A week of cautious easing is supposed to bring back some freedoms to citizens. The hairdressers will open for the first time on Monday. Above all, the economy wants a much faster pace.
Berlin (dpa) - A week ago with further easing in the Corona crisis, Chancellor Helge Braun prepared the population for a phase of unequal treatment.
With the gradual opening of everyday life "there can not always be absolute equality in all areas of society, because our approach is gradual," said the CDU politician of the "Welt am Sonntag". Every single step is considered. From Monday, hairdressers should be allowed to open for the first time in weeks. The schools are also supposed to reopen to some of the students.
HAIRDRESSERS: The hairdressers in Germany had been forced to close since March 23, and may open again at the beginning of the week. There are requirements for hygiene, protective equipment and access to the salons so that there is no crowding.
SCHOOLS: Classroom instruction in the school building is initially only planned for individual classes. In some federal states, the final grades of elementary schools and pupils for whom final exams are scheduled for the next school year are now coming back. Clearance regulations and hygiene requirements apply everywhere.
RELIGION AND CULTURE: Services have been possible again since the long weekend of May 1st. The first public service since March 14th was held in Cologne Cathedral on Sunday. Only 122 participants were allowed to sit on the pews at a distance of two meters. Museums and galleries can also open in many places under hygiene requirements.
Recently, calls for a lifting of the measures or at least a concrete roadmap for it have become increasingly louder, especially from the economy, which fears massive damage. Chancellor Angela Merkel (CDU) and the heads of government of the federal states want to discuss further easing on Wednesday. Suggestions for the gradual further opening of schools, childcare offers and the gradual resumption of sports activities are then put on the table.
Federal Interior Minister Horst Seehofer praised the crisis management. "Angela Merkel is currently leading Germany through the crisis very strongly," said Seehofer of the "Bild am Sonntag". According to Seehofer, there is even a discussion behind the scenes of a possible fifth term for the Chancellor: "I cannot deny that I have heard the idea more recently."
Foreign Minister Heiko Maas campaigned for prudence in lifting global travel warnings valid until June 14. "If people can not only fly abroad again, but also come back with sufficient security, then we can gradually reduce the travel warning," the SPD politician told the newspapers of the Funke media group.
Saxony-Anhalt, which is less affected by corona infections than most other federal states, has announced a relaxation of contact restrictions at the beginning of the week. From Monday onwards, up to five people are allowed to travel together, even if they do not live in one household. The Rhineland-Palatinate Interior Minister Roger Lewentz criticized the procedure. "I find it a little strange. There was a conversation this week, there will be a conversation with all the Prime Ministers next week with the Chancellor," he said "SWR Aktuell Rheinland Pfalz". "This is a very close clocking, you don't have to go out in between."
In the opinion of the Prime Minister of Baden-Württemberg Winfried Kretschmann, the successes in containing the corona virus also harbor the risk of a new wave of infections. He assumes that fatigue effects occur, said the Greens politician of the German Press Agency. "It's just human." Baden-Württemberg dares to take further steps back to normal after a few weeks of the so-called lockdown. Among other things, playgrounds, museums and zoos should be allowed to open again next week, as the State Ministry said.
The cafes, pubs and restaurants that have been closed for weeks because of the corona pandemic should, according to the will of Saxony's Minister of Economic Affairs Martin Dulig, quickly have clarity when they can open again. If the development of the infection numbers allows, he suggests opening the outside areas under strict conditions for May 15, said the SPD politician of the German Press Agency. Dulig wants to suggest May 15 to his prime minister with a view to the next federal-state branch on Wednesday. Saxony-Anhalt's state government announced May 22nd as the opening day for the state's gastronomy.
