press reviews
End of many Corona rules
Germany is logically relaxing, “but it’s also clear…”: This is how the media look at the opening plans
More freedom in spring: Germany is reducing most of the corona measures (symbol image)
© Moritz Frankenberg / DPA
Gradually, but largely: the federal and state governments have agreed to relax the corona measures. That creates new challenges, commentators warn. The press reviews.
The number of infections is still high – but the political signs are now clearly pointing to relaxation. The federal and state governments lashed down a phased plan on Wednesday (which you can read here), although they are not yet giving the all-clear. Nevertheless: After months of corona restrictions in Germany, extensive easing is in sight in a good four weeks.
Commentators consider the opening steps to be logical, but also warn: Now the conditions must be created for the joy of freedom to last. The media echo.
“This is not a license to be careless”
“New Press” (Coburg): “But it is also clear that personal responsibility will be challenged in a completely new way in the future. Do I continue to wear a mask voluntarily in certain environments? Do I test myself before and after visits? Do I continue to limit my private meetings? The end of the restrictive state Containment policy is not a license to be careless.”
“Central German Newspaper” (Halle): “It would be wise to create the conditions now so that the joy of regained freedom is permanent. In order to be well prepared for the impending new corona waves in autumn and winter, we need a strong basic immunity in the population. In a country with so many old people, this requires a high vaccination rate. Here, Germany is still behind on its goals. (…) Since other methods have not worked sufficiently, the only remaining option is general vaccination.”
“Stuttgart Newspaper”: “Politicians must use the quieter time to expand the digital infrastructure in the healthcare system. This also applies to the personnel and qualitative staffing of the health authorities. A new normal will return. But it will be different than the time before the pandemic. “
“Rhein-Zeitung” (Koblenz): “The advantage that should not be underestimated is that with the abolition of the measures, there is a federal uniformity that was almost never present in this crisis. It is almost impossible to know what is still valid for whom in which federal state. The Most have given up long ago and only stick to the approximate.”
“Reutlinger Generalanzeiger”: “The restrictions have prevented worse things from happening. With the possibility of vaccination, the omicron variant and the warmer season, Corona is now losing much of its terror. It is therefore logical that Germany is gradually lifting most of the restrictions.”
“OM Media Group” (Vechta/Cloppenburg): “A great deal of normality is returning to the country. Whether the politicians decided to relax out of genuine conviction or under pressure from the citizens (…) or whether it was the result of the easing (.. .) in the neighboring countries – it doesn’t matter, in the end only the result counts. In any case, the fact is that there has long been no consensus among the federal and state governments on corona policy, despite the constant horror scenarios conjured up by Minister of Health Lauterbach.”