Germany to drop COVID-19 mask requirement on flights
FILE PHOTO: Passengers wear protective masks after the outbreak of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) at the airport in Frankfurt, Germany, August 11, 2020. REUTERS/Kai Pfaffenbach
BERLIN — Germany will soon drop mask requirements on commercial flights introduced during the COVID-19 pandemic, Health Minister Karl Lauterbach said on Tuesday, after flagship airline Lufthansa complained that the rule was no longer enforceable.
Authorities will focus instead on making sure people wear face-and-mouth coverings on public transport in Germany, Lauterbach said in Berlin, after the coalition government agreed to axe the measure.
Germany is well prepared for a potential rise in cases this autumn, according to the minister, who said mask-wearing rules may return in some indoor or outdoor spaces if infections surge.
Restaurants owners and event organizers could also be asked to limit the number of guests again.
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