Marco Buschmann almost sounds like Health Minister Karl Lauterbach.

What the FDP Minister of Justice announced with regard to the federal government's corona strategy for the autumn is a remarkable shift by his party away from the previous laissez-faire line towards the virus.

Just a few weeks ago, Buschmann raised doubts about the usefulness of a mask requirement indoors.

Now he says that "the effectiveness of masks for individuals indoors is undisputed".

And he promises a mask requirement in offices, supermarkets and restaurants for autumn and winter.

The change in opinion of the liberal, who is certainly also speaking on behalf of his party leader Christian Lindner, is supported by the report published two weeks ago by the Council of Experts on the previous state corona measures.

The number of infections, which has already risen sharply compared to last summer, is doing the rest to make it easier for the FDP, as the self-proclaimed guardian of freedom rights, to say goodbye to the previous course of doing nothing.

A reasonable restriction in everyday life

Especially since the older part of their electorate at risk from Corona advocates protective measures out of concern for their own health.

From the point of view of the FDP, the obligation to wear mouth and nose protection should also be a reasonable restriction in everyday life in order to relieve the economy, which was already hit by the gas emergency.

The high level of sick leave due to Corona is not only a problem for Lufthansa.

Buschmann can take credit for being the engine of the slimmed-down infection protection law that the return to lockdowns and school closures is no longer just an issue at traffic lights.

But a resounding vaccination campaign to close the immunity gap in vulnerable groups of people will have to be the central building block.

A mask requirement indoors will not break the autumn wave alone.