The decision to ban spectators from the Tour de Ski events in Oberstdorf is a consequence of Covid infection rates skyrocketing in Germany, according to Nordic Mag.  

Germany with about 90 million inhabitants recorded more than 52,000 new Covid cases on Tuesday, and 270 new Covid deaths. In order to avoid overrunning the health care system, the German government is now imposing harsh restrictions to regain control of the pandemic. Berlin has already moved to a virtual lockdown for the unvaccinated.   

The health authorities are only allowing arenas and stadiums to be filled to maximum 30 percent of capacity. The measure is a meant to discourage organizers from putting on events and causing more spread of the virus.  

The new restrictions have already resulted in the popular biathlon event “Biathlon auf Schalke” being cancelled. Several other organizers have also cancelled their events.