Corona in Hesse: Criticism at the end of the mask requirement

Giessen infectiologist Susanne Herold was amazed that from April 3rd, masks would only have to be worn in hospitals, homes, trains and buses and only the regulations for schools would remain in place.

In view of the high incidence figures, the extensive lifting of the mask requirement is incomprehensible, she said on Friday.

She continues to advise wearing masks where several people come together.

And it is still better to wear an FFP-2 mask than just a medical face mask.

Herold referred to the latest Omikron variant, which is even more contagious than the previous ones.

Although the vaccinations could reduce the number of serious illnesses, they could not prevent infection.

Herold also criticized the hotspot regulation that the federal government has agreed on.

According to this, there should only be further regulations in certain places.

"At the moment all of Germany is a hotspot," said the infectiologist: "We would have to tighten the measures." Denmark has relaxed the rules and is now registering a significant increase in the number of deaths.

The Frankfurt virologist Martin Stürmer was also skeptical.

"In my opinion, the hotspot regulation is hardly feasible," he said.

On the one hand, it is to be feared that the same infection situation in different federal states would lead to different assessments, on the other hand, the definition of what a hotspot is is so imprecise that it is not possible for the federal states to quickly record outbreaks and issue regulations in good time decide to combat them.

While it is correct to extend the current rules until April 2nd, they must be applied more consistently.

"Otherwise we run the risk of continuing to ease this massively on April 2nd with very high infection rates."

Several Corona rules no longer apply

As of this Saturday (March 19), several corona rules will no longer apply in Hesse, including the previous contact restrictions for the unvaccinated.

At events, there are no longer any specifications for the number of spectators and the contact data collection is also being phased out.

The other Hessian corona measures will initially remain in place until April 2nd.

This applies to access to restaurants, for example.

The mask requirement as well as distance and hygiene concepts also continue to apply to the previous extent.

The previous federal regulation on corona protection measures expires at the weekend, which means that the majority of the requirements are no longer applicable.

Hesse, however, is using a transitional period until April 2nd - so many corona rules will initially remain in place in the state.

The Hessian Corona Cabinet passed the corresponding regulation, which will apply from Saturday, on Friday evening.

A 3G certificate is also required for visiting restaurants or staying in a hotel.

This means guests must be either vaccinated, recovered or tested negative, both indoors and outdoors.

Discos, clubs and other dance halls are only allowed to open their indoor areas with the 2G-plus requirement - this means that guests without a booster vaccination need a daily test.

The mask requirement as well as distance and hygiene concepts also continue to apply to the previous extent.

Accordingly, mouth and nose protection must be worn indoors, for example in shops and in restaurants, up to the square.

Masks are compulsory outside if the distances cannot be maintained.

3G also applies indoors in sports and museums.

There are no longer any restrictions on private meetings - they were abolished for vaccinated and recovered people at the beginning of March.

The transition period for the countries in which they can continue to apply the previously applicable protection rules ends on April 2nd.

The rules are then expected to largely disappear nationwide.

From the Hessian retail trade it was said on Friday that the industry would deal responsibly with the elimination of the mask requirement.

He could well imagine that some shops would still be required to wear masks, said Sven Rohde, general manager of the Hesse trade association.

A spokeswoman for the Darmstadt retail chain Alnatura said that until further notice the mask requirement would remain in the markets and that the current situation would be taken into account.

Tegut in Fulda, on the other hand, said that it had not yet been decided whether the mask requirement would continue.

But there is the impression that customers would largely approve of masks remaining mandatory as long as the number of infections was still high.