The general quarantine obligation after a positive corona test should soon be over in Hesse. According to Minister Klose, the step is justifiable in view of the infection situation and the health system.
Wiesbaden (dpa/lhe) – Hesse wants to significantly relax the quarantine requirements for people infected with corona. This was announced by the Ministry of Social Affairs in Wiesbaden on Friday. As a rule, sick people should no longer have to go into isolation at home. Baden-Württemberg, Bavaria and Schleswig-Holstein are also planning such a step. The countries said that a new phase was needed in dealing with the pandemic.
Instead of the general obligation to isolate for those who tested positive for Corona, for example, a limited obligation to wear a mask should take the place of the states. The new rules should come into force soon, the details are currently being worked out.
“As long as the currently dominant omicron virus is not replaced by a more pathogenic variant that could overload our health system, the step is responsible and necessary,” said Minister of Social Affairs Kai Klose (Greens). This step is made possible because many people in Germany have been vaccinated or have been infected.
Instead of the obligation to isolate, mandatory protective measures for infected people should take the place of people who are particularly at risk, for example in hospitals or old people’s and nursing homes, explained Klose.
According to the announcement, the federal states are citing experiences from neighboring countries such as Austria in their joint approach. No negative findings are known from these countries, it said.
The decreasing number of infections, the effective vaccination and a basic immunity within the population of more than 90 percent speak in favor of relaxing the obligation to isolate. The countries also pointed out that, as a rule, there were no more severe courses of the disease and that effective antiviral drugs were available.
