Extensive relaxations in the Corona policy are emerging ahead of the federal-state round on Wednesday. A draft resolution for the video conference between Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD) and the state premiers outlines a three-stage relaxation plan. At the end of it is the lifting of "all far-reaching protective measures" effective March 20.

According to the draft, the federal government plans to allow larger gatherings of vaccinated and recovered people again as a first step; the current limit of ten people is to be dropped. In addition, an end to the 2-G restrictions in the retail sector is planned.

From March 4 onwards, the 3-G rule is to apply again in restaurants, so that unvaccinated people with a negative test would also have access again. For nightclubs, the 2-G-plus rule is to apply. For large events, there will be capacity restrictions both indoors and outdoors. From March 20, all deep measures should then fall - except for the mask requirement. However, the paper is only preliminary; drafts often differ significantly from the decisions that actually take place. So whether the relaxations will actually be so extensive is an open question - especially since there are fundamentally different views of the Corona policy in the traffic light coalition: The FDP is aggressively pushing for relaxation, while SPD Health Minister Karl Lauterbach remains cautious.

This is also evident in the planned compulsory vaccination. Attempts are currently being made to make a joint draft out of the two drafts for compulsory vaccination that have a chance of gaining a majority in the Bundestag. However, one proposal provides for compulsory vaccination for all people from the age of 18, the other only from the age of 50.

In the SPD, the focus is increasingly shifting to pushing through some form of mandatory vaccination at all, in order to be prepared for the event of a new wave in the fall. The SPD leadership said it was prepared to compromise.

SPD party leader Saskia Esken praised on Monday remarkably clearly the Union faction, which has presented a step model. It includes the establishment of a vaccination register, a targeted vaccination campaign and - should the situation require it - compulsory vaccination, which should be implemented first for particularly vulnerable groups. In Eskens' view, the CDU and CSU have thus embarked on a "constructive path". According to information from the SZ, they are prepared to move strongly toward the CDU/CSU, but a vaccination requirement only on a stockpile basis would not suffice in the end.

The majority of the Green Party prefers compulsory vaccination from the age of 18, but they do not want to close their minds to a compromise, they say. Ricarda Lang, the designated party leader, said that a step-by-step plan with uniform national criteria is needed so that there is "planning security and protection of confidence" for citizens.

Photo by Niklas Ohlrogge