(Adds Altmaier, Dehoga)

BERLIN, Feb 26 (Reuters) – German Economy Minister Peter Altmaier said on Friday he was confident that restaurants could be allowed to partially open soon so that outdoor dining on terraces and in beer gardens should be possible around the Easter weekend in early April.

Chancellor Angela Merkel and state leaders are expected to meet on March 3 to discuss a gradual easing of lockdown measures that are currently in place until at least March 7.

Restaurants, bars and entertainment venues have been shut since early November. A stricter lockdown from mid-December forced non-essential shops, services and schools to close as well. Factories and offices have remained open.

The lockdown has helped to push down infections and deaths since the start of the year. But worries over more transmissible variants of the virus and a third wave of infections persist, making it more difficult for leaders to ease restrictions.

Speaking after a meeting with the economy ministers of Germany’s 16 federal states, Altmaier said authorities still had to balance the need to contain the spread of the virus and the goal to avoid causing lasting damage to the economy.

Altmaier said he would discuss the demands of businesses with Merkel over the weekend to prepare a decision on how lockdown measures could be lifted.

“We expect a clear timetable with binding and comprehensible criteria as to when, what and how under what conditions is possible again,” said Guido Zoellick, head of the Dehoga association for hotels and restaurants.

“We do not accept a continuation of the policy according to the motto ‘You stay closed to keep the rest of the economy open’…”, Zoellick added.

The requirements for the opening steps should be defined uniformly and nationwide, Zoellick said, adding more speed in vaccinations and an effective rapid test strategy were needed. (Reporting by Michael Nienaber; Editing by Maria Sheahan and Steve Orlofsky)