From BZ/dpa
Berlin’s Senator for Culture, Klaus Lederer, expects the corona mask requirement on buses and trains in the capital to end by spring 2023 at the latest
“We will discuss in the Senate at the beginning of the new year when the right time is for this,” said the left-wing politician on Tuesday. A decision will be made in close cooperation with the state of Brandenburg and the situation in the health sector will be examined closely.
“At the moment, the signals from the hospitals are that they are more than full and there is a lack of staff everywhere. In this respect, I also see wearing a mask in the winter months as an act of solidarity,” said Lederer.
Countries can decide for themselves
The countries can decide for themselves whether masks are compulsory on buses and trains in local transport. For long-distance trains and long-distance buses, on the other hand, according to the Infection Protection Act, an FFP2 mask requirement is stipulated nationwide until April 7, 2023. In Bavaria and Saxony-Anhalt, masks are no longer compulsory in public transport. In Schleswig-Holstein it expires at the end of the year.
Berlin’s Governing Mayor Franziska Giffey (SPD) had told the dpa: “I think that the mask requirement will be abandoned next year.” She did not become more specific with regard to the exact period.
She pointed out that the current state regulation on the corona measures applies until January 17th. “The question of how to proceed will have to be discussed again at the beginning of the year.”
State Secretary for Health Thomas Götz (Greens) called for action not to be hasty. “At the state and federal level, we have resolutions that are still correct and sensible.
After that, there are currently no plans to abolish the obligation to isolate or wear a mask in public transport in Berlin,” said Götz. He also emphasized that coordination with Brandenburg and other federal states is “important and decisive”.