Coronavirus: Karl Lauterbach warns of the end of the mask requirement in schools

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Karl Lauterbach

Photo: Michael Kappeler / dpa

Karl Lauterbach warns of the end of the mask requirement in schools in North Rhine-Westphalia.

»NRW should keep the mask requirement in schools in view of the increasing incidence.

Masks are of great importance for the fourth wave, also in schools, "said the SPD health expert of the Düsseldorf" Rheinische Post ".

The state government wants to decide this week about lifting the mask requirement.

"Japan shows with consistent mask requirement that the fourth wave can be fought without lockdown," Lauterbach is quoted as saying.

"School closings must be avoided at all costs this winter."

Lauterbach warns: "If you want to do without masks in school, you have to test three times a week before class, otherwise there is a risk of dropping out of school due to the high number of cases." Because the incidences would increase in all age groups.

“Masks are the better solution.

School closings are a problem for the children and young people, but not the masks. "

Expansion of booster vaccinations

In view of the renewed increase in the corona incidence in Germany, Lauterbach is also calling for a significant expansion of booster vaccinations for risk groups.

"In view of the increasing number of cases, including among older people, a new vaccination campaign to use the booster vaccinations in this age group is now absolutely necessary," he told the newspapers of the Funke media group.

According to the Robert Koch Institute (RKI), the incidence at the weekend was three-digit again for the first time and rose to 110.1 new infections per 100,000 inhabitants at the beginning of the week.

The so-called booster vaccinations can usually be given six months after the second spike so that further antibodies are formed.

"Booster vaccinations for the vulnerable groups are urgently needed, especially in view of the increasing numbers," said Dirk Heinrich, federal chairman of the Virchow Association of Resident Doctors, of the "Neue Osnabrücker Zeitung".

"Unfortunately, this is not uniformly regulated nationwide, so that there are delays in some places."

as / dpa / Reuters