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According to a new study, regular use of public transport does not pose an increased risk of corona infection.
"That creates security for everyone who depends on the use of public transport," said Lower Saxony's Minister of Economic Affairs Bernd Althusmann (CDU) on Monday.
"Nobody has to worry about infection when using the bus and train."
According to the information, the so far unique study was commissioned by the federal states and the Association of German Transport Companies. The researchers of the Charité Research Organization - a subsidiary of the Berlin Charité that mainly conducts clinical studies - compared the specific risk of infection of passengers in buses and trains with that of commuters who regularly use cars or motorbikes in the area of the Rhein-Main-Verkehrsverbund or by bike.
A total of 681 volunteer participants between the ages of 16 and 65 were accompanied over five weeks.
At the beginning and at the end of the study, all test subjects were examined for a possible acute infection by PCR testing or antibody testing that indicates a survived infection.
In addition, the participants kept a digital diary on their mobility behavior, daily contacts, cold symptoms or compliance with hygiene rules.
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These antibodies could be detected in the same number of participants in each group.
The authors conclude from this that the risk of infection in everyday life does not increase with the use of local public transport.
"The results of the study show that compliance with hygiene rules, frequent cleaning and ventilation of vehicles on the one hand and keeping your distance and wearing a mask on the other hand are effective means of infection protection," commented Baden-Württemberg's Transport Minister Winfried Herrmann (Greens).