As of Monday, the fight against the corona virus all over Bavaria means: mask on! But does that only apply to buses and shops? Or also while cycling? The most important answers at a glance.
- In the fight against the corona pandemic *, the state government has imposed a mask requirement in Bavaria
- The mask requirement applies from Monday
- In this overview you can find out what you need to know about the obligation to wear a mask
- Here you will find the basic facts * about the corona virus. In addition: Current case numbers in Germany as a map. Corona news from Germany can be found in our ticker *. The most important thing about the topic is also on our brand new Facebook page Corona News. Become a fan now.
Munich - Long smiled at you are suddenly our great role model: people who walk around with a mask over their mouths and noses . Those who have not yet belonged to it will have to do the same from Monday - whether they like it or not. But many still struggle a little with the masks. Time to get some clarification!
Corona virus: where exactly does the mask requirement apply?
Anyone who goes to a shop in Bavaria from Monday onwards or is traveling by public transport such as bus and train must wear a mask . The obligation already applies on the platform. You also have to wear a mask in banks and petrol stations. Alternatively, you can cover your mouth and nose with towels or scarves. Are you driving a car? Then you don't need a mask. If you still wear one - for example because you drive the elderly neighbor to the doctor - you should make sure that you are still identifiable. You don't have to wear a mask outdoors, for example when walking or cycling. There is also no general obligation to wear in authorities and medical practices .
Corona mask requirement in Bavaria from Monday: Does the obligation apply to everyone?
In principle yes, but only for adults and for children from the age of six . The Bavarian Ministry of Health informs that there is an exception to this rule only if it is “impossible for medical reasons, for example”. Children under the age of six are allowed to wear a mask, but they don't have to - and they shouldn't if they constantly pluck it. Children under the age of one should not wear a mask! Schoolchildren who have classes again from Monday can - but do not have to . They should be provided with starter packages with masks.
Corona mask requirement in Bavaria from Monday: Are there fines if you don't wear a mask?
Yes. If you are caught in the bus, train or shops without mouth-nose protection, a fine of 150 euros will be charged. Shopkeepers who do not ensure that their staff wear a mouth-to-nose cover may even face a payment of 5,000 euros .
“Mask on” is also the order of the day in Bavaria from Monday.
© Imago
Which mask is right for shopping and bus travel?
It is best to use an “everyday mask” made of fabric , also called a makeshift or “community mask”. There is also medical “Mouth and Nose Protection” (MNS), the classic “surgical mask”. Such masks have been tested and certified. "However, medical protective masks should still be reserved for doctors or nurses so that they can do their work with the best possible safety," says Hans-Joachim Niermann, Deputy Chairman of the Bavarian Pharmacists' Association. This applies all the more to “particle-filtering half masks” of protection classes two and three. Unlike surgical masks, these FFP2 / FFP3 masks protect the wearer themselves - but they are scarce and an important part of the equipment of medical personnel: you should leave it to them!
Buy corona mask: where do you get mouth-nose protection from now?
The situation had eased somewhat recently in the pharmacies . However, this should change due to the obligation. Masks are also available in medical supply stores and from online retailers . The latter also offer fabric masks. This also applies to some tailors and traditional costumes. Aldi Süd has also announced that it will soon be offering fabric or paper masks. Or you can simply sew yourself.
Buy and cost: Corona mask requirement in Bavaria from Monday
Even sewn masks usually cost five to 15 euros - depending on the material and equipment. So there are some to bind, but also with rubber or Velcro. The prices of surgical masks have risen . While these masks were previously available for a few cents each, they now often cost more than two euros. If you can't afford that, you'll need a scarf or scarf. There are also manufacturers on the Internet who offer "solidarity masks" for the needy free of charge . The costs are borne by buyers who also pay for a mask for the needy when ordering. The quota is limited.
If you want to sew masks yourself: which material should it be?
