Germany may reintroduce mandatory masks indoors

GERMANY could become the first European country to reintroduce widespread indoor mask-wearing requirements this autumn, as a wave of coronavirus cases continues to spread.

Marco Buschmann, the country’s justice minister, said yesterday that mask-wearing would be a part of the government’s strategy for dealing with the virus.

“The effectiveness of masks for individuals indoors is undisputed,” he told Germany’s Funke media group. “That’s why some form of indoor mask-wearing will certainly play a role in our plan.”

Germany is in the grip of a summer wave of infections, with more than 120,000 new cases reported on Friday, and health officials have repeatedly

‘There will be no more lockdowns, no blanket school closures and no curfews either’

warned of a difficult autumn and winter ahead. Mr Buschmann, who is negotiating with health minister Karl Lauterbach what measures to put in place, said school closures, curfews and further lockdowns were out of the question.

“We agree in the coalition that there will be no more lockdowns, no blanket school closures and no curfews either,” he said.

The legal basis for Germany’s existing Covid-19 restrictions expires in September, but the government hopes to have agreed on a new plan for tackling the virus by the end of July.

The health minister has repeatedly hinted at a return to restrictions requiring masks to be worn in public places such as restaurants, bars and shops.

German health officials are planning to reintroduce stricter rules from October that could last until Easter.

Mr Lauterbach last month urged Germans to continue wearing masks indoors voluntarily, saying “this must be a norm”.