Stricter mask requirements in Bremen – but where exactly?

Stand date: January 25, 2021.

:
Milan Jaeger

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After some back and forth, it is now clear: From next Monday, Bremen residents will also have to wear a medical mask in the mask mandatory zones in public spaces.

Occasionally, during and after the Bremen Senate meetings, things are similar to those at a higher level between the federal government and the federal states: You consult for hours or even days, finally agree on something, and afterwards everyone interprets the decisions made in their own way. That’s probably how it has been in the last few days Confusion arose around the question of where the tightening of the mask requirement, which comes into force in Bremen on February 1st, applies everywhere: Only in supermarkets and public transport or also in the mask requirement zones in public spaces?

A statement published by the Senate Press Office on Friday offered scope for interpretation. First of all, it says: “From February 1, 2021, there will be an obligation to wear a medical face mask in all places where it was previously mandatory to wear a mouth and nose cover.” In the next sentence, however: “This concerns, among other things, public transport, supermarkets and weekly markets.” The mask compulsory zones in public spaces, for example around the Bremen market square, are no longer explicitly mentioned. A request in the Senate press office initially increases the confusion: First comes the information that fabric masks will still be sufficient in the mask compulsory zones in public spaces. This statement is withdrawn shortly afterwards.