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COVID-19 RULES

German parliament to end mask-wearing rule for MPs

An era draws to an end on Monday as the German Bundestag will no longer require politicians to wear Covid masks in the debating chamber.

Published: 21 April 2022 16:48 CEST

A sign informing MPs of Covid rules in the German Bundestag.

A sign informing MPs of Covid rules in the German Bundestag. Photo: picture alliance/dpa | Michael Kappeler

Around three weeks after states in Germany dropped many of their Covid measures, the federal parliament is set to follow with a massive relaxation of mask-wearing and other Covid restrictions.

The obligation to wear a mask in the building and present ‘3G’ proof to participate in plenary and committee meetings will be abolished as of Monday “in light of the current pandemic situation”, a memo from Bundestag President Bärbel Bas explained.

“Of course, everyone is free to continue wearing a mask,” Bas wrote. “In particular, where it is not possible to remain at a distance, this continues to seem advisable.”

MPs will still be able to order masks and tests on expenses and will be able to get tested at the Bundestag until May 20th.

The move marks the beginning of the end of 18 months of strict Covid measures in Germany’s iconic parliamentary building.

READ ALSO: KEY POINTS: The Covid rules you still need to know in Germany

At the height of the pandemic, 736 MPs and their staff were even subject to the ‘2G-plus’ rule, requiring them to be fully vaccinated or recovered and also present a negative test to enter the debating chamber.

The move meant that several politicians from the far-right AfD party – many of whom are vaccine sceptics – were unable to enter the main chamber and instead had to sit in the public viewing area where the 2G-plus rule did not apply.

Covid infections on the up

After dropping consistently for several weeks, the 7-day incidence of Covid infections has once again started to rise in Germany. This could be due to underreporting over the Easter weekend but may also reflect the relaxation of measures and the fact that more people were socialising during the break.

As of Thursday, the weekly incidence of infections stood at 720 per 100,000 people. Around 186,000 new infections were reported within the past 24 hour period, and 324 people died after contracting the virus.

READ ALSO: What are Germany’s new Covid mask rules?

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Germany to repeal last protective measures against Covid-19

The remaining restrictions – or the requirement to wear a mask in surgeries, clinics and nursing homes – are falling away a couple of days after German Health Minister Karl Lauterbach (SPD) made an announcement that the Covid-19 pandemic is “over.”

“We have successfully managed the pandemic in Germany,” said Lauterbach at a press conference on Wednesday.

In light of low infection numbers and virus variants deemed to be less dangerous, Germany has been steadily peeling away the last of its longstanding measures.

READ ALSO: Germany monitoring new Covid variant closely, says Health Minister

The obligation to wear a mask on public transport was lifted on February 2nd.

During the height of the pandemic between 2020 and 2021, Germany introduced its strictest measures, which saw the closure of public institutions including schools and daycare centres (Kitas).

“The strategy of coping with the crisis had been successful overall,” said Lauterbach, while also admitting: “I don’t believe that the long school closures were entirely necessary.”

Since the first coronavirus cases in Germany were detected in January 2020, there have been over 38 million reported cases of the virus, and 171,272 people who died from or with the virus, according to the Robert Koch Institute.

Voluntary measures

In surgeries and clinics, mask rules can remain in place on a voluntary basis – which some facilities said they would consider based on their individual situations.

“Of course, practices can stipulate a further obligation to wear masks as part of their house rules, and likewise everyone can continue to wear a mask voluntarily,” the head of the National Association of Statutory Health Insurance Physicians (KBV), Andreas Gassen, told DPA.

But Gassen said it was good there would no longer be an “automatic obligation”, and that individuals could take the responsibility of protecting themselves and others into their own hands.

READ ALSO: Is the pandemic over in Germany?

“Hospitals are used to establishing hygiene measures to protect their patients, even independently of the coronavirus,” the head of the German Hospital Association (DKG), Gerald Gaß, told DPA.

With the end of the last statutory Covid measures, he said, we are entering “a new phase” in dealing with this illness.

“Hospitals will then decide individually according to the respective situation which measures they will take,” he said, for example based on the ages and illnesses of the patients being treated.

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