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Germany: COVID measures to be reintroduced from October

COVID measures to be reintroduced from October

Coronavirus in Germany. In anticipation of an increase in virus cases during the colder season, Germany’s government has taken the first step towards the tightening of national Coronavirus restrictions for the coming autumn and winter.

Beginning October through April, wearing masks will be mandatory on airlines and long-distance train and bus travel. Individuals will be required to present a negative coronavirus test and wear masks in hospitals, nursing homes, and other facilities with vulnerable patients.

Masks may be worn on public transportation, schools for pupils in grades five and up, and during public indoor events. The country’s 16 states will take on many other laws individually, depending on how bad the virus spreads in their regions.

Those exempted from wearing a mask will only be patients whose treatment prevents wearing a mask. Whereas exemption from the testing obligation will be only newly vaccinated and newly recovered from the virus.

A joint statement by the German health and justice ministries said if virus numbers rise, some community venues such as schools, jails, or asylum-seeker shelters, may resume regular testing.

“Germany should be better prepared than in recent years for the next coronavirus winter,” Health Minister Karl Lauterbach said, adding that a vaccination programme with new vaccines would begin in the fall as well.

Special efforts will be taken to keep schools open, said Justice Minister Marco Buschmann