German Foreign Minister Backs Lifting COVID-19 Restriction For Vaccinated People
Mohammad Ali (@ChaudhryMAli88) Published January 17, 2021 | 02:30 PM
MOSCOW (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 17th January, 2021) German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas said in an interview that people inoculated against COVID-19 should be allowed to return to public life.
"Vaccinated people should be able to exercise their basic rights again," Maas said, speaking to German tabloid Bild. "If there are only vaccinated people in a restaurant or a cinema, they can no longer endanger each other."
Maas' position contradicts the government's stance that restriction measures should be lifted or imposed for all citizens equally regardless of vaccination status, arguing against creating social divisions. Maas maintained that such a reality would be temporary in a prospective transition period.
"Yes, it will lead to inequalities in a transitional period, but as long as there is an objective reason, it is constitutionally justifiable," Maas argued.
The diplomat argued that although the science is not yet clear on how whether vaccinated individuals can possibly spread the coronavirus, they are surely not likely to be burdensome on the health care system.
Maas added that such selective easing of measures can also be respite to restaurants and small business owners battered by the pandemic.
Germany's strict lockdown was imposed in mid-December and is set to last through late January. Chancellor Angela Merkel is set to discuss extending the lockdown next week, with the number of new daily cases still in the tens of thousands.
Germany's vaccination campaign is underway in full force as the overall infections have exceeded the two million mark. Over 47,000 COVID-19 deaths have been registered in the country.
Related Topics
Recent Stories
Sindh home minister chairs law and order meeting
Bakht Kakar orders to ensure maximum facilities in livestock sector
NEPRA concludes hearing into FCA of DISCOs for March
Junta-led Burkina Faso suspends BBC, Voice of America for two weeks
Chairman COPHC lauds MoMA’s efforts at Gwadar Port, Free Zone
CM’s aide directs steps to prevent domestic violence against women
LESCO detects 74,621 power pilferers in 220 days
Regional Police officer (RPO) Shariq Kamal Siddiqui holds open court
LESCO collects over Rs 4.36m from 189 defaulters in 24 hours
Secretary health urges public to follow precautionary measures to avoid spreadin ..
PM directs formation of committee for consultation with provinces on carbon cred ..
UAF to ink MoU with Ethiopian universities
More Stories From World
-
Junta-led Burkina Faso suspends BBC, Voice of America for two weeks
40 minutes ago -
Romania court opens way for start of influencer Tate's trial
1 hour ago -
Kenya flood death toll since March climbs to 70
1 hour ago -
At least 10 people killed in Brazil fire: officials
1 hour ago -
Russia targets Ukraine railways as Western aid due to arrive
2 hours ago -
Miner Anglo American rejects BHP's near $39-billion takeover bid
2 hours ago
-
At least 10 people killed in Brazil fire: officials
2 hours ago -
Junta-led Burkina Faso suspends BBC, Voice of America for two weeks
2 hours ago -
Saudi to host top Arab, EU diplomats for Gaza talks: officials
2 hours ago -
Kenya flood death toll since March climbs to 70: govt
2 hours ago -
US Fed's favored inflation measure accelerates in March
3 hours ago -
Kenya flood death toll since March climbs to 70: govt
3 hours ago