The German Government has apparently caved in after the massive backlash it received in response to extended health measures that would require masks on aircraft not only to be mandatory but also called for specific types of masks to be worn (FFP2).
After this was announced, it caused a harsh response by airlines, media, and the public as the government had previously promised that all measures would end last April (2022), which was obviously disingenuous.
The masking requirement at public places such as airports was already scrapped a long time ago, yet the government still had that antiquated mask-rule in place for plane travel (in addition to trains and buses).
A few weeks ago, shortly after the new rules, which were supposed to stretch from October until April, German politicians, including the Chancellor, were photographed flying on the government jet to Canada, and nobody on board was wearing a mask. The public ridicule and outcry were harsh.
Now Tagesschau reports that one of the governing parties (FDP) pushed for the retraction of the airplane mask regulation:
The criticism was great after the trip to Canada, on which Chancellor Scholz and other government officials did not wear a mask on the plane. The obligation to wear a mask on passenger flights is also to fall soon – apparently due to pressure from the FDP. Changes are still emerging in the parliamentary deliberations on the Corona rules for the fall. The obligation to wear masks on airplanes, which is initially still provided for nationwide in the Infection Protection Act, is apparently to be abolished. The ARD capital studio learned this from government circles.
At the same time, the law should stipulate nationwide that FFP2 masks must also be worn in doctor’s offices, in addition to long-distance trains, clinics and nursing homes. Federal Health Minister Karl Lauterbach told the dpa: “Vaccinations and masks remain the best protection against the expected omicron wave. That’s why we use both.” Masks should therefore also be worn in medical practices. “As long as the pandemic situation allows it, on the other hand, masks will no longer be compulsory on the plane. However, the mask remains recommended there too. This is not a question of regulations, but of common sense.”
According to the RND report, the originally planned mask requirement in air traffic was removed from the Infection Protection Act under pressure from the FDP. The FDP in the traffic light coalition had campaigned for an end to the mask requirement on airplanes. According to the RND, it is now planned that the Federal Ministry of Health should be given an authorization basis to be able to issue a mask requirement on airplanes by ordinance.
The Bundestag is to adopt the corona provisions in the Infection Protection Act for the fall this Thursday. The federal cabinet had launched a draft that generally provides for more extensive rules on masks and tests from October 1st to April 7th, 2023. The federal states should be able to impose further protective requirements and expand them in a critical situation.
Germany has completely lost the plot, and not just since this episode. While pretty much every other country has dropped Covid regulations and sanctions on the population Germany continues to act like it’s the end of the world. Of course, that’s one way to distract from political scandals that currently plague the chancellor and the economic woes the country is facing due to the energy crisis and supply chain issues.
Lufthansa was always against this rule, yet they rigorously enforced them with rather militaristic announcements on board.
SWISS – after all, part of the Lufthansa Group – ignored the existing regulations fully and said they are only subject to Swiss rules, and those don’t mandate masks on board.
It has always been a dog and pony show at airports. First, you’re waiting tightly in line at the gate, then they pack you in a bus like sardines for remote position boarding, and then when finally entering the aircraft, you’re being yelled at to keep social distancing. Ridiculous! Is there anyone who still takes this seriously? Something like this has nothing to do with health and science.
Conclusion
The latest political embarrassment and backlash from airlines and media have caused one of the governing parties in Germany to partially pull the plug on a restrictive health and infection law, pressuring the Health Minister to withdraw the mask requirement for air travel entirely.
Personally, I wouldn’t trust any of them anymore at this point. This ain’t going to be a pretty winter in Europe, let alone Germany. The new regulation will still allow them to reimpose restrictions at any time if they deem it necessary. I have to take care of some things in Germany in the coming week, and given how things look, it’ll likely be my last visit before next spring.
It’s inconceivable how Germany still treats this whole matter like Armageddon while the rest of the world has moved on pretty much. This includes not only overseas countries such as the U.S. but also most European ones, so their attitude is even more baffling.
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