The Infection Protection Act stipulates that employees and residents of nursing homes must wear a mask in common rooms. In Baden-Württemberg, according to the will of the state government, this should no longer apply with immediate effect.
The state of Baden-Württemberg is tipping the mask requirement in nursing homes on its own. Health Minister Manne Lucha from the Greens said that the facilities had been informed of this innovation by letter. The homes and facilities for the disabled could now decide for themselves whether they want to stick to the mask requirement in common rooms.
At the urging of the state, the federal government presented a catalog with questions and answers on the controversial paragraphs of the Infection Protection Act. "After that, in our opinion, it is justifiable to waive the obligation to wear a mask in common rooms," said Lucha. It is important to enable social contacts.
Just a few days ago, the President of the Diakonie, Ulrich Lilie, spoke out in favor of such a step. "I think the rule laid down in the Infection Protection Act, according to which people who live in nursing homes or in facilities for people with disabilities have to wear a mask in common rooms, is exaggerated," said Lilie. "Not only the personal rooms, but also the common rooms are part of your home, in which an informal togetherness must be possible."
Most recently, the introduction of a general obligation to wear masks indoors was discussed at state level. The state health ministers agreed on Monday to proceed as one and to first develop appropriate threshold values. The working group of the highest state health authorities is to discuss the threshold values on November 9th and 10th. For example, it should be discussed to what extent the hospitalization rate must be taken into account.
