Thousands of people took to the streets of Germany on Monday in protest over COVID-19 restrictions that go into effect on Tuesday.
In Rostock, a city along the Warnow River on the north coast of the country, roughly 6,500 people demonstrated, while in Schwerin there were roughly 2,700 and in Neubrandenburg, around 2,400 people took to the streets to demonstrate.
“In Bautzen, Görlitz, Zittau, Weißwasser and Hoyerswerda, there are currently larger gatherings of people,” police wrote on Monday. “Our emergency services will inform them of the violation of the current Corona emergency regulations and ask them to leave the area,” officials said.
Police later said they were attacked during the demonstrations in Bautzen.
The Epoch Times has contacted police for comment.
Protests have broken out across Germany in recent weeks as residents face tighter restrictions amid a fifth COVID-19 wave driven by the Omicron variant.
Proof of vaccination is currently required by residents to enter nonessential stores after the government introduced a series of rules targeting those who have not yet had the shots, in an effort to get vaccination rates up.
Last week, Chancellor Olaf Scholz announced the latest measures in place, which include contact restrictions even for vaccinated people.
From Tuesday, Germans who are not vaccinated against COVID-19, also known as SARS-CoV-2, will only be allowed to meet up in groups of two, while those who have been recently vaccinated or recovered from COVID-19 can meet each other in groups of 10.
Nightclubs will also be closed ahead of the New Year and gyms, swimming pools, and cinemas—both indoors and outdoors—will be restricted in size as of Monday.
Many restaurants and cafes are also facing earlier closing times, while large events such as concerts and sports matches will be held without an audience as of Tuesday.
“This is no longer the time for parties and social evenings in big groups,” Scholz said.
Scholz and Germany’s 16 state governors will meet again on Jan. 7 to discuss whether the measures should remain in place or even be tightened.