According to a report by “Welt am Sonntag”, the federal government is considering a new, general mask requirement from October to protect against the spread of the corona pandemic in autumn.
A so-called “OO rule” is under discussion, citing information from government circles.
So far, this “October to Easter rule” has mainly been known as a recommendation to equip cars with winter tires for this period.
According to the report, the new mask requirement could continue to apply as before in public transport, medical facilities and retirement homes, but also again in retail and gastronomy.
An extension to schools is still open, it said.
According to “WamS”, the Chancellery said that such an extension of the mask requirement would be considered as one of several possible regulations for the upcoming amendment to the Infection Protection Act.
But first, as agreed in the coalition, the expert report expected at the end of June on the effectiveness and risks of previous corona protection measures should be awaited.
The Federal Ministry of Health therefore did not want to comment on the possible plans.
According to “WamS”, a spokesman only said that the new Infection Protection Act was still being negotiated within the government.
The currently applicable rules of the Infection Protection Act on Corona expire on September 23.
They only contain a few so-called basic protective measures.
Several federal states have long been pushing for additional protective measures, as have politicians from the Union, Greens and SPD.
Resistance to this comes from the FDP.
The number of new corona infections had recently increased significantly again.