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Hanover (dpa / lni) - Prime Minister Stephan Weil (SPD) has defended the extensive continuation of the corona lockdown until March 7th.

If the new aggressive virus mutations did not exist, the current declining infection rate could have been expected to ease significantly, Weil said on Wednesday evening after the federal-state consultations.

Against the background of the increased risk of infection and spread of the mutants, the number of infections is still too high.

"Nobody has anything of a yo-yo effect - if we loosen up quickly and then run into a third wave just as quickly."

It remains to be seen whether Lower Saxony will be able to open schools further in March and expand the changeover model to other cohorts.

"With regular voluntary quick tests for teachers and educators, we want to further increase the safety in schools and day-care centers in Lower Saxony in the short term," announced Weil.

Lower Saxony will extend the previous Corona regulation with just a few reliefs on Saturday, February 13, said Weil.

Children up to six years of age should no longer be included in the contact restrictions, sales outlets for plants and flowers should be allowed to reopen, test drives in car and bicycle shops should be permitted.

Hairdressers should - this is the nationwide agreement - be allowed to reopen on March 1st.

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“I know that many of those affected by the current closings would have wished for faster openings,” admitted the Prime Minister.

"Reliable perspectives and points of orientation, such as those in Lower Saxony in its step-by-step plan, are better."

He therefore welcomes the fact that a safe and fair perspective strategy is to be worked out by the federal and state governments by the next meeting.

However, greater predictability should also be developed for any tightening that may be necessary again.

"In the event of a rapid increase in the number of infections caused by mutations, we have to apply the brakes earlier so that the braking distance does not become too long."

© dpa-infocom, dpa: 210210-99-388010 / 2