Germany to Bring Back Mask Mandate in October

A street scene in Frankfurt

Germany will reinstitute its face mask mandate on planes and long-distance trains come fall.

Officials expect daily case figures to dramatically increase in colder months.

The mandate, which will go into effect in October, was announced by Gesundheitsminister Karl Lauterbach.

“Germany should be better prepared for the next coronavirus winter than in previous years,” said  Lauterbach, adding that the country plans  a vaccination campaign with new vaccines that will target the omicron subvariants.

The mask mandate will remain in place until at least early April.

Masks will also be mandatory in all healthcare settings.

Individual Bundesländer – German has 16 Federal states including Bayern, Baden-Württemburg, and Hesse –  will also be able to make determinations concerning whether to mandate masks on public transit, in schools, and at public events.

(Photo: Accura Media Group)