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Corona crisis: expert warns against using fabric masks - "The worst that can happen ..."

2020-04-04T05:36:34.415Z


Mouthguards are much sought after in the Corona crisis. According to Söder, billions are needed in Germany in the end. But experts warn against the use of fabric masks.


Mouthguards are much sought after in the Corona crisis. According to Söder, billions are needed in Germany in the end. But experts warn against the use of fabric masks.

  • Germany is discussing a requirement to wear a mask to combat the corona virus .
  • Will all Germans soon wear protective masks in public?
  • Corresponding regulations already exist in Austria and Jena .
  • The guide to our corona virus reporting *. Here you can find current Corona case numbers from Germany * and the world as well as a Germany map of the Corona numbers *.

Update from April 3, 2020, 3:10 p.m .: Medical protective material is in great demand in times of the coronavirus pandemic. The market is very competitive. Respirators are missing in many places. "We buy what's possible from foreign manufacturers," said Federal Health Minister Jens Spahn (CDU) at a press conference on Friday. Spahn wants to advance the development of the domestic production of protective masks. "The whole world is buying protective masks," said Spahn. As the picture reports, Spahn confirmed to the paper that the USA intercepted a delivery to Berlin and diverted it to its own country.

In Bavaria, too, the number of corona cases that open in Bavaria's hospitals is increasing. Both in the intensive care units and overall. Siegfried Hasenbein, the managing director of the Bavarian Hospital Association (BKG), is now warning of a lack of protective equipment *. In North Rhine-Westphalia, a virologist wants to track down the number of unreported cases *.

Also read: VirologeDrosten classifies possible medication - "first-time side effects"

Protective masks - USA intercepts delivery to Germany

Update 2:57 p.m .: The State of Berlin is waiting for respirators - types FFP2 and FFP3 - from China. As the Tagesspiegel reports, an ordered delivery on the way to Germany was intercepted and diverted to the United States. The same accusation came from France on Thursday. Donald Trump's government appears to be rigorous with America First *.

"Don't pluck your mask, don't touch your face" - warns the RKI boss

Update from April 3, 2020, 1:05 p.m .: The topic of protective masks in the corona crisis is causing debate. To further stop the virus from spreading, scientists recommend wearing self-sewn breathing masks in public under certain conditions. Medical masks - so-called surgical masks and FFP masks must be reserved for medical staff, RKI boss Lothar Wieler emphasized on Friday at the press briefing in Berlin on the corona situation in Germany.

For the population, according to Wieler, the most important thing is to keep a distance (at least 1.5 meters). In addition, good hand hygiene and observing the cough and sneezing rules .

Cloth masks could help protect others, the RKI boss admits. "They don't help to protect the mask wearer themselves," says Wieler. There is a very important point. Infecting others could be prevented with a “makeshift mask”. Especially since many Covid 19 patients feel no symptoms and then spread the virus. If you are sick and have symptoms, you should definitely stay at home. "Do not ride the subway - not even with a textile mask - please stay at home," emphasizes the RKI boss.

In order for these fabric masks to work properly, according to RKI estimates, it is very important to consider the following things:

  • The mask only works if it fits properly and fits snugly.
  • The mask has to be changed after moistening.
  • When wearing a mask, do not touch yourself or pluck the mask all the time. Because, then face yourself.

RKI boss Wieler warns: "The worst thing that can happen if you weigh yourself safely with a mask".

With a fabric mask, it is also important to keep your distance and to follow the other rules, such as regular hand washing. Top virologists such as Christian Drosten * from the Charité in Berlin and Alexander Kekulé * from the University of Halle have long campaigned for wearing a mask in public. So far, there have been no scientific studies on this topic. But apparently there is one now.

Published today: Simple medical face masks reduce the delivery of coronavirus and influenza virus by the infected mask wearer. Less virus in droplets and aerosol. https://t.co/yYMBTjfMCs #maskeauf By the way: Cloth masks can also be ironed for cleaning.

- Christian Drosten (@c_drosten) April 3, 2020

Corona crisis: Warning lawyers stop mask production

Update from April 2, 2020, 8:00 p.m .: Many companies rely on fabric masks in the corona crisis *. The Augsburg sewing and textile company Manomana also produces the facewear , even if only a few can deliver it. Warning lawyers are to blame for this.

