The southern German state has also imposed a lockdown on all districts that have a seven-day COVID incidence rate of over 1,000 per 100,000 people. In Saxony, a curfew for unvaccinated in hotspots is being imposed,
DW reports.
Bavaria announced on Friday that it's canceling all Christmas markets in the state because of soaring coronavirus infections.
The state government has also imposed a lockdown on all districts that have a seven-day COVID incidence rate of over 1,000 per 100,000 people.
In those places, bars, clubs and restaurants, as well as cultural and sport venues will be closed, said state Premier Markus Söder after a meeting of his Cabinet in Munich.
"The situation is very, very serious and difficult," he said, adding: "We have a clear goal: fighting corona, protecting people and protecting the health care system."
Schools and kindergartens, however, will remain open.
At present, eight districts in Bavaria have incidence rates of over 1,000.
Bavaria had a weekly incidence rate of 625.3 recorded infections per 100,000 people on Friday, according to the Robert Koch Institute infectious disease center, well above the nationwide figure of 340.7 - an all-time high for the country.
Söder said there will be a "de facto lockdown" for unvaccinated people by implementing the "2G" rule across the state - referring to the shorthand in Germany for a rule that allows freedoms like access to restaurants and hotels only to those who are either vaccinated or have recovered from COVID.
About 90% of COVID patients in hospitals are unvaccinated, Söder pointed out.
“Being unvaccinated is a real risk,” he emphasized, noting that unfortunately the vaccination rate in the south of the country is historically lower than in the north.
As per the new rules, the unvaccinated will lose access to even places like hairdressers, universities or adult education centers.
