Germany sets coronavirus rules for autumn and winter

Germany has decided on its coronavirus rules through autumn and winter, including allowing states to impose further restrictions if necessary to combat an expected rise in infections, reported dpa.

The upper house of parliament, the Bundestag, passed a package of measures on Friday which had already been approved by the lower house.

The country was now "well prepared," Health Minister Karl Lauterbach said.

FFP2 masks will be mandatory in hospitals, nursing homes and doctors' offices. Masks will also be compulsory on long-distance trains, although a simple surgical mask will suffice for children between the ages of 6 and 13.

In aeroplanes, masks are no longer compulsory. In nursing homes and hospitals, a negative test must be presented before entry.

From October 1, local authorities will have the power to introduce compulsory mask-wearing in local trains and buses as well as in indoor areas such as shops, restaurants and function rooms. Currently, all 16 federal states already have mandatory mask-wearing in local public transport.

At schools and day-care centres, tests can be made compulsory, while a mask requirement can also be introduced but only from grade five (age 11) onwards, if its necessary to maintain in-person classes.

If the infection situation worsens, states can impose further measures.

Official figures show 117 people died from or with the coronavirus in the past 24 hours; nearly 150,000 have died in total in Germany since the pandemic began.