A week before the next Corona summit: Several federal states relax - Lauterbach slows down

Created: 2022-02-08 17:04

By: Andreas Schmid

Speaks out against hasty easing: Federal Minister of Health Karl Lauterbach (SPD).

© Bernd Elmenthaler/Imago Images

Karl Lauterbach does not want to know anything about rapid relaxation of the corona virus.

A week before the next summit, the federal states started a parallel easing offensive.

Munich – In Germany, the relaxation of the corona virus has been discussed intensively for days.

Several federal states are now pushing forward - and are already setting the course for the future course of pandemic policy a week before the next federal-state meeting on February 16th.

The Minister of Health is less offensive.

Corona loosening: Bavaria's "entry into the exit" - Söder relaxes

Bavaria's Prime Minister Markus Söder * announced extensive easing for the Free State on Monday.

The incidence is high (Tuesday: 1819.1), but “no longer the indicator.” Hospitalization is more important.

The health system is currently not threatened with overload.

"Entering the exit" therefore makes sense, according to the CSU boss.

He therefore wanted to promote a “gentle and controlled opening”.

In concrete terms, this means: omission of the curfew, 3G for body-related services such as the hairdresser (previously 2G), 15,000 spectators at sporting events (previously 10,000), cultural utilization of 75 percent.

The new Bayern rules at a glance.

Bavaria's Prime Minister Markus Söder (CSU) relaxes in the Free State.

© Sven Hoppe/dpa/archive image

Corona: Relaxation in Baden-Württemberg is being prepared - Günther gives way in Kiel

There are also initial tendencies towards rule adjustments from Baden-Württemberg.

The government around Prime Minister Winfried Kretschmann (Greens) wants to adapt the measures for major events, gastronomy and schools.

As was heard in advance, more spectators are to be allowed in sports and culture again.

In addition, 2G should only apply if the corona situation is tense.

This is currently not the case.

In Baden-Württemberg, the Greens govern together with the CDU.

Daniel Günther, Prime Minister of Schleswig-Holstein, also spoke cautiously about easing.

The CDU politician spoke out in favor of the states being able to relax the corona rules independently of one another.

Günther told the 

that Schleswig-Holstein will work at the next MPK to continue along the path taken back to normality .

"This can also mean different speeds in the countries due to the different vaccination rates." The native of Kiel is setting the direction to a certain extent: easing yes, but apparently no uniformity.

Corona: Numerous federal states are phasing out the 2G rule in retail

The first adjustments will be made as early as Wednesday (February 9), when the 2G rule in retail in Schleswig-Holstein expires.

The same applies to SPD-governed Brandenburg.

On Saturday, corresponding regulations will also come into force in the SPD states of Hamburg and Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, and the 2G rule in retail is also to be lifted shortly in Bremen - but FFP2 masks remain mandatory everywhere.

For Berlin, the Governing Mayor Franziska Giffey (SPD) announced on Tuesday that the 2G rule in retail would expire on February 18. 

In Hesse, customers no longer need proof of vaccination or recovery when shopping since Monday.

Previously, several federal states had already withdrawn the 2G rule in retail due to court decisions, such as Bavaria, Lower Saxony and Saarland.

In Saxony-Anhalt, on the other hand, 2G still applies in retail, while 3G largely applies in Thuringia and Saxony. 

Corona loosening: Lauterbach warns – “The situation is not really under control yet”

Federal Health Minister Karl Lauterbach (SPD) does not believe the time has come to relax the corona measures.

"The situation is not really under control yet," said Lauterbach on Tuesday at a joint press conference with RKI President Lothar Wieler*.

The seven-day incidence of new corona infections reached another high on Tuesday at 1441.0.

If it were to be relaxed too quickly, "then we would lengthen the wave significantly," he said - and asked for patience.

He expects noticeable loosening before Easter.

Lauterbach warned: “We have far too many deaths to mourn” and made it clear: “With the current measures we are able to keep the wave under control.

Quick easing would not allow the wave to flatten out quickly.

That's why a discussion about quick openings is out of place. ”But that discussion already seems to be in full swing.

And on top of that, the latest Union statements added the chapter on compulsory care vaccination.