https://feeds.thelocal.com/ Read the latest news and views from Germany in English en-us news@thelocal.com (TheLocal) webmaster@thelocal.com (TheLocal) TheLocal RSS Feed Germany’s Health Minister Karl Lauterbach is already making plans to combat a potential new wave of Covid infections in the autumn. https://www.thelocal.de/20220526/german-health-minister-planning-new-mask-requirement-for-autumn Thu, 26 May 2022 13:13:47 +0200 german-health-minister-planning-new-mask-requirement-for-autumn The mandatory EU-wide mask requirement for air travel is set to be dropped from Monday, May 16th, but airlines may still require passengers to wear masks on some or all flights https://www.thelocal.de/20220511/face-mask-rule-on-flights-in-europe-set-to-be-eased Wed, 11 May 2022 18:17:55 +0200 face-mask-rule-on-flights-in-europe-set-to-be-eased People living in Saxony won't have to wear a mask in shops and supermarkets from Friday after the state ruled the restriction could be lifted in low Covid areas. https://www.thelocal.de/20210713/saxony-becomes-first-german-state-to-get-rid-of-compulsory-masks-in-shops-in-low-covid-areas Tue, 13 Jul 2021 19:46:36 +0200 saxony-becomes-first-german-state-to-get-rid-of-compulsory-masks-in-shops-in-low-covid-areas Germany is talking about when Covid restrictions can be lifted - but Health Minister Jens Spahn has warned that mask rules will need to stay in place during autumn and winter. https://www.thelocal.de/20210707/masks-will-be-needed-indoors-in-autumn-says-german-health-minister Wed, 07 Jul 2021 13:24:27 +0200 masks-will-be-needed-indoors-in-autumn-says-german-health-minister The German government wants to be able to provide FFP2 face masks specifically for children, a move it says is necessary due to the continuing pandemic situation. https://www.thelocal.de/20210621/germany-plans-to-bring-in-ffp2-masks-made-for-children Mon, 21 Jun 2021 13:27:21 +0200 germany-plans-to-bring-in-ffp2-masks-made-for-children Germany could soon begin easing rules on mandatory mask-wearing due to a sharp drop in Covid-19 infections, Health Minister Jens Spahn said Monday. https://www.thelocal.de/20210614/german-health-minister-recommends-gradual-end-to-compulsory-face-masks Mon, 14 Jun 2021 12:32:56 +0200 german-health-minister-recommends-gradual-end-to-compulsory-face-masks Chancellor Angela Merkel on Monday rapped her junior coalition partner SPD in an ugly row over claims that Germany's health minister planned to dole out sub-standard masks to the homeless and disabled. https://www.thelocal.de/20210607/nothing-to-do-with-facts-merkel-slams-coalition-partner-in-row-over-face-masks Mon, 07 Jun 2021 16:05:11 +0200 nothing-to-do-with-facts-merkel-slams-coalition-partner-in-row-over-face-masks Germany's ruling coalition parties agreed Friday to tougher transparency rules for MPs in the wake of a damaging corruption scandal which has seen Chancellor Angela Merkel's conservatives slump to record lows in opinion polls. https://www.thelocal.de/20210326/germany-toughens-transparency-rules-for-mps-in-wake-of-face-mask-scandal Fri, 26 Mar 2021 17:29:43 +0100 germany-toughens-transparency-rules-for-mps-in-wake-of-face-mask-scandal A decision by the German government to provide free face masks for everyone over the age of 60 has reportedly left taxpayers with a bill for €2 billion after the Health Ministry vastly overcompensated pharmacies. https://www.thelocal.de/20210318/german-health-ministry-overpays-for-face-masks-costing-taxpayers-e2-billion Thu, 18 Mar 2021 11:32:53 +0100 german-health-ministry-overpays-for-face-masks-costing-taxpayers-e2-billion Two senior lawmakers from German Chancellor Angela Merkel’s conservative alliance have resigned after