The German authorities have announced that as of February 2, 2023, the requirement to wear masks will no longer apply on long-distance trains and buses.
The decision to cancel the mandatory mask regime when traveling long distances was taken after the authorities concluded that the situation with COVID-19 was under control.
German Federal Minister of Health Karl Lauterbach commented on this topic. He said the number of cases of infection was halved compared to the previous month. Moreover, the number of hospitalizations has also decreased. Thus, it is no longer necessary to maintain all existing protection measures.
“The situation with the pandemic has stabilized. The incidence is half that of a month ago. Monitoring shows negative values for the presence of infection. In addition, the number of sick leave and hospital admissions to hospitals has decreased. The situation is tense, but manageable””— Minister Lauterbach said in a statement.
The government also noted that the population has developed a high level of immunity, and there is every reason to believe that there will be no more winter wave.
While the requirement to wear masks is no longer mandatory on long-distance trains and buses, the minister stressed that anyone who wants to wear personal protective equipment can do so on a voluntary basis.
“We are entering an endemic situation. But for anyone who wants to protect themselves and others, of course, it is still useful to wear a — on the basis of personal responsibility and voluntariness”, — stressed Minister Lauterbach.
The situation with COVID-19 in Germany has improved significantly. Data provided by the World Health Organization shows that the country has reported 163,625 new coronavirus infections and 96 deaths in the past seven days.
While the coronavirus situation in Germany remains stable, in China the disease progresses. For this reason, the German authorities have decided to introduce mandatory testing for all travelers from China.
All arrivals in Germany from China will be required to be tested for COVID-19 before leaving. In addition, some travelers may also be required to take a retest upon arrival.