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 Several German states announced on Tuesday that they were relaxing rules on mandatory mask wearing. We break down what the new rules are state-by-state. https://www.thelocal.de/20210615/explained-the-new-rules-on-masks-that-come-into-force-next-week Tue, 15 Jun 2021 18:50:38 +0200 explained-the-new-rules-on-masks-that-come-into-force-next-week In recent days, several experts have come out in favour of dispensing with masks in the open air - but most say it is still too early to remove them indoors. https://www.thelocal.de/20210615/german-health-experts-give-green-light-to-end-of-masks-but-only-outside Tue, 15 Jun 2021 15:03:07 +0200 german-health-experts-give-green-light-to-end-of-masks-but-only-outside As a response to falling coronavirus numbers, Federal Minister of Justice Christine Lambrecht called on the federal states on Sunday to review whether mandatory mask wearing is still necessary. https://www.thelocal.de/20210613/german-justice-minister-tells-states-to-consider-abolishing-mask-wearing-rules Sun, 13 Jun 2021 14:57:37 +0200 german-justice-minister-tells-states-to-consider-abolishing-mask-wearing-rules Almost half of people in Germany want to continue wearing masks to protect against disease even after the pandemic ends, according to a new survey. Who is in support - and who isn't? https://www.thelocal.de/20210602/will-germans-continue-wearing-face-masks-after-the-pandemic Wed, 02 Jun 2021 11:38:43 +0200 will-germans-continue-wearing-face-masks-after-the-pandemic Germany's health minister came under the spotlight Sunday over reports that his husband's company sold masks to the ministry, as a row over mask contracts dogging Chancellor Angela Merkel's conservatives refused to die down. https://www.thelocal.de/20210321/german-health-minister-in-spotlight-over-mask-contract-with-husbands-firm Sun, 21 Mar 2021 18:03:57 +0100 german-health-minister-in-spotlight-over-mask-contract-with-husbands-firm Chancellor Angela Merkel's conservatives are trying to end corruption allegations roiling their ranks over mask procurement, ordering MPs to declare all financial gains related to the pandemic days ahead of key regional elections. https://www.thelocal.de/20210310/merkels-conservative-party-moves-to-clean-up-after-mask-affair Wed, 10 Mar 2021 15:00:11 +0100 merkels-conservative-party-moves-to-clean-up-after-mask-affair Earlier this month Germany changed face covering restrictions, ordering people to wear surgical masks while shopping and on public transport. How did the country deal with it? https://www.thelocal.de/20210129/how-people-in-germany-have-embraced-new-medical-mask-rules Fri, 29 Jan 2021 16:28:16 +0100 how-people-in-germany-have-embraced-new-medical-mask-rules Germany is introducing new rules for the types of mask you can wear while travelling on public transport or shopping. Here's what it means for you. https://www.thelocal.de/20210120/what-you-should-know-about-germanys-new-mask-rules-for-public-transport-and-shops Wed, 20 Jan 2021 10:21:09 +0100 what-you-should-know-about-germanys-new-mask-rules-for-public-transport-and-shops The federal government and states are set to impose stricter mask rules for people travelling on public transport, German media reported Tuesday. https://www.thelocal.de/20210119/germany-agrees-to-extend-lockdown-measures-and-bring-in-stricter-mask-rules-for-public-transport Tue, 19 Jan 2021 17:03:40 +0100 germany-agrees-to-extend-lockdown-measures-and-bring-in-stricter-mask-rules-for-public-transport As Bavaria rolls out mandatory FFP2 masks in some public places, we look at whether the state is a blueprint for nationwide measures, and what else is expected. https://www.thelocal.de/20210118/will-the-rest-of-germany-follow-bavarias-lead-in-tightening-covid-19-measures-january-18-2021 