The neighbors to the north have already done it, the British anyway.

At the beginning of February, Denmark was the first country in the European Union to decide to end almost all corona measures in the middle of the omicron wave.

The country followed the example of Great Britain, which had already declared “Freedom Day” last July, before further measures such as the obligation to wear masks indoors were taken in January.

Kim Bjorn Becker

Editor in Politics.

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And Germany?

The calls for the corona measures to be relaxed soon could not be ignored - they came from the highest level.

Federal Minister of Health Karl Lauterbach (SPD) told the "Bild" newspaper that the omicron wave had now "passed" its peak.

The nationwide seven-day incidence fell on Wednesday for the fourth day in a row, most recently from 1437 to 1401.

Lauterbach says he "fully supports" the proposals

Today Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD) and the heads of government of the federal states are discussing how to proceed in the fight against Corona.

And as can be seen from a draft resolution for the meeting, which reflects the status of the discussion on Tuesday evening, the federal and state governments could decide on far-reaching easing this Wednesday, which in the worst case should represent no less than the German "Freedom Day".

If the proposed resolution is essentially accepted, the corona measures should gradually be phased out, so that all far-reaching restrictions in connection with the corona pandemic could be lifted by March 20th.

The home office obligation should then no longer exist either.

The date is not chosen at random.

Up to this date, it is possible for the federal states to adopt corona measures on the basis of the Infection Protection Act - if they still intend to do so afterwards, the Bundestag would have to change the law accordingly.

However, several federal states have already signaled that they would certainly like to continue to be able to protect their citizens from the virus - if necessary, mind you, in the coming autumn and winter, when experts assume that the numbers will rise again after an expected bear market in summer rise.

Specifically, the draft resolution provides that private meetings for vaccinated and recovered people will be possible again in larger groups, without limiting the number of participants.

For unvaccinated people who have not recovered from an infection, the restrictions will continue to apply until the end of March.

Everyone should also have full access to retail again without the need for further controls.

Only masks should continue to be worn.

From March 4th, the 3-G model - it includes vaccinated, recovered and tested - will regulate access to the catering trade, the same applies to hotels.

Discotheques and clubs, affectionately referred to as “dance merrymaking” by the federal and state governments, should be open under 2-G-Plus conditions, i.e. for those who have been vaccinated three times or for those who have been vaccinated twice with a current test – and the thresholds for visitor numbers should also be raised for major events , before all significant restrictions are lifted by the end of March.

Health Minister Lauterbach said that he "fully supports" these suggestions, but only these. "But nothing more, so as not to risk another increase." The Rhineland-Palatinate Prime Minister Malu Dreyer (SPD) called for coordinated action by the federal states It is very important that we agree on uniform nationwide regulations," she told the newspapers of the Funke media group.

"I think simple gradual easing is right." However, Corona is "not over yet". The plans are also supported in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania.