A sign in front of a shop in Gelsenkirchen, Germany, tells people they can only enter if they are vaccinated or recovered from the virus

Germany's Health Minister Karl Lauterbach on Sunday warned against relaxing COVID restrictions too soon, as other European Union countries declare the pandemic over.

"Our strategy has worked well so far," Lauterbach told the Bild am Sonntag newspaper. "But if we loosen up too soon, we threaten our own success, risk creating new, dangerous infections and may prolong the [current] wave."

His comments were backed up by Vice Chancellor and Economic Affairs Minister Robert Habeck, who told the Funke media group newspapers: "Of course, we need a reopening plan, but the easing has to come at the right time."

Habeck added that the omicron wave has not yet been overcome and blamed the slightly lower vaccination rate in Germany, compared with other European countries. Germany recorded 133,173 new cases on Sunday and 41 new deaths. 

Several EU countries, including Sweden, Denmark, and Norway, have lifted all or most of their restrictions related to the pandemic.