Fig. 1

Development of the COVID-19 pandemic based on the incidence rate for East and West Germany in 2020 and 2021. First lockdown (Phase 1) = primarily contact restrictions in private life, travel restrictions, and closure of schools, gastronomy, retail, service sector, cultural institutions (e.g., museums, cinemas, concerts), and social sports facilities; Partial lockdown (Phase 2) = mainly contact restrictions in private life and closure of gastronomy, cultural institutions, and social sports facilities; Second Lockdown (Phase 3) = restrictions similar to first lockdown; Partial easing of measures (Phase 4) = gradual loosening of restrictions depending on the local incidence rate primarily regarding schools, gastronomy, retail, service sector, and cultural institutions. Source: [20, 22, 24, 25], own calculation