Corona crisis: entrepreneur complains of mouth protection policy - lawyers should be to blame

In an interview with n-tv , Manomana boss Sina Trinkwalder said that up to 60,000 masks could be produced in her company every day. However, it should deliver "only a fraction" of it. The reason for this is the problematic delivery of their masks. Your company may only hand in the masks "on official orders from authorities or systemically important facilities in the context of emergency care".

It is irrelevant whether the masks are given away or sold. "We have to reject every small request from private nursing services or children's hospices ," says the Trinkwalder. But what the entrepreneur fears are fines or penalties if she should circulate the masks. This would put the judiciary on the map.

Corona crisis: "Mouth and nose covers" instead of mouthguards? Companies worry about warnings

"We are already sewing around 10,000 mouth-nose covers - here I have to be careful not to say 'protection' or anything like that," said Trinkwalder. In fact, lawyers are warning against the circulation of masks that are not approved as medical devices. The term "protection" should not be used as a term to avoid being misled. “Anyone who puts them into circulation can make them punishable under certain circumstances,” knows the textile entrepreneur. In addition to warnings, providers also face criminal and administrative fine proceedings.

However, terms such as "mouth covering" , "face mask" , "mouth shirt" or "nasal substance" are permitted on Facebook, according to a law firm. You could also have your masks medically certified. However, this takes too much time.

Corona crisis: Söder believes that "billions of masks" are needed nationwide

Markus Söder also sees a need. “In the long run, we will need an enormous amount of masks. I believe that in the end we will need billions of masks in Germany, "said the Bavarian Prime Minister in Weng, Lower Bavaria, on Thursday. Priority would be given to medical staff as well as old people's and nursing homes. But the masks would be needed" in the broader development, even if it was it's about occupational safety, about working together. ”In addition to Söder, NRW Minister of Health Karl-Josef Laumann also focused on protective masks and other urgently needed protective material. At a press conference, he made clear statements about the supply situation in his state.

Update from April 2, 2020, 3:35 p.m .: The Robert Koch Institute in the middle of the ongoing corona crisis changed its assessment of wearing face masks . If people wear a mask as a precautionary measure - even without symptoms - this can reduce the risk of viruses being transmitted to others, according to the website of the federal authority. However, this is not scientifically proven. Previously, the RKI had only recommended mouthguards for people with acute respiratory diseases.

Corona crisis: RKI changes recommendation on protective masks - and warns at the same time

However, the RKI also gives reasons for the change in recommendations. Not everyone who is infected with Sars-CoV-2 also notices that, it said. Some infected people would not get sick at all, but could still pass on the pathogen. At the same time, the institute emphasizes that rules for coughing and sneezing, the minimum distance and hand hygiene should continue to be observed even with masks. The experts also pointed out that there is insufficient evidence that mouth-nose protection or a self-sewn mask protects the wearer himself from infection .

Update from April 2, 2020: What is Germany's position on the requirement for protective masks? The Spiegel asked for this in random samples in 16 municipalities after a protective mask requirement had been imposed in certain situations, for example when shopping in a supermarket, in neighboring Austria and the city of Jena in Thuringia in the days before.

According to the Spiegel report, the district mayor of Berlin Mitte, who is currently ill with Covid-19 , Stephan von Dassel (Greens), also wants the public to have mouth and nose protection for Berliners. In addition to Jena, the Thuringian district of Nordhausen has now become active when it comes to protective masks. From Monday onwards, it is officially recommended to wear a protective mask in shops, buses and taxis. After Easter , according to the new general decree , it becomes an obligation there .

Corona crisis: duty mask mask is controversial as a measure

But the measure is controversial among city leaders in municipal crisis teams. Munich Mayor Dieter Reiter (SPD) warns: "According to my experts, such a mask requirement could also contribute to a deceptive feeling of security in the population." According to Reiter, wearing protective masks could prevent people from continuing to follow the rules To keep "sensible and strict" distance rules. No such regulation is currently planned for the Bavarian capital .

+

More and more people in Germany voluntarily wear protective masks in public. Like former Chancellor Schröder with his partner.

© dpa / Marcus Prell

Due to the low stock of masks , an obligation is rejected by many. Masks are still lacking in areas where protective clothing is urgently needed: in hospitals, at nursing services and homes. The city of Jena therefore called on its citizens to sew masks themselves . Protection in the sense of the regulation also includes shawls and scarves that cover the mouth and nose.

While countries like Austria, South Korea and Taiwan , which have already imposed a protective mask requirement , the Federal Government is currently rejecting this. Federal Health Minister Jens Spahn said in a press conference on Tuesday that he still sees " no need " for this. But he called it a "good signal" when people voluntarily opt for a mouthguard.