Mon, 18 Jan 2021 10:02:52 +0100 will-the-rest-of-germany-follow-bavarias-lead-in-tightening-covid-19-measures-january-18-2021 As of Monday, it's mandatory to wear a highly-protective FFP2 face mask in Bavaria. Here's what you need to know, from where to get them to where the measure applies. https://www.thelocal.de/20210115/what-you-need-to-know-about-bavarias-new-ffp2-mask-requirement Fri, 15 Jan 2021 18:48:07 +0100 what-you-need-to-know-about-bavarias-new-ffp2-mask-requirement The southern state is tightening mask restrictions over fears of Covid-19 variants spreading. https://www.thelocal.de/20210112/bavaria-orders-compulsory-ffp2-masks-on-public-transport-and-in-shops Tue, 12 Jan 2021 15:59:18 +0100 bavaria-orders-compulsory-ffp2-masks-on-public-transport-and-in-shops Chancellor Angela Merkel's government agreed Monday to create 19 storage sites for medical equipment across Germany to avoid the shortages of masks and other protective gear seen at the start of the Covid-19 pandemic. https://www.thelocal.de/20201130/germany-to-store-medical-supplies-for-future-crises Mon, 30 Nov 2020 18:36:26 +0100 germany-to-store-medical-supplies-for-future-crises Chancellor Angela Merkel has spoken out about preparations for a Covid-19 vaccination programme in Germany, ahead of talks. https://www.thelocal.de/20201109/germanys-risk-groups-and-health-workers-to-receive-coronavirus-vaccine-first-says-merkel Mon, 09 Nov 2020 11:55:15 +0100 germanys-risk-groups-and-health-workers-to-receive-coronavirus-vaccine-first-says-merkel German ministers and other senior officials on Sunday condemned the violence that broke out in eastern city Leipzig at a demonstration against coronavirus infection control measures https://www.thelocal.de/20201108/german-ministers-condemns-violence-at-leipzig-anti-mask-protest Sun, 08 Nov 2020 15:29:10 +0100 german-ministers-condemns-violence-at-leipzig-anti-mask-protest Bavarian state premier Markus Söder has called for tougher nationwide uniform rules on wearing face masks in view of rising Covid-19 cases. https://www.thelocal.de/20201019/how-bavarias-leader-wants-to-tighten-mask-rules-all-of-germany Mon, 19 Oct 2020 18:58:16 +0200 how-bavarias-leader-wants-to-tighten-mask-rules-all-of-germany German Chancellor Angela Merkel wants measures toughened up to fight a surge in coronavirus infections, including requiring masks in more places and limiting numbers of people gathering for private events, according to a draft policy paper. https://www.thelocal.de/20201014/merkel-seeks-tougher-restrictions-to-fight-coronavirus-surge Wed, 14 Oct 2020 13:55:10 +0200 merkel-seeks-tougher-restrictions-to-fight-coronavirus-surge Politicians must now wear masks in the German Parliament building in a bid to slow rising levels of infection in the capital. https://www.thelocal.de/20201006/masks-made-compulsory-in-german-bundestag-amid-rise-in-berlin-covid-19-cases Tue, 06 Oct 2020 18:45:38 +0200 masks-made-compulsory-in-german-bundestag-amid-rise-in-berlin-covid-19-cases Protesters opposed to mask wearing and other coronavirus measures gathered at a lakeside town in southern Germany on Saturday for rallies that turned out to be smaller than planned. https://www.thelocal.de/20201004/german-anti-mask-rally-smaller-than-expected Sun, 04 Oct 2020 13:38:30 +0200 german-anti-mask-rally-smaller-than-expected Berlin's Senate has tightened the coronavirus measures amid rising cases in the capital. They include rules on wearing face masks in offices and caps on gatherings. https://www.thelocal.de/20200930/stricter-rules-than-other-parts-of-germany-these-are-berlins-new-coronavirus-measures Wed, 30 Sep 2020 11:12:10 +0200 stricter-rules-than-other-parts-of-germany-these-are-berlins-new-coronavirus-measures