Bahn: mask requirement in long-distance transport is eliminated – Lauterbach gives in – politics

The mask requirement in long-distance public transport should already fall on February 2nd. This was announced by Federal Minister of Health Karl Lauterbach (SPD). “We simply have to rely more on personal responsibility and voluntariness,” said Lauterbach, justifying the premature end with the high level of immunization in the population: “The pandemic situation has stabilized.”

At the same time, more and more countries want to drop the mask requirement in local transport. North Rhine-Westphalia, Lower Saxony, Hamburg and Bremen announced this step for the beginning of February on Friday. Bavaria, Saxony-Anhalt and Schleswig-Holstein have already undertaken it. Berlin, Brandenburg, Thuringia, Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, Saxony and Baden-Württemberg have already decided to lift it by the beginning of February at the latest.

With a view to the hospitals, Minister of Health Lauterbach said: “The situation is tense, but manageable there.” In addition, no more winter waves are to be expected and there are no particularly dangerous virus variants on the way.

According to the Infection Protection Act, the obligation to wear a mask in long-distance traffic should last until April 7th. However, the federal government can suspend the measure in whole or in part by statutory order. In consultation with the federal states, he also decided to suspend the obligation to wear masks on trains, said Lauterbach. “But it’s still the case that I appeal to the population to continue to voluntarily wear a mask indoors and also on the trains.” Although the pandemic is entering the endemic phase, everyone is well advised to wear the mask to protect themselves and others. After February 2nd, the mask requirement only applies in clinics, nursing homes, medical practices and other health facilities.

The demands for an early end to the mask requirement have recently become louder, within the federal government the FDP in particular insisted on it. Federal Transport Minister Volker Wissing said on Wednesday that the end had to come “as soon as possible”. He had also referred to the burdens on the railway staff due to the controls. Deutsche Bahn had also spoken out in favor of an early end to the mask requirement. Similar to air transport, long-distance trains should also be voluntary.

Free corona tests no longer for “free testing” in the future

While the mask requirement will no longer apply at the beginning of February, the range of free corona citizen tests will be further restricted in the coming week. Rapid tests to “test yourself free” after an infection with a certificate should no longer be free from January 16th. The Federal Ministry of Health announced that the test regulation should be changed accordingly.

The background to this is the relaxation of the rules for isolation and quarantine in several federal states. There is therefore no longer any need to finance tests to end isolation from federal funds – especially given that the federal states and municipalities have already received significant financial support during the pandemic.

However, medical personnel who have to be tested before resuming work are still entitled to a free quick test, as the ministry explained. In general, “citizen tests” from test centers remain free until February 28, including for everyone before visits to clinics and nursing homes.

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