Anti-Covid masks return to Germany: here's what to know
Is the Covid emergency over? Turning on the street everything seems to be behind us now and the desire to forget what happened has [...]
Is the Covid emergency over? Turning to the street everything now seems to be behind us, and the desire to forget what happened has now gotten the better of us. The number of cases has dropped, but it has not reached such numbers that the risk can now be considered archived. Indeed, there are some countries that are looking at the coming months with concern. One such country is Germany, which is thinking about the return of masks. Here is what will happen in a few weeks.
New Covid wave in Germany?
In this article:
What's happening in Europe on the coronavirus front and why is Germany running for cover? A simple concept has been expressed many times in recent years: we will have to live with Covid for a long time. Every time summer comes, however, the world seems to promptly forget the existence of this threat. Restrictions loosen, if not vanish altogether, and people take many more risks, erasing from their minds the basic rules to succeed in increasing their chances of not becoming infected.
Will we face a new wave this fall? It is a grim possibility, and work is already underway in Germany to outline a plan for national health security. The pandemic is not over, and virologists are still grappling with different variations. The latest, in chronological order, is. Centaurus.
Experts have never advised letting our guard down, and while everyone was paying attention to monkeypox, here are new recommendations for anti-Covid regulations ahead of next fall and winter. A request accepted by Germany, which announced the return of masks starting in October 2022.
Germany's planned Covid measures for fall/winter:
National:
?Masks & negative test for hospitals/nursing homes
?Masks on planes & long-distance rail/bus.
Addtl. options for states:
?Mask mandates: regional public transport, public indoor spaces, schools (grade 5 up) pic.twitter.com/C3Tf85hc6o
- Michael Knigge (@kniggem) August 4, 2022
Covid, in Germany mandatory masks: here's where
The German government is working on an infection-protection law, the draft of which has unveiled a clear intention to bring masks back overbearingly. A mandatory measure, taken some time in advance, to avoid ending up in December with truly frightening numbers that could bring the national health care system to its knees.
Italy will also have to grapple with this thorny issue, but any discussion is postponed until after the elections at the end of September. The Länder, i.e., the federal states of Germany, will again be able to mandate the use of the sanitary devices provided to counter Covid in indoor public spaces and beyond. This is in addition to the requirement of protective equipment on transportation vehicles such as buses, streetcars, trains and planes.
Everything seems to be ready now, and the draft is not expected to undergo significant changes. As for the effective date of this measure, there is talk of the October 1, 2022. A final date of April 7, 2023, is expected, while not excluding extensions. The central government delegates land decisions to the states. Autonomy, then, in choosing the specific areas in which to provide for the obligation.
Further information is awaited, especially regarding the school. Where no alternatives can be found to allow in-person classes, such a device could also be imposed in the classroom. Added to this is the possibility of mandatory testing, especially in health care buildings. The introduction of exceptions for the following:
- Those who underwent a recent anti-Covid test that came back negative;
- Who is vaccinated;
- Those who have recently recovered and developed antibodies.
