Changes are still emerging in the parliamentary deliberations on the Corona rules for the fall. The obligation to wear masks on airplanes, which is initially still provided for nationwide in the Infection Protection Act, is to be abolished, as first reported by the editorial network Germany (RND), citing coalition groups. At the same time, the law should stipulate nationwide that FFP2 masks must also be worn in doctor’s offices, in addition to long-distance trains, clinics and nursing homes.
Federal Minister of Health Karl Lauterbach (SPD) told the German Press Agency on Monday: “Vaccinations and masks remain the best protection against the expected omicron wave. That’s why we use both.”
Masks should therefore also be worn in medical practices. “As long as the pandemic situation allows it, however, masks will no longer be compulsory on the plane. However, the mask is recommended to remain there. This is not a question of regulations, but of common sense.
In the parliamentary deliberations on the Corona rules for the autumn, the FDP had campaigned for an end to the mask requirement in the machines.
It is now planned for air traffic that the federal government can impose a mask requirement for passengers and cabin crew by ordinance without the consent of the Bundesrat, as can be seen from a current draft available to the dpa. FFP2 masks or simpler surgical masks are called.
The aviation industry has been protesting against the obligation to wear masks on board for a long time, pointing out that it no longer applies in other everyday areas and countries.
The Bundestag is to adopt the corona provisions in the Infection Protection Act for the fall this Thursday. The cabinet had launched a draft that generally provides for more extensive rules on masks and tests from October 1st to April 7th, 2023.
The federal states should be able to impose further protective requirements and expand them in a critical situation. Lauterbach said: “We will go into the fall well prepared.” He referred to the legal basis, new vaccines, effective drugs and a better overview of the pandemic that is planned.
For planes and long-distance trains, the concept of Lauterbach and Minister of Justice Marco Buschmann (FDP) originally stipulated that FFP2 masks should generally be mandatory there – and no longer simpler surgical masks are possible as before. This should also be the case for long-distance trains.
