BERLIN: The German government on Wednesday introduced a legal framework for rules and regulations for the pandemic. Most of the country’s current coronavirus restrictions are due to end by March 20.
The country’s health and justice ministers said that if German lawmakers pass the framework, the country’s 16 state legislatures could adopt new “hot spot” measures if virus cases rise again in some regions, if the case for COVID-19 Patients are at risk of becoming heavy if there is a risk of hospitalization. , , or if new types of virus begin to spread.
The rules include mask requirements, social distancing, and the need for proof of vaccination, illness recovery or testing negative in order to be able to participate in certain parts of public life.
The framework allows state governments to implement basic protective measures, such as making masks mandatory in nursing homes, hospitals or public transport, without a special parliamentary resolution.
Nationwide, masks will remain mandatory on long-distance trains and flights.
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and the country’s state governors last month backed a three-phase plan to end many of the remaining virus restrictions by March 20.
Shopkeepers are again allowed to enter non-essential shops without vaccination or proof of recovery from COVID-19. Rules for visiting restaurants and bars were also eased, and the limit on private gatherings of vaccinated people was removed.
New cases of this virus have been reported in Germany in recent days. Health offices reported 215,854 new cases on Wednesday, up from 186,406 a week earlier, according to the country’s disease control agency.
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