(GermanPolicy.com) – After the expiry of nationwide regulation in force thus far, the mask requirement is supposed to continue to apply in more areas than previously planned. According to media reports, the Federal Government coalition made up of the SPD, the Greens, and the FDP, has reached that agreement. The mask requirement should be possible in medical practices, day clinics, facilities for outpatient treatment and preventive or rehabilitation facilities – not only in clinics, nursing homes and public transport. As before, the FDP is against a mask requirement in retail facilities, apparently having pushed for a future suspension of the obligation to wear a mask in dental, midwifery or physiotherapist practices.
Wüst (CDU): draft much too complicated
The Federal States have sharply criticized the planned regulation, as a result of which many protective measures will no longer apply from Sunday of this week onwards. Hendrik Wüst (CDU), the chairman of the Prime Ministers’ Conference, pointed out that the Federal States must be able to react quickly to developments in connection with the Corona pandemic. The Federal Government’s draft, he said, is the “exact opposite,” much too complicated and legally unworkable. The Hessian Prime Minister Bouffier (CDU) complained about the lack of cooperation from the side of the Federal Fovernment. A similar statement was made by the Bavarian Prime Minister Söder (CSU). Baden-Württemberg’s Prime Minister Kretschmann (Greens) said that he imagined trusting cooperation quite differently.
Defense by Chancellor Scholz
Chancellor Scholz (SPD) defended the approach by saying that the situation in the clinics was no longer as dramatic as it used to be. The designated FDP general secretary, Bijan Djir-Sarai, said the draft was a “great success” which would bring about a return to “normality” in Germany. On the other hand, Lower Saxony’s Prime Minister Weil (SPD) emphasized: “This rule does not help us.” It “no longer gives us all the security instruments that are currently helpful.” He added that the regulation is too cumbersome and costs “valuable time”.
Some states to stick to proven regulation
The Federal Government’s draft law is to be passed by the Bundestag this Friday. The Federal cabinet had promised close coordination with the Federal States in advance, since the latter are largely responsible for the implementation of the future legislation. Several Federal States would like to extend the regulations against the Corona pandemic still in force until 2 April. Bavaria, Thuringia, Baden-Württemberg, Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania and Hamburg announced such plans. Until the new draft has been passed, they want to maintain the proven mask requirement and access rules.
More at GermanPolicy.com