Mask as a must in every car. Is Slovakia inspired by Germany?
During the pandemic, we wore masks or respirators at every step – from shops to public transport to taxis. Today, we only wear them compulsorily in medical facilities. However, the Germans came up with something new – the mask will soon be mandatory in every car.
In just a few months, German first aid kits will grow by two masks. From February 2023, they will become mandatory equipment for all passenger cars, trucks, buses and even four-wheelers. The German auto club informs about it ADAC.
If during the inspection the police find that the first aid kit is hidden, the driver will face a fine of five euros. In addition, if in such a case the car is driven by someone other than its owner, the fine will be doubled.
The regulation does not specifically define whether it is sufficient to have ordinary cloth masks in the pharmacy, or whether they must be FFP2 respirators. However, they are meant to ensure that the driver covers his nose and mouth in the event of an accident and thus protects himself and other participants, the portal informs Focus.de.
However, according to the German car club ADAC, this measure makes no sense. “People accept the regulations if they are comprehensible and their necessity is obvious,” the spokeswoman for the auto club pointed out, adding that people carried them with them during the pandemic because they needed them when refueling or shopping. After the end of the pandemic, the measure is said to lack logic.
According to the Slovak Ministry of Health, there are currently no such changes planned. “However, we recommend not only vehicle owners to carry a respirator in case of visiting a medical facility or a place with a higher risk of transmission of respiratory diseases,” added the department.
See also the archive report on covid passports and countries that may require you to be fully vaccinated against the coronavirus.