Her new wave pandemic from coronavirus waiting for autumn Deutsch government, and the Minister of Health speaks of “difficulties since October” and announces tightening of protection measures. However, Karl Lauterbach ruled out the possibility of introducing a general quarantine and school shutdowns.

According to the decisions of today’s Cabinet of Ministers, from October 1 to April 23, 2023, the use of FFP-2 type masks is mandatory on trains and planes. A simple surgical mask is also permitted for ages 6 to 14. The use of an FFP-2 mask and test is mandatory to enter hospitals, nursing homes and rehabilitation centers. The same applies to workers in these areas.

“With the set of tools we have in place, we will be able to handle the expected wave of the pandemic in the fall,” Mr. Lauterbach said after the cabinet meeting, noting that states will have the ability to tailor rules to the specific circumstances of each region. As a first step, state governments may mandate the use of masks on local public transportation as well as indoors, except for those who have tested negative, have been vaccinated or have recently recovered from the coronavirus.

Mandatory tests can be requested from schools, kindergartens, prisons and asylum centres. In the second stage, the use of masks in crowded outdoor areas, as well as in schools, can be enforced in order to continue lifelong learning.

“Schools won’t close”

“Our goal remains to prevent a large number of deaths, loss of working time and serious consequences,” the minister emphasized and specified that more stringent uniform rules on a national scale require a corresponding decision of the federal parliament. “Schools will not be closed,” Mr. Lauterbach explained. “Students have suffered enough, so it is only right that there are no more closed schools,” added Justice Minister Marko Busman.

In recent days, however, footage from a government plane taking Chancellor Olaf Soltz and Vice Chancellor Robert Humbeck to Canada, where no one wears a face mask, has sparked serious reactions in recent days.

According to a statement from the German Air Force, which is responsible for government air travel, the general rule requiring the use of masks on domestic flights and when taking off or landing at a German airport does not apply to government aircraft. Passengers undergo a molecular test for the coronavirus shortly before boarding to “ensure a high level of protection,” the statement said, noting that the use of masks is recommended but not mandatory. Chancellor Olaf Soltz, for his part, spoke of “clear” rules in place on government flights, but Lufthansa announced that for now, wearing a mask on a flight is mandatory, regardless of whether a pre-boarding test has been taken. “From a political standpoint, I would recommend that the government apply the general rules to itself,” Bushman said.

^{Source: APE-MEB}