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Mainz (dpa / lrs) - Pharmacies in Rhineland-Palatinate have already distributed several million FFP2 masks free of charge to people at risk of corona.

The first wave of issues, in which citizens received three protective masks each, expired in the first week of January, said the spokesman for the Rhineland-Palatinate Pharmacists' Association, Frank Eickmann, in Mainz of the German press agency.

The other FFP2 masks would be issued in two seasons of six masks each.

Eligible citizens received two vouchers by post from their health insurers, which they could redeem in pharmacies.

According to the speaker, the first voucher can be used until February 28, the second voucher from February 16 to April 15.

The personal contribution for six protective masks is two euros, it said.

Those who have not yet received a letter from their cash register should be patient: one can assume that the vouchers will be sent out in the next few days.

The nationwide almost 1,000 pharmacies are "prepared for the renewed wave of mask sales," said the association spokesman.

The distribution of the masks is still a “great logistical challenge”.

The pharmacies would have to order the masks on the open market.

Especially when the issue started in mid-December, there was a great rush among pharmacists.

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Eickmann assumed that between two and four million masks had already been issued in Rhineland-Palatinate.

The corona risk group includes people over the age of 60 and people with certain chronic diseases.

Nationwide, a good 27 million people are eligible.

The campaign will cost the federal government around 2.5 billion euros.