Status: 08.09.2022 05:43
On the plane without, on the train with you – the mask is also mandatory in medical practices and care facilities. The federal states can determine further corona measures according to the new Infection Protection Act. Today the Bundestag votes on it.
The mask will continue to accompany people in Germany into autumn, in some places. Health Minister Karl Lauterbach (SPD) and Justice Minister Marco Buschmann (FDP) agreed on this at least, despite their otherwise different views at the end of their long negotiations. And so this is now one of the central points of the new Infection Protection Act, as it is to be decided by the Bundestag today.
But because it is not clear to everyone, especially with the latest changes, why the mask should be worn here and not there, the Bundestag decision will continue to be accompanied by discussions.
FFP2 masks and tests remain mandatory in some areas
The law provides for nationwide rules that are to apply from October 1st. For this purpose, it defines various other measures that the federal states can decide depending on the infection process. There is a tightening for hospitals and care facilities. There, people nationwide not only have to wear an FFP-2 mask, they also have to be able to show a negative test. FFP2 masks are now also mandatory in medical practices and other outpatient medical facilities.
Mask on long-distance trains, but no longer on the plane
In long-distance traffic, there were changes in the last few meters before the vote. According to the law, travelers still have to wear masks on long-distance trains – but not on commercial flights. “On international flights, masks are hardly ever worn anymore,” said Health Minister Karl Lauterbach. Lufthansa has also repeatedly emphasized that the anti-corona measure is no longer enforceable. “That’s why we are now reducing ourselves to those areas in Germany where this is possible,” said the minister. The risk of becoming infected on buses and trains is also higher.
The respective federal states decide how this is regulated in local public transport, but according to the Infection Protection Act they have the option of imposing a mask requirement there.
Countries decide on mask requirements
As far as the mask requirement indoors is concerned, however, the countries do not have all the freedom to decide, because the law stipulates exceptions. For example, the governments of the countries can make masks compulsory indoors, but must allow an exemption from this in facilities such as restaurants, cultural and sports facilities. Namely, if the visitors can present a current negative test. But countries can also allow vaccination or recovery as a substitute for testing.
The federal states can also make masks and tests compulsory at secondary schools. Primary schools are exempt from the mask requirement by law. Comprehensive school closures should no longer be allowed unless the “epidemic situation” is declared. But that doesn’t seem to be possible with the FDP.
Further measures in the event of “concrete danger”
If the situation worsens, countries would have further options for controlling the pandemic. But they are bound by the fact that there is a concrete risk to the functionality of the health system or other critical infrastructure. Above all on this point there was criticism from the federal states after the cabinet decision. There it was often criticized that the wording “concrete danger” was not defined precisely enough and it was not clear which numbers could be used to determine this.
Above all, the short-term changes for long-distance traffic have caused a lot of discussion. The traffic light government is making itself completely ridiculous with its confused Corona course, wrote the Bavarian Health Minister Klaus Holetschek (CSU), for example, on Twitter. He accused the Federal Minister of Health, Karl Lauterbach, of having caved in to the FDP. In fact, the FDP in particular had campaigned for the end of the mask requirement on the plane. A discussion that flared up, among other things, because of the pictures from the government plane on the way to the state visit to Canada, in which neither journalists nor the chancellor wore a mask.
Care facilities: We cannot control this
Criticism of the new law also comes from the care facilities. The chairwoman of the Association of Catholic Elderly Aid (VKAD), Eva-Maria Güthoff, says that without additional money for staff for the controls, the corona protection measures cannot be applied without restrictions in care. “A nurse is needed at the bed and not at the gate,” says Güthoff.
The current Infection Protection Act expires on September 23. The Federal Council is expected to decide on September 16.