Coronavirus Germany: Berlin and Bavaria eliminate the mandatory use of the mask in schools

The federated states germans Berlin and Bavaria have eliminated as of Monday the obligation to wear a mask in schools. In Berlin, the mask will no longer be compulsory in class until the sixth grade, while in Bavaria it is no longer necessary to wear it in class in any case.

The abolition of the obligation has been the subject of intense debate for days. Some representatives of medical associations have considered the general maintenance of the measure in schools as inappropriate, while experts in virology have considered the new measures that make the use of the mask more flexible.

Critics of this measure have defended that the rules of social distancing cannot be applied in the classrooms, that many people are not vaccinated due to their age and that the number of infections is high, especially among young people. According to data from the Robert Koch Institute (RKI), the coronavirus is especially prevalent among preschool-age children and adolescents.

The German Minister of Education, Anja Karliczek, has been sympathetic to the end of the mandatory use of masks in schools, a measure in force in Saarland since Friday and is under study in Baden-Württemberg and Saxony.

“Wearing a mask interferes with normal classes and is stressful for students,” explained the minister in the newspaper ‘Rheinische Post’ this Monday. “However, if the mandatory nature of the mask is relaxed, the tests should continue or even increase in schools,” he clarified, especially with a view to the period after the European autumn holidays.

“Because then, based on past experience, it is very possible that the infection figures will increase again. Prevention in schools continues to be important, also for the protection of children and young people ”, he added.

In recent days, the number of new coronavirus infections has increased again. According to the RKI, the seven-day incidence has increased in the last 24 hours to 64.7 new infections per 100,000 inhabitants, compared to 61.7 a week ago.

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