A few days before the next round of federal and state governments on the corona situation, the focus of the debate is on possible relaxation of the measures.
The Prime Minister of Rhineland-Palatinate, Malu Dreyer (SPD), called for gradual easing from March, and similar statements came from Bavaria.
In contrast, the hospitals urged caution.
Meanwhile, new rules for corona tests came into force on Saturday, with free PCR tests in particular being restricted.
The nationwide seven-day incidence reached a new high of 1474.3.
Dreyer told the "Rheinische Post" that the forecasts indicated "that we will reach the peak of the omicron wave in mid-February".
Corona is not the end of the matter and caution is still required.
"But people rightly expect that we will then also relax."
Bavaria's Prime Minister Markus Söder (CSU) made a similar statement.
Fewer and clearer rules are needed, he tweeted.
In Germany there is now a "thicket of regulations".
The omicron variant is 90 percent less aggressive than other corona variants and the hospital numbers are stable.
"It would be inappropriate to ignore this." 2G in retail "no longer makes sense" and in gastronomy 2G is sufficient, he also told the "Rheinische Post".
Söder suggested that the opening steps should be based on the situation in the hospitals.
The incidence loses its meaningfulness and the hospitalization index is "difficult".
According to information from the “Business Insider” portal, the federal government is working on a phased plan to abolish almost all corona rules from March 19;
then the existing rules according to the Infection Protection Act would expire anyway.
The plan should therefore be based on the hospitalization rate and the occupancy of the intensive care units, but distance rules and the obligation to wear masks could apply for a while longer.
The CEO of the German Hospital Society (DKG), Gerald Gaß, told the "Rheinische Post" that the opening debate "must and should be conducted, but of course always with a sense of proportion". In particular, the normal wards continued to show increasing occupancy rates for corona patients always based on the infection situation.
Kassenärzte boss Andreas Gassen called for a “clear opening perspective”.
It's not about all restrictions having to be lifted immediately, he told the RND newspapers.
"A concrete schedule is needed as to when which opening steps should come - depending on the utilization of the intensive care units."
New rules for corona tests came into force at the weekend: free PCR tests will only be available after a positive antigen rapid test.
A red warning message on the app is no longer enough.
A rapid antigen test is sufficient for free testing, i.e. the premature termination of isolation or quarantine.
The aim of the new regulation is to avoid overloading the laboratories.