Berlin
In local transport, the mask requirement is already history in many federal states – the demands to also lift it in long-distance transport have recently become ever greater. Now the Minister of Health is reacting.
The mask requirement in long-distance public transport should fall on February 2nd. This was announced by Federal Health Minister Karl Lauterbach (SPD) in Berlin. The Federal Government can suspend the measure in whole or in part by statutory order. “We just have to rely more on personal responsibility and voluntariness,” said Lauterbach.
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. According to the Infection Protection Act, the obligation to wear a mask in long-distance traffic should last until April 7th.
Federal Transport Minister Volker Wissing (FDP) said that the end had to come “as soon as possible” and also referred to the burden on railway staff due to the control of the Corona measure. Deutsche Bahn also spoke out this week for an early end to the mask requirement in long-distance transport. Similar to air transport, long-distance trains should also be voluntary, it said.
Lauterbach had recently not ruled out a premature end to the mask requirement in long-distance transport and in health facilities. “It may well be that we will abolish the mask requirement earlier,” the SPD politician told the “Stern” without setting a date.
In local public transport, the mask requirement has already been abolished in Bavaria, Saxony-Anhalt and Schleswig-Holstein. Berlin, Brandenburg, Thuringia, Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, Saxony and Baden-Württemberg plan to lift it by the beginning of next month at the latest.
After February 2nd, the mask requirement only applies in clinics, nursing homes, medical practices and other health facilities.