The Bavarian Ministry of Health says it should be as dense as possible and ideally consist of 100 percent cotton . "Other materials such as vacuum cleaner bags and cardboard" are not suitable. This also applies to masks made from coffee filters - a popular handicraft tip on the Internet. Manufacturer "Melitta" points out that its filters have fine pores. "Corona viruses with a size of 0.12 to 0.16 micrometers" are "many times smaller". With filter bag masks, there is often also a problem with the fit.
Corona mask requirement in Bavaria: Do everyday masks protect at all?
You cannot protect yourself with it - not directly. Everyday masks can protect others to a certain extent . If everyone wears a mask, you ultimately benefit yourself. However, it is unclear how good this third-party protection is. Solid scientific evidence for this is missing - this was already pointed out by Prof. Christian Drosten, chief virologist of the Berlin Charité.
It is conceivable that the masks will at least catch droplets that you eject when you speak or laugh - and thus protect others a bit if you carry the virus. "Because a large number of unrecognized people move around in public spaces without symptoms, mouth and nose protection protects other people, thereby reducing the spread of the infection and thus indirectly reducing the risk of catching infection," says Prof. Clemens Wendtner, infectiologist the Munich Clinic Schwabing.
Corona mask requirement: Do the masks withstand a strong sneeze?
No. Researchers at the Asan Medical Center in Seoul in South Korea recently came to this conclusion, as they report in the journal “Annals often Internal Medicine”. They asked four people infected with Sars-CoV-2 to cough on a dish 20 centimeters away. The experiment was carried out once without protection, then with an operating mask and with a cotton mask. The researchers then compared the virus concentration in the dishes and that of a throat swab. They found that whether unprotected or with a surgical mask - it made little difference when coughing . If an infected person wore a cotton mask, there were slightly fewer pathogens in the shell than with an operating mask. Neither mask provided real protection when coughing.
Corona mask requirement: can masks harm?
Yes - if you think you are protected by the mask alone and neglect important rules . So you have to keep a distance of 1.5 meters from others with a mask, often wash your hands and sneeze in the crook of your arm. Plucking around the mask all the time is not a good idea. But many will do that, fears Frank Ulrich Montgomery, Chairman of the World Medical Association and critic of the mask requirement. If used improperly, masks could even become dangerous : the virus is concentrated in the fabric, when you lose weight you touch the skin of your face - you can hardly get infected faster.
What should you watch out for when using it?
Before putting on, you should wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water . So no germs get from the fingers to the inside of the mask. Place these tightly so that as little air as possible penetrates the sides. Glasses wearers should take special care that the mask also fits snugly on the nose - otherwise the glasses will fog up. A sewn-in thin wire ensures a good fit. If the mask is wet, you have to change it. When laying down, be careful not to touch the outside and then wash your hands again .
Disinfect mouth-nose protection: what to do with the used mask?
Surgical masks are actually intended for single use . At the Bavarian Pharmacists' Association (BAV), it is justifiable to carry them a maximum of three times in everyday life - at the latest then they should be thrown away. In between, you can put them in the oven at 80 degrees for half an hour . Cloth masks can be used several times. You should let them air dry at home - otherwise they will become a paradise for mold and bacteria. It is best to wash the mask as soon as possible - at 60 to 90 degrees and with detergent. This can also be done by hand wash. Then let it dry well. If you want, you can iron cotton masks at the highest level - this also has a disinfectant effect. Heating in the microwave is not an alternative; masks with metal brackets even pose a fire hazard.
Corona mask requirement: can you still get enough air under a mask?
A WhatsApp message is currently circulating, according to which a lot of carbon dioxide collects under masks, which is particularly dangerous for children. But the fact is: the gas carbon dioxide is generally contained in the exhaled air in a higher concentration than in the inhaled air. The gas particles are so small that they can easily pass through the mask . This even applies to the denser FFP masks, which, by the way, make breathing more difficult - another reason not to use them in everyday life!
The mask requirement is intended to curb the spread in front of Corona. However, there are also defective protective masks. There are warnings of numerous models from China.
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* Merkur.de is part of the nationwide Ippen-Digital editors network.
List of rubric lists: © dpa / Julian Stratenschulte
