Bavaria's cabinet decided on Tuesday to lift the ban on spectators attending large events like football matches.
From Thursday onwards, a quarter of seats can be filled at big events - such as football games and major cultural events, head of the Bavarian state chancellory Florian Herrmann (CSU) said in Munich.
However, there are strict rules including that the number of spectators can't go over 10,000.
Admission will also be subject to the 2G-plus rule, meaning that only vaccinated/recovered people can attend and they have to either bring evidence of a negative Covid test or be boosted.
There will also be a ban on alcohol and people will be urged to keep a distance from others.
According to state health minister Klaus Holetschek (CSU), only seating will be allowed, not standing arrangements.
Before Christmas, the federal and state governments had agreed that major events should take place without spectators. However, this was not implemented across all states.
After Chancellor Olaf Scholz and state leaders failed to reach an agreement on this issue at the Covid crunch talks on Monday, Bavaria decided to go in its own way and allow fans into stadiums again.
KEY POINTS: How Germany will tackle latest phase of the Omicron wave
More capacity in culture
Cinemas, theatres and similar venues will be allowed to operate at 50 percent capacity instead of 25 percent.
Herrmann called the change in capacity a "moderate increase that can be well justified". At the same time, 2G-plus indoors will remain for cultural venues, while the state will stick to 2G entry for hospitality.
Most other German states have 2G-plus in the hospitality sector meaning that people who have been vaccinated or recovered from Covid have to show proof of their booster shot or a negative Covid test when going to a restaurant or bar.
Bavaria has already got rid of 2G in shops following a court ruling that said the regulation was not clear enough.
Changes to youth services and driving schools
The cabinet also said that unvaccinated pupils can attend youth services, as well as the vaccinated. Children and young people are regularly tested at school like no other population group, Hermann said.
Meanwhile, the 3G restriction will apply to exams and classes, as well as theory and practice lessons at driving schools. It means that unvaccinated people will also be able to attend if they have a negative test, as well as those who have vaccinated or have recovered.
It comes after the federal and state governments agreed to stick with the current Covid measures, with Chancellor Scholz saying it was important to stay on course.
READ ALSO: Germany to keep current Covid measures – but change testing strategy
However, as has been the case throughout the pandemic, German states tend to interpret agreements in their own way.
On Twitter, state leader Markus Söder said that the changes being implemented by Bavaria were to "adjust and simplify".
"But protection remains high with 2G-plus and FFP2 masks," he said. "Pupils can also make use of all the offers of youth work again thanks to regular school tests, because social participation is important."
Bavarian state ministers said the occupancy of intensive care beds by Covid-19 patients had dropped by 18 percent within a week. They said the situation would be monitored closely.
Comments (1)