CORONAVIRUS: HOW ONE GERMAN STATE ENFORCES MASK-WEARING In one German state, passengers without masks on trains and buses were handed hefty spot fines in a major police operation. But can one-day cla
CORONAVIRUS: HOW ONE GERMAN STATE ENFORCES MASK-WEARING In one German state, passengers without masks on trains and buses were handed hefty spot fines in a major police operation. But can one-day cla
CORONAVIRUS: HOW ONE GERMAN STATE ENFORCES MASK-WEARING
In one German state, passengers without masks on trains and buses were handed hefty spot fines in a major police operation. But can one-day clampdowns like this normalize masks — and prevent a second coronavirus wave?
a group of people walking down the street: Provided by Deutsche Welle© DW/Elliot Douglas Provided by Deutsche Welle
It's midday at Bonn central train station. A group of 15 police officers and public order officials in Germany's former capital are being briefed before fanning out to the platforms, entrances and exits. For this one day there would be zero tolerance for passengers without masks, both in the station and on trains.
It has been compulsory for people on public transport and in shops in Germany to cover their mouths and noses for four months. The rules have rarely been enforced — until now.
On Monday, train and bus passengers without masks in Germany's most-populous state of North-Rhine Westphalia could find themselves hit by on-the-spot fines of up to €150 ($177). The fines were handed out as part of a dedicated 8-hour operation by police and the Transport Ministry. It was the first such exercise in Germany.