The federal government wants to introduce a nationwide mask requirement in long-distance and air traffic from October. The cabinet agrees on new measures, the Bundestag still has to approve them. But most of the regulations, such as a possible mask requirement indoors, are left to the federal states.
The new corona protection rules for autumn and winter are taking shape. The Federal Cabinet has now agreed, the Bundestag still has to decide. "I expect a clear wave of corona in the fall," said Federal Minister of Health Karl Lauterbach when the agreement was presented in Berlin. And should it actually come, "we have to be well prepared".
And this is how the whole thing looks like: From October there should only be a few nationwide regulations - such as an FFP2 mask requirement in long-distance and air traffic. Children between the ages of 6 and 14 and staff should also be able to wear medical masks. In clinics and nursing homes, a mask requirement should apply nationwide, where you should also have to prove a negative corona test before entering.
The federal states should also be able to order further protection requirements from October 1st to April 7th, depending on the infection situation. This includes the obligation to wear masks on local buses and trains as well as in other publicly accessible indoor areas. There should be a mandatory exception to the mask requirement if you show a negative test when visiting cultural, leisure or sporting events and in gastronomy. In addition, exceptions to the mask requirement can be permitted with proof of being fully vaccinated and recovered.
Criticism of the original plans of the traffic light coalition was primarily sparked by the plan to eliminate the obligation to wear a mask indoors for people who are fully vaccinated and whose last vaccination was less than three months ago. Critics complained that this could be understood as an invitation to people to be vaccinated every three months. The coalition has now converted this into a "can" regulation: the states do not necessarily have to implement it. The “can” exception should therefore also apply to people who have recovered.
"With this set of tools, we can deal with the foreseeable corona wave in the fall," explained Karl Lauterbach. "Compulsory masks, vaccinations and upper limits in the interior can be used depending on the situation." The aim of the new rules is to avoid high death rates, many lost work days and serious long-term consequences.
The draft approved by the cabinet is now going to the Bundestag and could be decided there on September 8th. The Federal Council then has to agree. Special payments of 1,000 euros per month are now planned so that nursing homes will have to appoint officers to take care of vaccinations, hygiene and drug therapies for those infected, for example with the drug Paxlovid. The facilities should get 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.
The corona provisions in the Infection Protection Act were severely reduced in the spring. General mask requirements when shopping or for events and access rules such as 2G and 3G were eliminated.
