Masks are compulsory on public transport in February

Created: 01/13/2023, 2:45 p.m

By wearing mouth and nose covers, passengers on a train protect themselves from the corona virus.

© Boris Roessler/dpa/symbol image

Hamburg ends the mask requirement in local public transport at the beginning of February.

The same applies to the obligation to isolate in the event of a corona infection.

Health Senator Schlotzhauer refers to the falling number of infections and the high vaccination rate.

Hamburg – The mask requirement in Hamburg’s local transport will no longer apply on February 1st.

The same applies to the obligation to isolate, the health authority said on Friday.

Lower Saxony, Bremen and North Rhine-Westphalia had previously announced the end of the mask requirement.

The mask requirement will also be lifted at the beginning of February in long-distance public transport, for example when traveling with Deutsche Bahn.

In the neighboring state of Schleswig-Holstein, there has no longer been an obligation to wear a mask since the beginning of the year.

“Hamburg has a very high vaccination rate.

In addition, there is great immune protection for the population," explained Senator for Health Melanie Schlotzhauer (SPD).

In addition, the number of infections has been declining since Christmas.

"Against this background, we can lift the measures to contain the corona pandemic at the end of the month."

The authority then relies on the personal responsibility of the people of Hamburg, said the senator.

“Everyone can decide for themselves when it makes sense to wear a mask.” There will then no longer be an obligation to isolate.

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.

However, this does not only apply to infections with the corona virus: “Anyone who is sick stays at home,” emphasized Schlotzhauer.

According to the authorities, the Hamburg SARS-CoV-2 Containment Ordinance, which was only extended on Thursday, will remain in force until January 31st.

According to the current status, a further extension is not planned – “provided there are no significant changes in the infection situation”.

So far, a surgical mask has been mandatory in local transport in Hamburg - 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.

dpa