German Chancellor Angela Merkel wants a staggered, three-stage plan to lift coronavirus restrictions linked to increased testing, she told a meeting of her Christian Democrats’ leadership committee, according to two participants.

Merkel wants to reopen parts of society starting with expanding the number of personal contacts, followed by schools and vocational colleges and thirdly sports groups, restaurants and culture, according to the participants.

Merkel told the meeting it was important that steps to lift restrictions did not lead to renewed setbacks by causing virus variants to spread further.