In the sample-like Spiegel survey, other municipalities reacted rather negatively to the proposal of a mouth protection obligation. For example, the Mayor of Hanau asked citizens to “voluntarily” wear self-made masks on the streets. However, he warns against buying a professional protective mask, because this moment would be needed elsewhere.

Corona crisis: Many politicians advise against wearing a protective mask

Bernd Wiegand, Mayor of Halle (Saale) also does not want to prescribe any obligation, but also advises that it be worn voluntarily. The authorities in Essen, Flensburg, Freiburg im Breisgau, Lübeck and Frankfurt (Oder) also do not want to introduce any obligation . Magdeburg is also included in this list. “I think people have been prescribed enough. Everyone should decide for themselves, ”said Mayor Lutz Trümper.

And even Stephan Pusch, district administrator in the Heinsberg district (North Rhine-Westphalia) , in which the percentage of most corona cases in Germany is still recorded, is cautious about protective masks: "So far, no virologist has told me that this is necessary," said Pusch.

The state governments are also cautious . In Hamburg , they first want to improve the health care and other sensitive areas before deciding on further measures, reports Spiegel. The Saxon state government apparently does not consider the obligation to wear a protective mask until after Easter . And the Bavarian Prime Minister Markus Söder (CSU), his Thuringian colleague Bodo Ramelow (left) and Prime Minister Malu Dreyer (SPD, Rhineland-Palatinate) have at least so far not wanted a protective mask.

ARD daily topics: With mouth protection in front of the camera - appeal to the audience

Update from April 1, 2020: On Tuesday, several influential prime ministers had spoken out against a mask requirement in Germany at this time. In addition to Markus Söder and Winfried Kretschmann , NRW Prime Minister Armin Laschet also declined. He currently does not consider such an obligation to be necessary. The priority is currently to get more protective masks for medical personnel. Health Minister Jens Spahn also sees it this way: “In the current situation, I see no need for an obligation, but I see a great willingness to show solidarity in order to protect others. And that is a good signal. "

SWR editor Kristina Böker presented a different perspective in the ARD daily topics . Yes, it looks strange to walk around with a face mask and she "hesitated three days". It remains a “strange feeling that fits March 2020”. But now she is wearing the mouthguard sewn by her children.

After her personal introduction to her comment, even with a mask at the beginning, there was an appeal from society as a whole. At first, school closings and exit restrictions were considered too drastic, but life was completely turned upside down. "We are currently renouncing fundamental rights and large parts of economic life in favor of health protection to a considerable extent." It was only a "small step" to wear masks now. Wherever it is too narrow for the minimum distance, for example in buses and trains or in supermarkets. "Whether appeal or duty - I would stick to it," said Boker.

"Compared to the many restrictions that already exist, this is only a small step for me. (...) Whether appeal or duty - I would stick to it." Kristina Böker (@ kriscons1) comments on #mundschutz - mit Mundschutz. (red) pic.twitter.com/Q5yjEQxebs

- Tagesthemen (@tagesthemen) March 31, 2020

Is the mouthguard obligation coming in Germany? Söder speaks of "emergency" - Kretschmann: "completely wrong"

Update 1 p.m .: Baden-Württemberg's Prime Minister Winfried Kretschmann also declines to wear protective masks in Germany. It would be "completely wrong" to create an additional shortage, since masks are currently urgently needed for the medical sector.

A scientific study has now looked at when the peak and possibly an end of the corona pandemic in Germany could have been reached. Meanwhile, the number of corona cases in Baden-Württemberg continues to rise.

Mask requirement in Germany? Prime Minister Söder fears hamster purchases

Update, 12:34 pm: Bavaria's Prime Minister Markus Söder spoke on Tuesday on the subject of respiratory masks . In doing so, he also reacted to the newly introduced obligation in Austria. Söder does not consider a mask requirement in Germany to be correct. According to him, there was also agreement on this point at the federal level.

Accordingly, such an obligation could lead to hamster purchases of respirators. That would be counter-productive, since healthcare personnel in particular need medical and high-quality masks. The important masks could then be missing here because they would be hoarded elsewhere. "Everyone is currently in agreement: When it comes to masks, doctors and nurses currently need masks because the risk of infection is higher here," said Söder.

Söder does not consider a duty in supermarkets, as it now exists in Austria, to be necessary. It would be more important to him that masks are available in offices or places where people would have to work together for a long time.

