On Monday, two EU authorities relaxed their recommendations for air traffic. The aviation security agency EASA and the EU health authority ECDC withdrew the general recommendation for the mandatory wearing of masks in airports and airplanes. If masks are compulsory in public transport at the departure or destination, this should also continue to apply in the machines.
Dahmen said he could not see any contradiction between European and national requirements. “The European recommendations expressly include a national mask requirement.” The current pandemic situation gives no reason for premature changes to the Infection Protection Act.
In view of the new EU recommendations, Wissing had said that one should proceed uniformly throughout Europe and lift the mask requirement, especially in air traffic. He sees the same need for adjustment for buses and trains. The nationwide mask requirement on airplanes and long-distance trains is stipulated in the Infection Protection Act until September 23rd. Masks are also compulsory in local transport with buses and trains, which are stipulated by the respective federal states.
the Transport industry advocates an end to the mask requirement – especially since it no longer applies at events or in restaurants and shops. The chairwoman of the state transport ministers, Bremen’s Senator Maike Schaefer (Greens), criticized Wissing’s initiative as “wrong signals at the wrong time”. She pointed to the approaching start of the planned €9 monthly tickets in June, July and August for buses and trains, which could lead to overcrowding on certain routes. “I think it would be counterproductive to abolish the mask requirement at that point.”
General mask requirements for events or when shopping had been eliminated in large parts of Germany since the beginning of April. Regardless of government regulations, there are many places, for example in cultural institutions, but further protection rules with mask requirements.