Masks are also compulsory in public transport in Lower Saxony and Bremen

Created: 2023-01-13Updated: 2023-01-13 13:23

A passerby carries an FFP2 mask in his hand.

© Boris Roessler/dpa/symbol image

The obligation to wear masks on buses and trains has been part of everyday life for passengers for a long time.

Several federal states have already overturned this obligation.

Lower Saxony and Bremen are now following suit - at the same time as the federal government.

Hanover/Bremen – The mask requirement in local transport in Lower Saxony and Bremen will no longer apply from February 2nd.

The health departments of both federal states announced this on Friday.

The mask requirement in long-distance public transport, for example when traveling with Deutsche Bahn, will also be lifted at this point.

After February 2nd, the mask requirement will still apply in clinics, nursing homes, medical practices and other health facilities.

In earlier times of the pandemic, masks were mandatory in many more areas, such as in shops or at events.

Lower Saxony's Health Minister Daniela Behrens (SPD) said: "I am pleased that Lower Saxony and Bremen as well as the federal government finally managed to find a common date for the lifting of the mask requirement in bus and train traffic.

It is important for me to emphasize that the lifting of the mask requirement does not mean a mask ban.”

In local public transport, the mask requirement has already been abolished in Bavaria, Saxony-Anhalt and Schleswig-Holstein.

Berlin, Brandenburg, Thuringia, Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, Saxony and Baden-Württemberg plan to lift it by the beginning of next month at the latest.

So far, the obligation to wear a surgical mask in local transport in Lower Saxony has applied - in the past, an FFP2 mask had to be worn.

The federal government had previously announced that the mask requirement in long-distance public transport would fall early on February 2nd.

This was announced by Federal Health Minister Karl Lauterbach (SPD) on Friday in Berlin.

According to the current Infection Protection Act, FFP2 masks were still mandatory in long-distance buses and trains until April 7th.

Lower Saxony announced an end to the obligation to isolate on Thursday.

From February 1, anyone who becomes infected with the corona virus no longer has to isolate themselves at home or have a positive rapid test checked with a PCR test.

dpa