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BAVARIA

Bavaria orders compulsory FFP2 masks on public transport and in shops

The southern state is tightening mask restrictions over fears of Covid-19 variants spreading.

Bavaria orders compulsory FFP2 masks on public transport and in shops
A pharmacy employee shows an FFP2 mask. Photo: DPA

From next Monday, people in Bavaria will have to wear FFP2 mouth and nose coverings while travelling on public transport and when in shops.

State premier Markus Söder, of Angela Merkel's CDU sister party the Christian Social Union (CSU), announced the changes after a cabinet meeting in Munich on Tuesday.

Söder said that the “normal community masks” were for the protection of others during the pandemic. FFP2 masks, which are available in pharmacies, also protect the wearer.

The aim, he said, was to improve safety in public transport and in the retail trade.

“The availability (of the masks) in trade is sufficiently guaranteed, so there is no shortage of FFP2,” the state premier stressed. The masks are “clearly in abundance, in part anyway”, he added.

Overall, Söder said there was a “cautiously positive trend” in view of declining virus numbers in Bavaria. “A large part of the measures are beginning to have an effect,” he said.

READ ALSO: Merkel says Germany could need tough lockdown measures 'for 8 to 10 more weeks'


Bavarian premier Markus Söder. Photo: DPA

Within 24 hours, there were 1,740 new infections in Bavaria reported on Tuesday – almost 500 fewer than a week ago.

With a seven-day incidence of 158.8 (average number of Covid-19 infections per 100,000 residents in seven days), Bavaria is in seventh place among the 16 states nationwide.

Throughout Germany there were a total of 12,802 positive cases over the previous 24 hours with an additional 891 deaths.

This is not the full picture, though as it's still unclear what effect socialising and travel over the Christmas holidays will have.

Authorities say we'll see more of the consequences of this towards the end of the week.

Söder stressed that consistency and patience was still needed in the fight against the virus in Germany.

The CSU leader warned against an increased spread of coronavirus variants, such as that which originated in the UK.

He compared the measures against the mutations to “a race against time”. “The mutations are causing us concern,” he said.

In this context, Söder repeated his proposal calling for Germany to debate making the vaccine compulsory for a limited time for staff in old people's and nursing homes.

The Covid-19 vaccine is not compulsory in Germany.

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HEALTH

Could there be a new wave of Covid-19 in Germany this autumn?

It’s back again: amid sinking temperatures, the incidence of Covid-19 has been slowly rising in Germany. But is this enough to merit worrying about the virus?

Could there be a new wave of Covid-19 in Germany this autumn?

More people donning face masks in supermarkets, friends cancelling plans last minute due to getting sick with Covid-19. We might have seen some of those familiar reminders recently that the coronavirus is still around, but could there really be a resurgence of the virus like we experienced during the pandemic years?

According to virologists, the answer seems to be ‘maybe’: since July, the number of people newly infected with Covid-19 has been slowly rising from a very low level.

According to the Robert Koch Institute (RKI), nine people per 100,000 inhabitants became newly infected in Germany last week. A year ago, there were only around 270 reported cases.

Various Corona variants are currently on the loose in the country. According to the RKI,  the EG.5 (also called Eris) and XBB.1.16 lines were each detected in the week ending September 3rd with a share of just under 23 percent. 

The highly mutated variant BA.2.86 (Pirola), which is currently under observation by the World Health Organisation (WHO), also arrived in the country this week, according to RKI. 

High number of unreported case

The RKI epidemiologists also warned about a high number of unreported cases since hardly any testing is done. They pointed out that almost half of all registered sewage treatment plants report an increasing viral load in wastewater tests.

The number of hospital admissions has also increased slightly, but are still a far cry from the occupation rate amid the pandemic. Last week it was two per 100,000 inhabitants. In the intensive care units, only 1.2 percent of all beds are occupied by Covid-19 patients.

Still, a good three-quarters (76.4 percent) of people in Germany have been vaccinated at least twice and thus have basic immunity, reported RKI. 

Since Monday, doctors’ offices have been vaccinating with the adapted vaccine from Biontech/Pfizer, available to anyone over 12 years old, with a vaccine for small children set to be released the following week and one for those between 5 and 11 to come out October 2nd.

But Health Minister Karl Lauterbach has so far only recommended that people over 60 and those with pre-existing conditions get vaccinated.

READ ALSO: EXPLAINED: Who should get a Covid jab this autumn in Germany?

“The pandemic is over, the virus remains,” he said. “We cannot predict the course of coming waves of corona, but it is clear that older people and people with pre-existing conditions remain at higher risk of becoming severely ill from Covid-19”

The RKI also recommended that people with a cold voluntarily wear a mask. Anyone exhibiting cough, cold, sore throat or other symptoms of a respiratory illness should voluntarily stay at home for three to five days and take regular corona self-tests. 

However, further measures such as contact restrictions are not necessary, he said.

One of many diseases

As of this autumn, Covid-19 could be one of many respiratory diseases. As with influenza, there are no longer absolute infection figures for coronavirus.

Saarbrücken pharmacist Thorsten Lehr told German broadcaster ZDF that self-protection through vaccinations, wearing a mask and getting tested when symptoms appear are prerequisites for surviving the Covid autumn well. 

Only a new, more aggressive mutation could completely turn the game around, he added.

On April 7th of this year, Germany removed the last of its over two-year long coronavirus restrictions, including mask-wearing in some public places.

READ ALSO: German doctors recommend Covid-19 self-tests amid new variant

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