German Ethics Council advises against lifting restrictions for vaccinated people

The German Ethics Council has advised against lifting coronavirus restrictions for vaccinated individuals, saying it considers it wrong. The matter has been subject to debate recently, with Germany’s Foreign Minister calling for special privileges for vaccinated people.

Ethics Council calls for restrictions to remain

The German Ethics Council comes out against lifting the country’s coronavirus restrictions for people who have been vaccinated. The chairwoman of the Council, Alena Buyx, said in a meeting in Berlin that there is little research done into whether vaccinated people can still spread the virus and so “vaccinated people should still be expected to follow rules such as wearing a mask or keep their distance.” Buyx also voiced her disdain for the term “privileges,” saying it was imprecise and had caused unnecessary frustration.

The debate over whether restrictions should be lifted for people who have been vaccinated against the coronavirus has grown more intense in Germany recently, with Foreign Minister Heiko Maas (SPD) calling for special privileges for vaccinated people back in January. However, Interior Minister Horst Seehofer (CSU) has argued against this, saying that it could cause a split in society.

Chancellor Angela Merkel (CDU) has not explicitly stated her opinion but has warned that those who chose not to take the vaccine once it became widely available might not be able to "do specific things" in society.

Council calls for clarity

The German Ethics Council also called for clarity regarding government regulation and requirements for organisations. Buyx used the example of a concert hall to explain that if they were allowed to reopen, organisers could decide on whether only vaccinated people were allowed to enter. "But this would not result in everyone who enters the concert hall requiring a vaccination," Buyx said, suggesting that coronavirus tests could be used as an alternative.

The Council also opposed offering professional athletes participating in international competitions early access to vaccinations.