Distancing, hand washing and avoiding contact are enough - Germany does not plan to introduce mandatory masks

SARAJEVO, (Patria) - Germany is not currently considering mandatory protective masks in stores, as decided by Austria today, the German government announced on Monday.

"Such protection may be a meaningful supplement to the existing hygiene rules, but it must not lead to a false sense of security," government spokesman Steffen Siebert said at a press conference.

Seibert explained that measures such as maintaining distance, washing hands, and avoiding contact are still the most effective protection against the spread of infection.

A spokesman for the German Ministry of Health explained that the protective masks introduced today by Austria as mandatory when entering self-service stores are not medical masks but simple protection for the nose and mouth.

"This type of mask can reduce the possibility of us infecting someone else," the Ministry of Health announced.

This type of protection can be useful when current movement restriction measures begin to be eased.

The German Medical Association also confirmed that protective masks that do not fall into the category of medical masks cannot prevent infection in the wearer.        

In contrast to the central authorities in Berlin, Bavaria, which has the second-highest number of infected people after the federal state of North Rhine-Westphalia, is "seriously considering" introducing mandatory protective masks.

"We are also considering this idea," said Bavarian Prime Minister Markus Soeder, who has emerged as the second most popular figure in German public opinion, behind Chancellor Angela Merkel, largely due to his good response to the coronavirus outbreak.
        The federal state of Baden-Württemberg holds a similar position.
        The Prime Minister of this state, however, explained that there are currently not enough masks to introduce such a measure.
        Austrian Chancellor Sebastian Kurz announced on Monday that from Wednesday, protective masks will be mandatory when shopping in stores, and they will be distributed in front of the store entrances.