Digital Desk: With Germany likely to join other countries in loosening restrictions that have disturbed life in the area for the past two years, Europe appears to be putting the plague behind.
According to a plan prepared by Chancellor Olaf Scholz's office for a meeting with regional leaders on Wednesday (February 16), most of Germany's Covid-19 limitations would be pulled back in three stages by March 20.
Austria and Switzerland are considering similar measures, and the Netherlands stated late Tuesday that restrictions on people and enterprises would be lifted beginning Friday.
Once the epicenter of the crisis, Europe attempts to return to some normalcy. Even if infection rates in some nations stay near peak levels, the transition is aided by relatively high vaccination rates and milder symptoms associated with the Omicron form.
France, which has been more aggressive in lifting rules than laggards like Germany, could go even further in mid-March by relaxing mask requirements and requiring confirmation of immunization, according to Health Minister Olivier Veran.
"The wave could be over in roughly two weeks if the trend continues," he remarked on France Info radio. "We might be able to return to something resembling normalcy."
The outbreak in Germany has begun to subside in recent days, prompting calls from across the political spectrum for the EU's largest economy to follow the lead of countries like the United Kingdom, Ireland, and Denmark in loosening restrictions.
Officials in Germany, on the other hand, are wary. According to the government's proposal, masks and social separation are still required in public settings and on public transportation.
The chancellery draught warns of the risk of a new wave brought on by new varieties "at the very least by the fall."
Officials also reiterated their urgent appeal to Germany's millions of vaccine skeptics to receive Covid-19 vaccinations and boosters.
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