It was today reported that the German government is considering proposals to make mandatory mask-wearing compulsory from October to March.
German paper Die Welt reports that the plan would see masks being worn in all public areas, including restaurants and bars, during the colder part of the year to fight the spread Covid.
People who stay indoors during the winter are more likely to contract covid. This is why advocates for the plan believe they can reverse the trend.
According to government figures, the country recently recorded between 50-130 coronavirus-related death per day. This is despite it being a “summer wave” that arrives before colder weather.
The rules may not apply to kindergartens and schools. At the moment, in Germany, wearing a mask is not mandatory on any public transportation or at medical facilities.
The German authorities cancelled last year’s Oktoberfest. This festival would have attracted 6 million people. Beer aficionados won’t be disappointed to learn that this year’s event will be disrupted with compulsory mask wear.
Motoring regulations require that drivers put winter tires on their vehicles during months where the German cold is really brutal.
German officials are considering imposing mandatory mask wearing from October to March to stop the spread and increase of Covid during winter.
Germany’s covid cases have increased even before winter hits, and some analysts believe that the country may be in the midst of a’summer tsunami’.
Karl Lauterbach is Germany’s Health Minister. Official figures show that the country had recently seen between 50 to 130 deaths from coronavirus infected individuals per day.
The Loewenbraeu-Festhalle tent at the Oktoberfest in Munich. Proposals will be a big hit at this iconic festival
This plan will disappoint the over 80 million Germans, who had been enjoying freedoms since Covid rules were relaxed in Europe.
Summer is here and millions have enjoyed social interactions and social interaction without having to adhere to Covid rules such as keeping people apart and restricting group size.
It is possible that the German government will wait for the results of a scientific panel before deciding which rules it should include in the Infection Protection Act. The Act expires September.
It is the responsibility of the commission to inform the government, by the end the month, which restrictions are effective.
Germany Health Minister Karl Lauterbach presented his seven-point plan for the autumn on Friday, when Covid cases are expected to rise, but did not comment on reports of a return to compulsory mask wearing.
He urged residents and visitors to wear face masks indoors to protect themselves and others from the coronavirus, but he acknowledged that current data doesn’t justify making mask use a legal requirement.
Part of the country’s ruling coalition is libertarian Free Democratic Party. They have been vocal in calling for an end COVID-19.
This plan will be disappointing for the over 80 million Germans who, after Covid rules were relaxed in Europe, have enjoyed reborn freedoms.
Millions of people are enjoying summer without any restrictions from Covid such as social distance or limiting groups
Summer weather in Berlin with Berlin’s iconic TV tower as background. Covid concerns are largely long gone
Lauterbach is an epidemiologist and he said that Germany had a summer wave of cases.
Lauterbach of the Social Democrats said that he asked those wanting to protect themselves and others to use masks indoors. He also noted that the number of cases may continue to rise in the future.
“Voluntarily wearing a mask indoors is a good idea.”
It is relatively mild and most Germans have had COVID-19 treatment. Accordingly to the minister of health, they are therefore less likely to get serious disease.
He stated, “There is no need for you to panic.”
Lauterbach stated that the government is working to obtain a wide supply of fall vaccines that will respond to all major variants.
He said that citizens who are in danger or want to prevent others from being endangered should think about getting another booster shot.
In England, Covid cases rose by 40% last week. This is believed to indicate that the virus has returned.
According to the Office for National Statistics, 1.13 million people contracted the virus on any day of the week that ended June 10. This is equivalent to one in fifty of the country’s population. The weekly rise is the highest since Omicron first germinated in the country in December.
Official figures reveal that covid cases rose by 40% in England last week, raising fears of an outbreak. According to the Office for National Statistics, 1.13million people infected with the virus on any day of June 10th were reported by ONS. That’s roughly one in fifty of the country’s population. The figure represents an increase in 42 percent from the previous week
Cases are also rising in Wales and Northern Ireland (one in 45 had the virus last week) and Scotland (one in 30).
After the end of free testing and the reduction in daily dashboards, the ONS’ weekly outbreak survey is now the leading indicator of an outbreak.
Data indicates that the revival is driven by Omicron’s BA.4 or BA.5 subvariants. These are more likely to spread disease than the parent strain. Scientists suspect that Omicron’s BA.4 and BA.5 subvariants may have fueled the rise, as well as the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee celebrations.
Experts fear the rise in Covid outbreaks and increased hospital admissions could increase pressure on already overburdened health services.