Chinanews.com, Berlin, December 6. According to German media reports on the 6th, the first batch of German federal states Saxony-Anhalt and Bavaria will cancel the obligation to wear masks on public transportation.
Saxony-Anhalt will be implemented on Thursday (8th) and Bavaria will be implemented on Saturday (10th).
The governments of the two federal states stated that the above decision was made based on the stability of the infection situation.
Bavaria's health minister, Klaus Holetschek, said that the new coronavirus no longer constitutes the mainstay of viral diseases, and the proportion of patients with influenza and respiratory syncytial virus infections in hospitals is much higher.
In this regard, the mandatory wearing of masks as a protective measure is no longer appropriate.
However, the state government recommends that masks continue to be worn.
The wearing of masks will also be voluntary on short-distance public transport in Saxony-Anhalt.
According to reports, the state's epidemic prevention will thus rely more on personal responsibility.
In addition, the state of Schleswig-Holstein intends to decide next week to end the obligation to wear masks on buses and trains.
Governor Daniel Günther had already announced three weeks ago that the mandatory wearing of masks until the end of the year would not be extended.
The states of North Rhine-Westphalia, Hesse, Baden-Württemberg, Saarland and Mecklenburg-Vorpommernia have stated that they will continue to adhere to the obligation to wear masks for the time being.
There are mixed voices within the federal government over the removal of mandatory face masks on public transport.
Federal Health Minister Lauterbach said that there is now no reason to think that people can not wear masks and exempt infected people from isolation.
He noted the need to watch out for variants of the virus that are expected to be more contagious, adding to the epidemics of respiratory syncytial virus and influenza.
Lindner, chairman of the Liberal Democratic Party, believes that it is a "correct decision" to rely more on personal responsibility to implement new crown protection measures.
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