Mask duty falls
Lauterbach on Bayern praise: “What deserves respect in that?”
12/06/2022, 8:12 p.m
After Bavaria’s rush to abolish the obligation to wear masks in local transport, there was praise and criticism for the decision. The former Prime Minister of North Rhine-Westphalia Laschet expresses his “respect”. He immediately received a counterattack from Federal Minister of Health Lauterbach.
Some like the fact that the mask requirement in public transport in Bavaria and Saxony-Anhalt will fall this week, but not the other. The former Prime Minister of North Rhine-Westphalia, Armin Laschet, is one of those who like it. “Respect for the Bavarian state government for this course correction,” wrote the Union’s chancellor candidate in the last federal election on Twitter. “Almost all of Europe has abolished the mask requirement. It’s a good thing that Bavaria is the first German state to abolish restrictive requirements and regulations on buses and trains.”
Just over two hours go by when Federal Minister of Health Karl Lauterbach counters via the same short message service: “What deserves respect about that?” He tweeted and shared Laschet’s contribution. “Bavaria is ignoring the recommendations of the RKI and the Infection Protection Act passed with Bavaria.” Then he goes on to explain: “The clinics are already full and the children can’t find any help there. The staff is also exhausted. Consideration is different.”
Bavaria creates facts
Lauterbach’s rejection of Bavaria’s advance also comes to light. After the health ministers of the federal states could not agree on the question of the mask requirement, Bavaria created facts. Prime Minister Markus Söder referenced in a tweet to the “Austrian example”. As of December 10th, the obligation to wear a mask in local public transport is to fall and be replaced by a recommendation. Saxony-Anhalt quickly followed suit and submitted at the appointment. It should be ready on December 8th.
The latest decisions from the two countries are also approved by Lauterbach’s traffic light coalition colleagues. Finance Minister Lindner writes on Twitter: “Bayern is again relying more on personal responsibility for corona protection measures. The right decision (…)”
Similar to Lauterbach, the President of the Robert Koch Institute, Lothar Wieler, had recently pleaded for the continued wearing of masks. The extent to which this will be implemented is “ultimately a political decision,” said Wieler of the “Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung” according to the advance notice. Isolating yourself with corona disease remains important to protect others, Wieler continued. “It is just as important that people continue to wear masks, because this also keeps the number of respiratory diseases in check.”