In public transport and hospitals – Germany plans to make masks and tests mandatory again

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A German government draft foresees a mask and test requirement again from October. For example, a mask requirement on buses, trains and planes should apply nationwide. The intention is to make masks and tests mandatory in hospitals and healthcare institutions. The concept of corona protection is both applauded and criticized.

From October, the individual German states will also have to impose mask requirements in publicly accessible interiors and may prescribe tests in schools, kindergartens and asylum centers. A mask requirement in schools is only planned if there would otherwise be no regulated face-to-face classes and then only from the fifth school year. The government in Berlin has already rejected the pandemic-related school closures.

Exceptions to the mask requirement
Another point of the design stipulates that there should be a mask requirement in restaurants and at cultural and sporting events. However, exceptions are provided here for people who have been tested, recently vaccinated and have recently recovered, with “recent” meaning vaccination or surviving Covid 19 disease must not have been more than three months ago. There should be no exceptions for these groups on public transport, in health and nursing facilities. The latter two are also subject to mandatory testing.

Approval for the concept comes from representatives of teachers and medical staff, among others. For example, they applaud the fact that no general school closures are planned. However, for some, the regulations do not go far enough. “However, it is absolutely incomprehensible why in the same case, ie to maintain school activities, no mask requirement can be imposed on primary schools,” said the president of the teachers’ association, Heinz-Peter Meidinger.

Free testing?
Others, such as the members of the German Association of Cities, see a number of open questions that need to be answered in order to implement the concept. “Will the free citizen test be introduced again for everyone in the autumn? How will the institution-specific vaccination obligation continue?”, says general director Helmut Dedy.

Another accusation is that the concept of corona protection is not suitable for everyday use. “For example, if the obligation to wear a mask were to be differentiated according to whether the last vaccination was three or four months ago, I wonder how that would work in everyday life,” said Ulrich Weigeldt, president of the General practice. Association.

End of the isolation obligation?
Corona isolation is also currently being discussed in the neighboring country. For example, the SPD is against a suspension like in Austria. Until now, people who tested positive in Germany had to isolate themselves for at least five days after the rash, even without symptoms of disease, because they could be contagious. That is why there have been repeated calls in recent weeks to lift the isolation requirement.

The measures apply from 1 October 2022 to 7 April 2023. First of all, it is up to the cabinet and the Bundestag to consider the proposals.

Source: Krone

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