The German government has again launched stricter state intervention options for an expected corona wave in autumn and winter. The plans approved by the cabinet on Wednesday include a nationwide FFP2 mask requirement on planes and long-distance trains.
Children between the ages of 6 and 14 and staff must also be able to wear medical masks. There should be a national mask requirement in clinics and nursing homes, where you also have to prove a negative corona test before entering.
Exception planned for mandatory masks
Depending on the contamination situation, the federal states should also be able to impose further protection requirements from 1 October to 7 April. This includes the obligation to wear masks on local buses and trains and in other publicly accessible indoor areas. There should be a mandatory exception to the mask requirement if you show a negative test when attending cultural, leisure or sporting events and in gastronomy. In addition, exceptions to the mask requirement may be allowed with evidence of being fully vaccinated and recovered.
Countries would have the opportunity to respond
The planned rules are based on a draft by German Health Minister Karl Lauterbach and German Justice Minister Marco Buschmann in early August. Lauterbach said: “With this set of tools, we can cope with the foreseeable Corona wave in the fall.” The countries would have every opportunity to respond appropriately. It remains the goal of the Corona policy to prevent high death rates, many lost working days and serious long-term consequences.
The draft approved by the cabinet now goes to the German Bundestag and could be decided there on September 8. The Federal Council must then agree.
Special payments of 1,000 euros a month are planned so that nursing homes will have to appoint officers to provide vaccinations, hygiene and drug therapies for those infected, for example with the drug Paxlovid. The facilities should receive 250 euros per month for the effort – for employees who take on the tasks alone or in a team, there should be a total of 750 euros.
Source: Krone
I’m Wayne Wickman, a professional journalist and author for Today Times Live. My specialty is covering global news and current events, offering readers a unique perspective on the world’s most pressing issues. I’m passionate about storytelling and helping people stay informed on the goings-on of our planet.
