COVID: Germany set to approve curbs on unvaccinated

COVID vaccine mandate starting end of February

Chancellor Angela Merkel and her successor Olaf Scholz are holding talks with state leaders, as Germany battles a fourth wave of COVID-19 infections. Vaccine mandates and curbs for hotspots are on the table, Qazet.az reports citing DW.

Acting German Chancellor Angela Merkel and Chancellor-designate Olaf Scholz are holding talks on Thursday with state leaders to agree new measures to curb a dramatic spike in coronavirus cases.

Unvaccinated people could soon be barred from access to almost all businesses, except for grocery stores and pharmacies, as leaders seek to avoid a return to a wider lockdown.

A draft agreement reported on by German media shows a host of measures could soon be implemented.

Federal and state leaders are expected to agree the following measures according to the draft:

• COVID vaccine mandate starting end of February
• Contact restrictions for unvaccinated individuals
• Entrance to shops, restaurants, museums and movie theaters will be restricted only to vaccinated or recovered people.
• Additional tests for those who are vaccinated could also be required
• Capping mass events outdoors to 15,000 people
• Capping indoor events to only 30% of the building's capacity
• Clubs would be required to close in areas where the incidence rate is over 350
• Mask mandate in schools

The major sticking points concern implementing a vaccine mandate, as well as how much to curb the number of participants at large events.