accusations they profited from the coronavirus pandemic through alleged kickbacks for state purchases of face masks. https://www.thelocal.de/20210308/what-you-need-to-know-about-germanys-face-mask-scandal Mon, 08 Mar 2021 19:48:10 +0100 what-you-need-to-know-about-germanys-face-mask-scandal The German city of Düsseldorf was forced Monday to lift an order for residents to wear masks against the coronavirus, after a citizen successfully sued against the blanket rule. https://www.thelocal.de/20201109/dsseldorf-forced-to-lift-face-mask-rule-after-court-ruling Mon, 09 Nov 2020 18:06:24 +0100 dsseldorf-forced-to-lift-face-mask-rule-after-court-ruling UPDATE: Berlin has expanded expanded the list of streets on which wearing as face mask is obligatory, adding 23 new streets. https://www.thelocal.de/20201022/these-10-berlin-streets-require-a-face-mask-be-worn Thu, 22 Oct 2020 17:08:20 +0200 these-10-berlin-streets-require-a-face-mask-be-worn Police in Berlin have called off an 18,000-strong protest against coronavirus restrictions, saying protesters had not worn masks, as required by a court. https://www.thelocal.de/20200829/berlin-police-call-off-protest-against-coronavirus-curbs Sat, 29 Aug 2020 23:17:18 +0200 berlin-police-call-off-protest-against-coronavirus-curbs A rising number of infections and hotspots: the fear over a second wave of coronavirus infections in Germany is growing. Just how well prepared is the country this time around? https://www.thelocal.de/20200806/how-well-prepared-is-germany-for-a-second-coronavirus-wave Thu, 06 Aug 2020 17:38:12 +0200 how-well-prepared-is-germany-for-a-second-coronavirus-wave Newly released data shows that the large majority of Germans have got into the habit of wearing face masks, making them some of the most consistent mouth and nose coverers in Europe. https://www.thelocal.de/20200724/older-male-germans-more-reluctant-to-wear-masks-data-shows Fri, 24 Jul 2020 19:06:23 +0200 older-male-germans-more-reluctant-to-wear-masks-data-shows Face masks became mandatory in Germany at the end of April, but how effective are they? A new study highlighting the eastern city of Jena sheds some light on the controversial measure. https://www.thelocal.de/20200709/how-face-masks-have-helped-slow-down-the-spread-of-coronavirus-in-germany Thu, 09 Jul 2020 17:26:31 +0200 how-face-masks-have-helped-slow-down-the-spread-of-coronavirus-in-germany Germany has been considering getting rid of compulsory face masks to help pandemic-hit shops. But it looks like they're here to stay. Here's why, and what Local readers think. https://www.thelocal.de/20200707/face-masks-to-remain-mandatory-in-shops-across-germany Tue, 07 Jul 2020 13:13:13 +0200 face-masks-to-remain-mandatory-in-shops-across-germany It is mandatory to wear a face covering in certain public places in Berlin, such as on transport. Now the Senate has voted to impose fines on those who refuse to wear them. https://www.thelocal.de/20200623/berlin-to-fine-people-who-refuse-to-wear-coronavirus-face-masks Tue, 23 Jun 2020 19:39:56 +0200 berlin-to-fine-people-who-refuse-to-wear-coronavirus-face-masks All airports around Germany are planning on introducing a mask requirement for passengers and employees as travel increases over the summer. https://www.thelocal.de/20200608/german-airports-plan-to-make-face-masks-mandatory Mon, 08 Jun 2020 13:37:00 +0200 german-airports-plan-to-make-face-masks-mandatory So you have to wear a mask to help stop the spread of the new coronavirus? Wondering how to chose one? Or if it will slip off, or be suffocating? https://www.thelocal.de/20200514/how-to-wear-your-coronavirus-face-mask Thu, 14 May 2020 13:18:37 +0200 how-to-wear-your-coronavirus-face-mask