Corona: Federal government wants to keep masks compulsory on public transport

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Federal Health Minister Karl Lauterbach (SPD)

Photo: Stefanie Loos / AFP

For the time being, the federal government is not planning to abolish the obligation to wear masks on public transport.

The obligation in buses and trains, where you cannot keep distances and sit together in a small space, has so far been issued for good reason, said government spokesman Steffen Hebestreit.

He could not report that there are now plans to lift the mask requirement.

At the same time, Hebestreit referred to an ongoing discussion with a view to the summer, "in which we have to adapt to the pandemic again and again".

Transport Minister Volker Wissing (FDP) had spoken out in favor of ending the mask requirement on buses, trains and planes.

"We should take a uniform approach here across Europe and lift the mask requirement, especially in air traffic," he said.

This has met with resistance from his coalition partners, the SPD and the Greens.

Health Minister Karl Lauterbach (SPD) wrote on Twitter that with up to 150 corona deaths every day and a still very high incidence, “there is no leeway to do without masks in public transport”.

The Green health expert Janosch Dahmen also said that it would be “unreasonable to lift the mask requirement on public transport right now”.

You need protective masks on the train and bus for a safe summer.

The nationwide mask requirement on airplanes and long-distance trains is stipulated in the Infection Protection Act until September 23rd.

Masks are also compulsory in local transport with buses and trains, which are stipulated by the respective federal states.

til/dpa