As part of Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s Cabinet, legislation was approved Wednesday to continue basic protection against the Coronavirus pandemic during the fall and winter.
During the presentation of these rules – which include the new requirement to wear N95-type face masks on train, bus, and plane rides – images were published of Habeck and the chancellor flying to Canada without masks this week.
Public criticism sparked by the pictures pointed to a double standard between politicians and the general public. The use of medical face masks on planes and public transportation is currently mandatory, although the use of N95-style masks is recommended.
German officials, including justice minister Marco Buschmann and health minister Karl Lauterbach, said that government flights operated by the German air force conformed to pandemic rules and everyone on board, including business leaders and reporters, took PCR tests before boarding.
Even so, the justice minister conceded that “politically, I would recommend applying the same rules everywhere as in other parts of the country.”
Additionally, from Oct. 1 to April 7, the new measures will require the use of N95-type masks when traveling long distances, as well as testing people entering hospitals, nursing homes, and similar institutions.
In addition, German states will be able to adopt their own rules depending on how severely the virus affects them. Public transportation, schools, and indoor events could require masks if state governments decide to require them. It is possible to limit the number of people at public events and insist on testing if the virus spreads widely again.
Regardless of how the pandemic develops during cold-weather seasons, there will be no lockdowns or school closures.
