Endoscope with a contamination protection device comprising - a shaft which defines a longitudinal axis and which has, positioned at its tip, a sideways directed optics, a lighting and/or a jet nozzle, - a grip piece adjacent to a cranial end of the shaft opposite to the tip, - a single- or multi-layered sheath which tightly encloses at least the shaft and which is closed at a distal end that covers the shaft tip, wherein the sheath is transparent at least in the region of the optics and the lighting, wherein the sheath closes the shaft and its tip at the distal end of the endoscope in a germ-tight manner, and the distal end of the sheath comprises a cap, which is plugged on after the sheath has been slipped over the shaft and is connected in a germ-tight manner with an open end of the sheath, wherein the cap - sheaths the tip in a germ-tight manner at least on a rear side of the tip which is opposite to the optics and, if applicable, an Albarran-lever, and - has a cutout which leaves open at least the optics and the lighting means and which is covered by a coverage made of a firm, elastic, transparent and germ-proof material that is connected to the cap in a germ-tight manner along an entire circumference of the cutout, characterized in that the coverage is penetrated by a tube that is placed inside a working channel of the endoskope and is connected to the tube at the penetration location in a solid and germ-tight manner. - a shaft which defines a longitudinal axis and which has, positioned at its tip, a sideways directed optics, a lighting and/or a jet nozzle, - a grip piece adjacent to a cranial end of the shaft opposite to the tip, - a single- or multi-layered sheath which tightly encloses at least the shaft and which is closed at a distal end that covers the shaft tip, wherein the sheath is transparent at least in the region of the optics and the lighting, wherein the sheath closes the shaft and its tip at the distal end of the endoscope in a germ-tight manner, and the distal end of the sheath comprises a cap, which is plugged on after the sheath has been slipped over the shaft and is connected in a germ-tight manner with an open end of the sheath, wherein the cap - sheaths the tip in a germ-tight manner at least on a rear side of the tip which is opposite to the optics and, if applicable, an Albarran-lever, and - has a cutout which leaves open at least the optics and the lighting means and which is covered by a coverage made of a firm, elastic, transparent and germ-proof material that is connected to the cap in a germ-tight manner along an entire circumference of the cutout, - sheaths the tip in a germ-tight manner at least on a rear side of the tip which is opposite to the optics and, if applicable, an Albarran-lever, and - has a cutout which leaves open at least the optics and the lighting means and which is covered by a coverage made of a firm, elastic, transparent and germ-proof material that is connected to the cap in a germ-tight manner along an entire circumference of the cutout, characterized in that the coverage is penetrated by a tube that is placed inside a working channel of the endoskope and is connected to the tube at the penetration location in a solid and germ-tight manner.