"As long as we are living with this new, unfamiliar situation without an effective vaccine and without medication, people will still have to deal with rules and changes. For some time to come, these will include contact restrictions, distancing rules and face coverings," she stressed. The Rheinische Post newspaper had previously reported on this.

Harry Glawe (CDU), Minister of Economic Affairs for the state of Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, told the newspaper Welt am Sonntag: "If the infection rate remains so low, I see no reason to continue with compulsory masks in retail". He assumes that the state cabinet will decide to end compulsory masks in shops on August 4th, at the end of the summer holidays in the northeast of Germany.

Glawe also announced discussions with the states of Bremen, Hamburg, Lower Saxony and Schleswig-Holstein. "We are trying to get a uniform rule for all northern German states. I would even prefer a nationwide end to the compulsory wearing of masks in retail," he said. Saxony is also considering abolishing this regulation.

The President of the German Society for Hospital Hygiene (Deutschen Gesellschaft für Krankenhaushygiene) had spoken out against lifting the obligation to wear masks in the retail sector. "Personally, I see this as difficult", Martin Exner of the University of Bonn told the German Press Agency on Sunday. Although Germany is currently in a favourable position, it is unclear whether the situation would remain so. He added that lifting the obligation would send the wrong signal that the situation was under control. "But we cannot ascertain this."

The mask is still an important element of the prevention strategy, particularly in indoor areas where the minimum distance of 1.5 metres cannot be maintained. Lower Saxony's State Premier Stephan Weil (SPD) has warned against a hasty end to compulsory face coverings in the retail sector. He sticks to his opinion that great caution is required when dealing with coronavirus, the State Chancellery in Hanover declared on Sunday. "According to the prognosis of many scientists, the autumn in particular will be a test of endurance for infection control. Therefore, we must not be too hasty in lulling ourselves into a sense of security because of low infection numbers in the summer," said government spokeswoman Anke Pörksen. She added that the federal and state governments had recently adhered to the existing regulations for good reason.

On the other hand, the proposal has met with a great deal of sympathy from the retail sector. "It is good for retail trade if the obligation to wear masks is abolished as soon as this is possible and reasonable from a health policy point of view," said Stefan Genth, Chief Executive of the German Retail Association (Handelsverbandes Deutschland , HDE), to the German Press Agency on Sunday. However, the assessment of when and in which regions this step is possible must be made by politicians and medical experts.

(Original text: dpa, Translation: Caroline Kusch)