Federal Minister of Health Karl Lauterbach (SPD) expects the number of corona infections to increase in winter. "I think we'll get another winter wave," said the SPD politician on Bavarian radio. He therefore does not understand the rush of the federal states to relax.

"Now there's a bidding war here: which country can loosen up first? That's a bit populist." It also endangers those who cannot protect themselves well, said Lauterbach. He referred to around 1,000 people dying each week with the corona virus and an unexpectedly high excess mortality in October.

"Let's not lose patience now, please"

In view of the prospects of an early relaxation of the corona situation, Lauterbach warns against being too careless. There are "indications of a defusing of the situation," he said in the Bundestag. This is due to the fact that the way the virus spreads seems to have reached a dead end, as only small changes are possible for the virus to become even more contagious. "If there are no more breakthrough innovations due to the virus, then we will actually see opportunities to deal with the virus in a completely different way next year."

Lauterbach continued: "Please don't lose patience now." It is important to secure the holidays and older and previously ill people. He asks for help and patience. "We still have a few months here when it will be more difficult. Then we can deal with it differently. Please don't let us down now and neither will those who need our help."

Initiative for a uniform end to the mask requirement in local transport

Meanwhile, there is an initiative from the federal states for a coordinated end to the mask requirement in local public transport. The chair of the transport ministers, Bremen's Senator Maike Schaefer (Greens), said when asked by the German Press Agency: "My goal is for the federal states to agree on a uniform approach here."

For a special conference of the heads of department next Tuesday, Bremen, as the presiding state, submitted the application to abolish the obligation to wear a mask in public transport nationwide for the introduction of the planned "Germany ticket" at the beginning of March. "But that must be subject to the condition that the pandemic situation allows it."

The countries can decide for themselves whether masks are compulsory on buses and trains in local transport. For long-distance trains and long-distance buses, on the other hand, according to the Infection Protection Act, an FFP2 mask requirement is stipulated nationwide until April 7, 2023. A push for an end to the obligation in public transport has already come from Schleswig-Holstein - with a view to the turn of the year.