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For those who have been completely vaccinated and recovered, the corona rules could be relaxed from the weekend.

The federal government passed a corresponding ordinance on Tuesday, as Federal Justice Minister Christine Lambrecht (SPD) said in Berlin.

For both groups, there should then no longer be any restrictions on contact and exit restrictions.

Vaccinated and convalescent people could then meet with other vaccinated persons and would not be counted when meeting unvaccinated persons in family or friends.

After traveling, they do not have to be quarantined - unless they are coming from a virus variant area.

In addition, they should be put on an equal footing with people with a negative test result.

The obligation to wear a mask in certain places and the distance requirement in public spaces should, however, continue to apply.

"The success of the vaccinations does not mean that we can be careless," emphasized Lambrecht.

The pandemic is not over yet and there is an individual residual risk even for those who have been vaccinated and those who have recovered.

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The Bundestag and Bundesrat still have to approve the new regulation, which should happen by Friday.

The regulation should already apply at the weekend, as Lambrecht explained.

She spoke of an important step towards normalcy.

In a constitutional state it must be clear that the restrictions are only possible with “good reason” in order to protect the life and health of others.

"As soon as this reason ceases to exist, it must be just as clear that this restriction can no longer be made." The positive development of the incidence figures "gives us hope that we are all on the right track," added the Justice Minister.

Approval of the countries likely

The federal government issues the ordinance on the basis of the new Infection Protection Act.

Several federal states have already implemented parts of this new regulation and put vaccinated people on an equal footing with those who tested negative.

They did not want to wait for the government coalition - also because court rulings on the federal emergency brake threatened.

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It is likely that the federal states will also support the rapid relaxation of the corona rules for vaccinated and convalescents planned by the federal government.

"I think that we will decide that on Friday in the Federal Council," said Prime Minister Winfried Kretschmann (Greens) on Tuesday in Stuttgart.

Nobody wants to stop this process now.

Kretschmann added: “These are not special rights.

We can no longer withdraw certain rights from these people if they are justified.

Even if the non-vaccinated feel unjust. ”The head of government also admitted that it was not easy for the authorities to distinguish between vaccinated and non-vaccinated people when it came to exit restrictions.

In the meantime, several federal states have announced that they will be cautiously opening up to tourism.

In Bavaria, hotels, holiday apartments and campsites in districts with a stable seven-day incidence of less than 100 should be allowed to open from May 21.

In addition, outdoor restaurants, theaters, concert and opera houses and cinemas may open in these districts from Monday under certain conditions.

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Lower Saxony also announced that it would open trade, gastronomy and tourism in regions with low infection rates under certain conditions.

"We are still very far from herd immunity"

However, there are also warnings against loosening too quickly.

Baden-Württemberg's Prime Minister Winfried Kretschmann (Greens) dampened hopes of traveling soon.

“I don't see that at first.

To do this, the incidences would have to go down drastically before we can consider something, ”said the Green politician of the German press agency.

Federal Minister of Health Jens Spahn (CDU) also urged caution.

"The numbers are falling, that's encouraging," he said.

Reducing contacts has proven successful, but it is too early to speak of a trend reversal.

The SPD health expert Karl Lauterbach also warned against a quick opening of restaurants and hotels.

It is true that it is "a necessary and good decision" to withdraw the restrictions on fundamental rights for vaccinated people.

“What is not possible is that shops or restaurants are only opened to those who are vaccinated.

That would lead to tensions that could hardly be endured, ”said Lauterbach on Deutschlandfunk.

A comprehensive control of openings is difficult and it is now important to ensure the proven success in combating the pandemic.

"We mustn't make the mistake of risking a quick, early relapse now," emphasized Lauterbach.

"We are still very far from herd immunity."