German minister Maas targets end to COVID-19 restrictions next month
Germany should lift all remaining coronavirus-linked social and economic curbs as soon as everyone has been offered a vaccine, Foreign Minister Heiko Maas was quoted as saying on Tuesday, suggesting that point should be reached next month.
Around 56.5 percent of people in Germany have received at least one dose and almost 39 percent are fully vaccinated, according to health ministry data.
Read the latest updates in our dedicated coronavirus section.
“When everyone in Germany has received a vaccine offer, there is no longer a legal or political justification for any kind of restriction,” Maas told the Sueddeutsche Zeitung.
For the latest headlines, follow our Google News channel online or via the app.
That should occur sometime during August, he added.
Chancellor Angela Merkel has previously said she wants to offer everyone in Germany a vaccine by September 21.
In January, Maas was the first German government minister to call for restrictions to be eased for vaccinated people and
suggested they should be allowed to visit the cinema or eat in restaurants. Other ministers opposed special exemptions for the
vaccinated.
Other countries are also considering how to exit restrictions imposed to prevent health systems becoming overwhelmed by COVID-19 cases.
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson set out plans on Monday to end restrictions in England in two weeks’ time, a test of
whether a rapid vaccine rollout offers enough protection from the highly contagious Delta variant.
Read more:
UK researchers discover new way to make future COVID-19 vaccines more effective
Japan to ship millions more COVID-19 vaccines to Taiwan, Asian neighbors this week
Self-isolation no longer required for double-jabbed, under 18s in UK from Aug 16
-
Germany seeks to ban British travelers from EU regardless of vaccine status: Report
Germany will attempt to ban British travelers from the European Union regardless of whether or not they have had a COVID-19 vaccine, The Times ... Coronavirus -
Germany calls for tougher EU travel rules to fight COVID-19 delta variant
The European Union needs a more unified approach on travel rules to ward off the spread of the more contagious delta variant of the coronavirus, ... Coronavirus -
Germany’s Merkel urges better EU coordination on COVID-19 travel rules
German Chancellor Angela Merkel said Tuesday ahead of this week’s EU summit that she hoped for better coordination on pandemic travel rules among the ... Coronavirus -
Germany’s Merkel receives Moderna COVID-19 dose after first dose of AstraZeneca
German Chancellor Angela Merkel received a Moderna coronavirus vaccine as her second jab, after getting AstraZeneca as the first, a spokesman said ... Coronavirus -
Germany demands that J&J make up COVID-19 vaccine gap in July
Germany’s health ministry on Sunday said Johnson & Johnson must deliver 6.5 million COVID-19 vaccine doses to Germany in July to make up for a ... Coronavirus -
Germany to lift travel warning for most countries from July, says FM Heiko Maas
Germany will lift its pandemic travel warning for most countries from July 1, Foreign Minister Heiko Maas said on Friday, ... Coronavirus