Nevertheless, the Bavarian Prime Minister also made it clear that it is currently difficult to get exactly these high-quality masks on the world market. Söder spoke of an "emergency".

An insider had already reported on Monday that increasing numbers of buyers from the United States were trying to outperform European masks from Asia on the world market.

At the same press conference, Olaf Scholz said that they now wanted to produce masks in Germany and that companies wanted to offer financial incentives to switch production to this product. There are already a number of manufacturers who are ready to produce masks. "This can now happen very quickly, and we are in the process of implementing it with great emphasis."

In return, the federal government gives "financial commitments that are necessary so that companies are now at a certain risk, convert their production and manufacture things that they may not manufacture forever," said Scholz. He had already discussed this with Federal Minister of Health Jens Spahn (CDU).

In addition, the Federal Government is now also cooperating with globally active companies when it comes to purchasing protective equipment, so that procurement is improved.

#Corona virus Germany: Press conference with @Markus_Soeder and @OlafScholz on current developments in the # Corona crisis https://t.co/AJh0WxLp3J

- phoenix (@phoenix_de) March 31, 2020

Update, 11.40 a.m .: Markus Söder will be speaking live in a press conference here shortly. * He may also comment on a possible protective mask requirement.

Original article, 8:01 a.m .: Berlin / Munich - Will we Germans soon wear all mouthguards in public to curb the spread of the corona virus? As of Wednesday, Austria is obliged to wear mouth and nose protection. The masks are distributed in front of the supermarkets. In the medium term, there should be a mouth protection requirement everywhere in the public. The masks are used in particular for third-party protection, that is, so as not to infect others unconsciously, provided that the virus is already being unwittingly carried.

Mask requirement in Germany: Jena is the first city to make mouthguards compulsory

The city of Jena also follows a similar path. Starting next week, it will be the first German city to make a protective mask compulsory, for example in local public transport or in buildings with a lot of public traffic. Shawls or scarves are also possible, provided they cover the nose and mouth. The town hall “urges” the population to sew protective masks themselves.

Virologists have also suggested wearing protective masks in public. In his NDR podcast, virologist Christian Drosten spoke of the fact that neckerchiefs can also be useful as protection against infection * from others. In his MDR podcast, his colleague Alexander Kekulé designed an exit scenario * according to which the Germans would have to wear appropriate masks in public for months.

Is the protective mask compulsory in Germany? Söder evades the question in the morning magazine

Is this the first step towards a Germany-wide protective mask requirement? Bavarian Prime Minister Markus Söder avoided the question on Tuesday morning in the morning magazine of ARD and ZDF . According to Söder, no such obligation is currently planned. The most important thing at the moment is to adhere to the minimum distance.

Germany first needed more masks, “namely the high-quality masks, the medically perfect masks for all of our staff in hospitals and medical practices. That alone is missing. That is why it is important that we do not start by discussing an obligation, but rather procurement. ”Söder advocated“ national emergency production ”.

Federal government warns of "false sense of security" when wearing a mask

The spokesman for the federal government, Steffen Seibert , was reluctant to respond to the request on Monday. Such protection is "perhaps a useful addition to the already applicable hygiene rules," said Seibert. However, this should not lead to "a wrong feeling of security" and the rules such as keeping your distance, washing your hands and avoiding contacts would no longer be observed.

A spokesman for the Federal Ministry of Health, on the other hand, said that the use of such mouth-nose masks could be considered particularly when considering exit scenarios from the currently applicable corona measures.

The SPD health expert Karl Lauterbach told the editorial network Germany (RND): "From a medical point of view, I personally think such a provision makes a lot of sense." The importance of masks to curb the spread of the coronavirus was initially greatly underestimated. However, the prerequisite is "that there are enough masks and that they are not missing for the medical staff".

Masks would have to be prescribed by federal states or local health authorities

According to the RND report, such a mandatory mask would be legally possible in Germany. However, it would have to be ordered by the federal states or the local health authorities. According to RND research, corresponding plans would not yet be running in the countries.

Is cell phone monitoring coming in Germany? A virologist warns of “pseudo-security” and calls such a plan “madness”. A man from the particularly affected Heinsberg spat on an officer during a police operation and shouted: "I have Corona!" This is not the only curious case, another man loudly called to his fellow man to "make more love" and threw several thousand euros from his balcony.

likes / dpa

* Merkur.de and tz.de are part of the nationwide Ippen-Digital editors network

List of rubric lists: © dpa / Peter Kneffel

Source: merkur

All news articles on 2020-04-04

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