In view of the stable situation in the clinics and the trend towards falling infections, Hesse will continue to relax the corona rules from Friday.

More participants and spectators are being admitted to events again.

A maximum of 25,000 people can be there outdoors and a maximum of 6,000 people indoors.

The 3G rules apply (vaccinated, recovered or tested), from 500 people the 2G plus rule (basically only vaccinated and recovered, only boosted people are allowed in without an additional test).

A further easing step provides that unvaccinated people with a negative test can go back to restaurants, pubs and hotels.

The 3G regulation therefore applies there.

The specifications for the interior areas of the catering trade are currently still 2G plus.

In the future, 3G proof will also be sufficient for visiting fitness studios, indoor swimming pools, zoos, amusement parks and castles, as well as for body-related services.

Discotheques and clubs are also allowed to reopen with the 2G-plus rule for indoor areas, with a capacity limit of 60 percent.

Masks are no longer compulsory in schools

With the lifting of the mask requirement in the classroom, Hesse’s Minister of Education Alexander Lorz (CDU) wants to give the students “tangible relief” in the corona pandemic.

The omicron wave had broken, the number of infections and quarantines in schools had dropped significantly.

"That's why we're giving the children and young people back a piece of freedom," said the minister.

The obligation to wear masks in the square is to be abolished in the schools from Monday.

Since the beginning of the year, students in Hesse’s schools have carried out an average of more than 2.1 million antigen self-tests for the corona virus every week.

The rate of positive tests peaked at 0.65 percent (14,500 tests) at the beginning of February, as the ministry announced.

At that time, around 27,500 children and young people were in quarantine.

Since then, the rate of positive antigen self-tests has fallen to 0.28 percent (6,200 tests), and the number of schoolchildren in quarantine has fallen to 7,800 children and adolescents in the same period, as the ministry explained.

Of course, the lifting of the mask requirement does not mean that children and young people are no longer allowed to wear a mask in class, Lorz added.

“Anyone who feels safer with a mask can of course continue to wear it.” The obligation to test will remain in place for the time being: all non-vaccinated schoolchildren must be tested three times a week until further notice.

Vaccinated or recovered children and adolescents may also be tested.