April Fools?

Today the new Bundesinfektionsschutzgesetz (Federal Infection Protection Law) becomes effective. It bears the liberal handwriting of the Free Democrats, the smallest of the three parties of the traffic light coalition that form the Federal Government.

In case of a pandemic, the law leaves the decisions for hygiene measures to the states. They are now authorized to define Corona hot spots where restrictions of "freedom" for the mündigen Bürger (mature or responsible citizen) will hold.

The federal infection law also ends the federal Maskenpflicht (compulsory mask), particularly in shops and department stores. FFP2 masks remain obligatory in public transport and medical and old-age facilities. In other places, the law leaves wearing a protective mask as the individual citizen's responsibility. The government stated that overloading the healthcare system, i.e., intensive care units, is no longer feared, so restrictions on fundamental rights are rolled back.

Will the removal of the mask requirement drive up the curve again? (©ZDF)

Has the April fool ridden the legislators regarding the currently high infection figures? No wonder Baden-Württemberg's Green governor, Winfried Kretschmann, implored his country people to voluntarily continue wearing masks indoors, "In doing so, we protect our health and show solidarity in the community." Will it help? In fact, a recent poll showed that nearly 70% of the German population considered the return of the Corona measures premature.

On the other hand, compulsory masks generated strange situations in the past. When you entered a restaurant, you had to wear a mask until seated. You were allowed to take it off, enjoy your meal, and spend an arbitrary time with other people sitting at the table. During that time, your vis-a-vis might be a potential spreader contaminating your breathing air with the Coronavirus. Crazy.

At Kieser's premises, FFP2 masks were obligatory. However, you were allowed to take your mask off while doing an exercise. This is precisely the moment where your output of aerosols is the highest. Crazy.

Compulsory masks were also required on the open-air Freiburg Minster Market, where indeed people sometimes move around densely packed. However, distances are generally kept when queuing up in front of the stands. Red Baron always found the rule of wearing masks in well-ventilated open-air spaces with people on the move exaggerated.

Where do I go from here? Remember, according to the new law, hygiene measures are now your personal responsibility (Weren't they always?).

Although my limited experience with friends who tested positive for Covid-19 indicates that young, fully vaccinated persons catching Corona have a more "virulent" course of disease than older people* I will not ease my personal protection as described earlier.
*Is this due to the life-long training of the immune system?

One thing is sure: Red Baron will never suffer from Long Covid.

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