“For people in nursing homes, the FFP2 mask requirement means a significant cut in their quality of life,” said the chairwoman of the federal working group of senior citizens’ organizations (Bagso), Regina Görner of the dpa. “The nursing home is their home, in which they can no longer move freely without a mask.”
The new corona rules adopted by the federal and state governments from October 1st stipulate that FFP2 masks must always be worn in clinics and care facilities. According to the Infection Protection Act, the residents do not have to do this “in the premises intended for their permanent residence”. According to the senior representatives and the Patient Protection Foundation, this means that they can only take off the mask in their room.
Bagso criticizes that walking to the dining room or participating in leisure and employment activities is only possible with a mouth and nose cover. “It is incomprehensible why such drastic interventions should take place despite a high level of protection in inpatient care through regular testing and high vaccination rates as well as improved medical care options.” Görner called on the health ministers of the federal states to use all possibilities to make masks compulsory for prevent the residents of care facilities.