The federal and state health ministers want to make preparations for a more critical corona situation in autumn and winter.
A heavy wave must be expected, said Federal Minister Karl Lauterbach (SPD) on Thursday in Magdeburg after two days of consultations.
No finished concept has yet been presented on the controversial issue of continuing to offer free citizen tests.
A package should be presented, which he will finalize with Finance Minister Christian Lindner (FDP), said Lauterbach.
The Minister of Health emphasized that from his point of view, citizen tests were “absolutely necessary” even beyond the previous regulation until the end of June.
However, it is no longer necessary to do every citizen test, and tests without a reason should be restricted.
Lauterbach also referred to a requirement of the budget committee of the Bundestag that the federal states should participate in the financing, which was previously only borne by the federal government.
The chair of the state department heads, Petra Grimm-Benne (SPD) from Saxony-Anhalt, made it clear that the states saw no leeway for this.
With a view to the Corona provisions in the Infection Protection Act, which expire on September 23, she announced a special ministerial conference for July 1.
The report of a committee of experts to assess previous pandemic measures should also be presented on this day, as Lauterbach said.
He emphasized that the federal and state governments had agreed on “togetherness” in the consultations on necessary further protection rules.