For an end to the corona-related mask duty in the trade, it is from the point of view of several Federal States is still to early. Against a timely end to the obligation for the mouth-nose cover or in the shops of Bavaria, Schleswig-Holstein, Brandenburg and Hamburg were on Sunday. “In the course of the pandemic has stabilized, the experts believe that the mouth-nose cover is a very effective measure,” argued, for example, of Hamburg, speaker of the Senate, Marcel Schweitzer to the news Agency dpa. Also in North Rhine-Westphalia reacted cautiously.

The debate was rolling, after the economy had pronounced Minister of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern for an early end to the mask duty in his country – and his head of government was brakes. “When the infection happened remains so low, I see no reason any longer to the mask mandatory in the trade capture”, had to Minister Harry Glawe (CDU) told the “Welt am Sonntag”. On it, a government spokesman, Andreas Timm said the dpa: The government have just extended the mouth-nose protection duty until August, because they offer important protection. Decisions could only be made after discussions hit.

lower Saxony Minister for the economy, Bernd Althusmann (CDU) had also supported the “strict mask obligation in the retail sector in the coming months in a recommendation” to convert, if the infection is done, this allows. In the state Chancellery, the statement has also met with approval: “The Prime Minister is of the opinion that we need to be very careful in dealing with the Coronavirus.”

Saxony’s social Affairs Minister Petra Köpping told the “Welt am Sonntag”, the state, the abolition of the mask duty test: “We’re currently looking at whether we can do without when shopping on the mask of duty.” And also in Saxony-Anhalt Minister of health, Petra Grimm-Benne holds a withdrawal of the mask obligation is conceivable. “We need to discuss whether the mask duty in the trade can be taken back, where it is possible to keep a distance,” said the SPD politician of the newspaper.

“Increases the risk of a second wave of Infection”

open ears for the abolition of the mask joined duty as expected, the trade – but only with restrictions: “For the retail industry, it is good when the mask of duty, will be abolished as soon as this health is politically possible and reasonable,” said the chief Executive of the trade Association Germany (HDE), Stefan Genth, on Sunday of the dpa. The evaluation, when and in what regions this would be possible, would need to meet policy and medicine.

the Federal health Minister Jens Spahn warned on Sunday, however, to caution: “I understand the impatience and the desire for normality. But the Virus is still there. Where in enclosed spaces, the necessary distance is not always secured, the everyday mask commandments,“ wrote the CDU-politician on Twitter.

Even the SPD-health expert Karl Lauterbach warned against a repeal of the scheme. “The mask of duty in the trade is one of the most important tools in the fight against the Coronavirus. It would be completely the wrong Signal, this obligation to repeal it now,” said Lauterbach, the “Rheinische Post”. “From creating a state government which mask of duty, experimenting with the health of the people and increases the risk of a second wave of Infection.”