Four federal states have agreed to lift the obligation to isolate people infected with the corona virus.
These are Baden-Württemberg, Bavaria, Hesse and Schleswig-Holstein, as the ministry announced on Friday.
In these countries, new regulations should come into force "soon", the details are currently being worked out.
The Hessian Ministry of Social Affairs announced on Friday in Wiesbaden that those who are ill usually no longer have to go into isolation at home.
Baden-Württemberg, Bavaria and Schleswig-Holstein are also planning such a step.
The countries announced that a new phase was necessary in dealing with the pandemic.
Instead of the general obligation to isolate for those who have tested positive for Corona, for example, there should be a limited obligation to wear a mask.
The new rules should come into force soon, the details are currently being worked out.
"As long as the currently dominant omicron virus is not replaced by a more pathogenic variant that could overload our health system, the step is responsible and necessary," said Hessian Minister of Social Affairs Kai Klose (Greens).
This step is made possible because many people in Germany have been vaccinated or have been infected.
Instead of the obligation to isolate, mandatory protective measures for infected people should take the place of people who are particularly at risk, for example in hospitals or old people’s and nursing homes, explained Klose.
According to the announcement, the federal states are citing experiences from neighboring countries such as Austria in their joint approach.
No negative findings are known from these countries, it said.
The decreasing number of infections, the effective vaccination and a basic immunity within the population of more than 90 percent speak in favor of relaxing the obligation to isolate.
The countries also pointed out that there are usually no longer any serious courses of the disease and that effective antiviral drugs are available.