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German Parliament votes to end most COVID restrictions

Posted by (Duluth 🛶 ) on

Effective March 19, 2022, Germany is ending most of the Covid restrictions in place. This includes masking in most public places (masking still required in medical facilities and local public transport) and testing obligations (testing may still be required in medical facilities, schools, day care and other such places). There is a short transition period to allow states to begin with the new laws, so the current rules will remain in place for the next two weeks.

The obligation to wear masks in air and long-distance passenger transport will remain in force throughout Germany. Local governments may require more safety provisions if they are subject to Covid hot-spots but they do have to jump through some hoops to do so.

The new law will remain in effect until September 23, 2022 when it will be re-evaluated based on then-current statistics.

You can read a synopsis here at DW - https://www.dw.com/en/germany-lifts-most-covid-19-restrictions-after-difficult-compromise/a-61174654. I found the actual bill at the Bundestag website - it is in German but can be translated using Deepl - or you can send me a PM and I will email it to you. https://dserver.bundestag.de/btd/20/010/2001094.pdf

Posted by
80 posts

Local governments may require more safety provisions if they are subject to Covid hot-spots but they do have to jump through some hoops to do so.

Not only local governments. State Governments! And several states already made it clear they will do so. This will bring more insecurity what the rules are where.

The new law will remain in effect until September 23, 2022 when it will be re-evaluated based on then-current statistics.

Wishful thinking. The numbers of infections and hospitalizations are growing quickly and my guess is that we will see an earlier re-evaluation.

Posted by
6299 posts

Wishful thinking. The numbers of infections and hospitalizations are growing quickly and my guess is that we will see an earlier re-evaluation.

It's possible but if the trend follows last year, numbers will dip in the summer since many people are outside.

Posted by
14507 posts

Thanks for the updated information. Best to read the latest news on this in the original. I always wear the mask out and about anyway regardless of any mandate is in effect or not.

Posted by
1220 posts

Thanks for the updated info. We are transitioning through Munich in June on our way to Prague and I was confused about requirements. It said they didn't accept Janssen as a valid vaccine, which means my hubby and I would need to test even with a Pfizer booster I guess. Still trying to figure it out. Guess I'll give it a few weeks and check back.

Posted by
6299 posts

@Gary, thanks - the Munich link is nice since it puts it more in terms of things you can do now, rather than the more technical language of the new law. :)

@jlkelman, you should be fine by June. There will be no need to show a vaccine card in most public places (with some exceptions that most tourists will probably not be dealing with anyway). Read the article Gary posted as that explains it well in layman terms.

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