Tensions rise in Germany over imminent lifting of anti-virus measures

Berlin (dpa) – Tensions are rising along with infection figures in Germany with just days to go before the country lifts most of its coronavirus restrictions.

From March 20, mask-wearing is set to be dropped in almost all areas of public life, apart from in hospitals, care homes and in public transport.

The need to present a negative test will also fall away in most places, although not in schools and care homes.

To accompany the change, Health Minister Karl Lauterbach has proposed a new law to give states the power to reimpose restrictions – after approval by their regional parliaments – in so-called “hotspots.”

Opposition conservatives, notably in the large southern state of Bavaria, have said the draft bill does not give them enough powers and will make it harder for them to act against serious outbreaks, while some medical associations have also criticized the move to lift restrictions in general as a danger to public health.

Other medical experts have questioned why masks would still be required in planes and trains, for example, but not in restaurants or shops. Given that infection figures are at record highs, a further lifting of virus restrictions could roll back the progress in limiting the impact of the virus, they warn.

Over recent days, Lauterbach has been forced the defend the legislation, which is due to be approved by Cabinet on Wednesday.

On Tuesday, he said that states could use a transition phase, lasting until April 2, to keep their restrictions in place if necessary.

He encouraged states to stop worrying about the weakening of their legal powers to fight the pandemic and start using the regulations regarding hotspots as soon as possible. “The states have to deal with it,” he told broadcaster ARD.

If a given state considers it necessary it could declare the whole state to be a “hotspot,” according to the new rules.

“We are not in a position to lift all [anti-coronavirus] measures right now,” Lauterbach said.

Lauterbach, himself a medical doctor, received backing on Tuesday from a leading doctors’ association, KBV.

KBV boss Andreas Gassen said there was no current risk of the health system in Germany being overwhelmed by coronavirus patients.

“We have to finally learn as a society to live with the coronavirus without politicians decided every couple of months to severely restrict everyday life,” he told the Rheinische Post newspaper.

Germany’s benchmark infection rate – measuring infections per 100,000 people over the last week – hit a pandemic-high of 1585.4 on Tuesday. Some 238 people died of or with coronavirus in the last 24 hours.

One coronavirus measure that is coming into force rather than being relaxed in Germany is a legal obligation for health care workers to be vaccinated.

Those affected have until today to present a vaccination certificate or risk not being able to work.

Patients’ association in the public and private sphere have warned that it could lead to a loss of staff to take care of patients or residents in elderly care homes.