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Masked sign in Munich: A general mask requirement in the old town has been lifted there
Photo: Peter Kneffel / dpa
The number of people vaccinated is increasing, new corona infections are falling.
In view of this trend, Federal Justice Minister Christine Lambrecht has asked the federal states to weigh up the further continuation of the mask requirement.
"Those responsible in the federal states must continuously check whether and where a mask requirement is still proportionate when the incidence numbers are low and continue to fall," said the SPD politician of "Bild am Sonntag".
"This also applies to schools, because pupils are particularly affected by the mask requirement."
Kubicki advocates personal responsibility
While Lambrecht advocates caution and weighing up, FDP politician Wolfgang Kubicki relies radically on the citizens' personal responsibility.
The Bundestag Vice President called for a complete end to the mask requirement.
»If the incidence is clearly below 35, the state may not restrict any basic rights for all citizens across the board.
The general mask requirement would therefore have to be lifted with a strict interpretation of the Infection Protection Act, especially outside, "said Kubicki of the newspaper.
The state governments must now quickly change their ordinances, otherwise they will soon be forced by the administrative courts, prophesied Kubicki.
The state should rather set up an information campaign that explains how people in subways and crowds can protect themselves with masks.
"The personal responsibility of the people must again become a central component of our coexistence - not the constant specification of rules of conduct by the state," said Kubicki.
According to the decision of the Prime Minister's Conference in January, so-called surgical masks or FFP2 masks should be worn on public transport and when shopping.
The federal states are responsible for implementing the rule.
However, further regulations may apply regionally.
Denmark largely removes the mask requirement
When it comes to masks, other countries are more likely to take a course that Kubicki is calling for.
In Denmark, for example, the obligation to wear a mask for almost all areas of public life will be lifted from this Monday.
The only exception to this is public transport - but only there if you are not sitting.
mmq / dpa
