The Bavarian cabinet actually only decided on Monday to extend the last remaining corona measures in the Free State until mid-February. But now the mask requirements that are still stipulated there should be over by the end of January. “The development of the corona pandemic is encouraging,” said Health Minister Klaus Holetschek (CSU). That is why Bavaria will drop the mask requirements under state law at the end of January 31: for people in communal accommodation and for employees in doctor’s offices and other outpatient medical facilities. “We have coordinated this intensively with the doctors in advance,” emphasized the minister.
Bavaria is thus repealing the last protective measures in its Corona Ordinance. Only state law exceptions to the nationwide compulsory testing in healthcare facilities remain in place.
Holetschek relies on personal responsibility
Holetschek made it clear that his ministry would continue to recommend wearing masks in certain situations. “But the times when the state had to order the measures will soon be over as things currently stand.” The low corona numbers showed “that personal responsibility and mutual consideration among the citizens work”.
The situation today is very different than at the beginning or in the middle of the pandemic: basic immunity in the population is high, people know how to protect themselves from infection. And if an infection does occur, the infection is usually symptomatic, but not severe.
The nationwide mask requirement continues to apply – the minister calls for an end
The state government has no influence on the nationwide corona regulations. The Infection Protection Act prescribes FFP2 mask requirements in nursing homes and hospitals until April 7th – as well as for patients and visitors to doctor’s offices and other outpatient medical facilities. In Holetschek’s opinion, this should end earlier: “The question arises as to whether these measures must be maintained until the beginning of April.”
The CSU politician emphasized that the mask requirement currently applies primarily in areas where infectious disease-trained staff work anyway. “Depending on the infection process, the decision as to where masks must continue to be worn should be placed in the hands of those who have their own expertise here – namely the facilities themselves.”
The Free State is setting a good example. Federal Health Minister Karl Lauterbach (SPD) was “convinced by good arguments” when the FFP2 mask requirement in long-distance transport was lifted from February 2nd. For Holetschek, this date would also be “a suitable time to suspend the remaining federal mask requirements”.