Several German states back away from lifting of virus measures

Berlin (dpa) – Tensions are rising along with infection figures in Germany as several states said on Tuesday that they were not yet ready to lift most of their coronavirus restrictions.

New legislation set to be debated by the Bundestag on Wednesday will mean that from Sunday, states can drop the obligation to wear masks in almost all areas of public life, apart from in hospitals, care homes and on public transport.

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

Health Minister Karl Lauterbach has proposed in the bill that states still have the power to reimpose restrictions – after approval by their regional parliaments – in so-called infection “hotspots.”

Several states have said that they intend to make use of a clause in the bill that allows for a transition period before lifting the restrictions. In Germany health policy is generally decided on a state level, rather than a national level.

Using a transition period would mean that the states are not obliged to drop the larger restrictions until April 2.

Leaders in the states of Bavaria, Baden-Württemberg, Thuringia, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern and Lower Saxony have said they plan to make use of the transition regulation.

According to dpa sources, the most populous state of North Rhine Westphalia is also going to use the transition period.

Over recent days, Lauterbach has been forced the defend his legislation in the face of criticism from the opposition and other groups.

Some medical associations have criticized the move to lift restrictions in general as a danger to public health.

Medical experts have questioned why masks would still be required on 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.

Lauterbach on Tuesday encouraged states to stop worrying about the weakening of their legal powers to fight the pandemic and start using the transition regulations and rules 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 deciding 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 1,585.4 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 Tuesday to present a vaccination certificate or risk not being able to work.

Patients’ associations 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.