Decision by the federal and state governments: three-stage plan for easing the measures decided

People in Germany can look forward to a spring without far-reaching corona restrictions: Most protective measures are to expire by March 20th, Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD) and the heads of government of the federal states agreed on this on Wednesday.

The restrictions should be gradually lifted in three stages over the next four and a half weeks, said Scholz.

The federal and state governments could now “open up optimistic prospects”.

"We can look ahead with more confidence than we have been able to in recent weeks," Scholz continued.

"Somehow, after all these long two years, we deserved that things somehow get better again - and it looks a bit like that's exactly what we have in front of us." After March 20th, everyday life will look like this, " that there are hardly any restrictions".

Scholz also promised to support the desire of the federal states that after March 20th there would be a legal basis for certain "basic protection measures" such as the obligation to wear a mask.

The federal government will take action here.

In a first easing step, contact restrictions for vaccinated and recovered people in the private sphere are to be lifted.

Access restrictions to retail are to be lifted - with the exception of the mask requirement.

This step is to be implemented by the countries in the coming days if they have not already done so.

Discotheques and clubs can reopen on March 4th

The second step will take effect nationwide on March 4th: Then the 3G regulation will again apply to gastronomy and hotel accommodation.

This means that the guests then have to prove vaccination or recovery - or present a daily test if they are not vaccinated and have not yet gone through an infection.

Discotheques and clubs are open to those who have recovered and those who have been vaccinated with a daily test or with a third vaccination, i.e. 2G Plus conditions. 

In a third step, from March 20th, all “more profound protective measures” will be eliminated.

The date falls on the beginning of spring.

It results from the Infection Protection Act: Because this currently only allows the protective measures for a limited period until March 19th.

A decision by the Bundestag would be required for an extension.

However, the federal and state governments do not currently consider this to be necessary.

Bundestag must create a new legal basis

However, according to the will of the federal states, certain “low-threshold basic protection measures” should also apply beyond the target date of March 20 – such as wearing masks on buses and trains or in closed rooms of public facilities.

The Bundestag still has to create a legal basis for this regulation.

Scholz promised to work for it.

For this he may still have to do some convincing with the coalition partner FDP: There are demands from the Liberals that the mask requirement should also be phased out.

Scholz made a commitment to this question: “We still need basic protection after March 20.” To this end, the federal government will make an amicable proposal and implement it in legislation.

Wüst: Connecting openings and mindfulness

North Rhine-Westphalia's Prime Minister Hendrik Wüst also urged this after the federal-state meeting: "We have to combine openings and mindfulness," said the CDU politician, who is currently chairman of the Prime Ministers' Conference (MPK).

The country is in a new phase of the pandemic.

But if the Bundestag “does not act actively, then all protective measures will expire on March 20th”.

The pandemic is not based on the calendar.

Therefore, not all measures should be thrown overboard.

"All countries therefore agree that we need basic protection to secure the openings." This included the obligation to wear masks, hygiene concepts, tests and distance rules.

Scholz sticks to compulsory vaccination

However, Scholz is still sticking to the goal of a general obligation to vaccinate.

Despite the easing planned for spring, it should not be forgotten that there will also be an autumn and a winter again, the Federal Chancellor warned.

Therefore, it remains right to prepare the legislation for a general vaccination requirement.

"It will be necessary exactly when the weather gets colder again." Most recently, the legislative process in the Bundestag had stalled.

Scholz also reminded at the press conference that the pandemic is not over.

Therefore, some basic protective measures must be maintained for the period after March 20th.

He will work to ensure that the necessary legal regulations are implemented in good time.