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MASKS

German health experts give green light to end of masks, but only outside

In recent days, several experts have come out in favour of dispensing with masks in the open air - but most say it is still too early to remove them indoors.

German health experts give green light to end of masks, but only outside
A sign in Emden, Lower Saxony, reminds walkers to wear masks. Photo: picture alliance/dpa | Sina Schuldt

As scorching temperatures hit Germany this week, and people head out to parks and beer gardens, the verdict from the experts is clear: with infection rates falling, there should be no issue with dispensing with mask-wearing in open spaces. 

In an interview with the Redaktionsnetzwerk Deutschland, Gernot Marx, the President of the German Interdisciplinary Association for Intensive Care and Intensive Care Emergency Medicine (DIVI), said that people should be allowed to enjoy a little bit more normality when socialising outdoors this summer.

READ ALSO: German Health Minister suggests gradual end to compulsory face masks

“Generally speaking, there’s no reason not to,” he said. “We spend a lot of time outdoors in summer, and the infection rates continue to fall. And the most important thing: more and more people have had either one or two vaccine shots.”

While no environment can be classed as zero-risk, highly ventilated or outdoor areas are generally seen as safer because the aerosol particles that can transmit the Covid-19 virus are more widely dispersed in the air. 

“Outside, where you can have a lot of distance between many people over a large area and the aerosols don’t collect in a single space, you can definitely take off the mask and regain a bit of normality,” added Marx. 

Virologist Melanie Brinkmann, who has advised the government throughout the Covid-19 crisis, and Peter Walger, an expert in infectious diseases, also agreed with Marx’s assessment.

“Since the spread of pathogens via aerosols is barely an issue outdoors, we could dispense with masks outside,” Brinkmann told the Braunschweiger Zeitung.

However, Marx believes people should still consider wearing masks in outdoor situations where they may be in closer contact with others, such as at bus stops or in queues. 

Too soon to remove masks indoors

While virologists and other health experts are happy to see masks done away with outdoors, many believe it is far too soon to get rid of them in indoor areas, where the chance of transmission is significantly higher.

“When we’re at a point where we’ve got a 70 percent vaccination rate and the incidence remains at a low level, then we can start having that discussion,” said Marx.

As of Tuesday, 26.8 percent of the German population had been fully vaccinated, while around 48 percent had had at least one dose of vaccine. While the vaccination drive has been picking up pace in recent months, the country is unlikely to reach the 70 percent mark for a number of months. 

READ ALSO: Major milestone: more than 40 million Germans vaccinated against Covid

In some states, as infection rates drop below a critical point, schools are now allowed to remove the the obligation to wear masks.

In North Rhine-Westphalia, for example, the requirement to wear masks indoors in schools was dropped after the seven-day incidence per 100,000 residents dropped below 35. 

“It’s a bit too early,” said Brinkmann, adding that many pupils and teachers aren’t yet vaccinated and that rapid tests aren’t entirely reliable. “The summer holidays are coming soon – couldn’t we have waited another few weeks?” 

Despite the warnings from the experts, some politicians – particularly from the pro-business Free Democratic Party (FDP) – continue to call for the mask-wearing requirement to be lifted both outdoors and indoors.

Defending the mask rules on Twitter, Social Democratic Party (SDP) politician and health expert Karl Lauterbach said it was still far too early to dispense with indoor masks.

“A complete waiver of the mask requirement shortly before the vaccination of millions is only one thing: fighting an election campaign with the health of the citizens,” he wrote.

“Of course, the mask requirement can be lifted almost everywhere outside. There is no super spreading outside. But unfortunately inside [it has to stay].”

Over the weekend, Justice Minister Christine Lambrecht (SPD) called for states to reassess whether their mask-wearing rules were still proportionate to the risk of infection, particularly outdoors.

In some states, residents must still wear masks on busy squares, shopping streets, and playgrounds.

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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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