Advertisement

Masks made compulsory in German Bundestag amid rise in Berlin Covid-19 cases

The Local Germany
The Local Germany - [email protected]
Masks made compulsory in German Bundestag amid rise in Berlin Covid-19 cases
Masks must now be worn in all areas of the German Bundestag. Photo: DPA

Politicians must now wear masks in the German Parliament building in a bid to slow rising levels of infection in the capital.

Advertisement

As of Tuesday morning, a mouth and nose covering is required in the Reichstag, the seat of German Bundestag.

Bundestag President Wolfgang Schäuble of the Christian Democratic Union (CDU) announced the decision on Monday, urging that the pandemic “should still be taken seriously".

It comes as cases in Berlin continue to increase, with four areas becoming domestic risk zones after surpassing the boundary of 50 cases per 100,000 inhabitants in seven days. 

The states of Schleswig-Holstein and Rhineland-Palatinate have recently announced that those returning from Mitte, Neukölln, Friedrichshain-Kreuzberg and Tempelhof-Schöneberg must self-isolate for 14 days or until they receive a negative test result.

READ ALSO: 'Who's controlling it?': Why you could face domestic travel restrictions within Germany

The requirement for masks will be enforced until January 17th 2021 at the earliest, and breaches will be punished with a fine of up to €5,000. Those who continually refuse to adhere to the regulation risk being refused entry into the building. 

Advertisement

Masks must be worn in every area of the building, including corridors and lifts, and can only be taken off when seated and at a minimum distance of 1.5m from others. They may also be removed when speaking in the main chamber or directing a session. 

Those granted an exemption from wearing a mask will be asked to wear a visor. 

Vocabulary

der Bundestag - German Parliament 

die Mund-Nasen-Bedeckung - mouth and nose covering 

die Maskenpflicht  - mandatory mask-wearing

das Bußgeld - fine

We're aiming to help our readers improve their German by translating vocabulary from some of our news stories. Did you find this article useful? Let us know.

 

 

More

Join the conversation in our comments section below. Share your own views and experience and if you have a question or suggestion for our journalists then email us at [email protected].
Please keep comments civil, constructive and on topic – and make sure to read our terms of use before getting involved.

Please log in to leave a comment.

See Also