easing of the measures, which are currently set to expire on February 14, no relief for sports is planned at the moment.

Germany has been under some form of lockdown since November 2020, which has forced the closure of schools, kindergartens and non-essential businesses.

Millions of amateur and grassroots athletes can’t train or take part in competitions due to the restrictions imposed by the coronavirus lockdown.

Professional athletes are allowed to play games and competitions behind closed doors and under strict hygiene concepts.

Germany has managed to bring down infection rates steadily this year.

The number of cases confirmed per 100,000 people over a one-week period – known as the seven-day incidence rate – fell further to 68 on Wednesday, according to the Robert Koch Institute (RKI) for disease control.

That figure had reached its high point in the pandemic so far on December 22 at 198.

A further 8,072 infections were confirmed by the RKI on Wednesday, bringing the total caseload so far to almost 2.3 million. The death toll rose by 813 to reach 62,969.