ドイツ、全州でマスク着用義務開始　自販機でのマスク販売も

【ベルリンＡＦＰ＝時事】ドイツで27日、公共交通機関と大半の店舗でのマスク着用義務が始まった。新型コロナウイルス対策としてマスク着用を義務付ける国が増えており、ドイツではマスクの自動販売機での販売も始まった。（写真はドイツ首都ベルリンで、マスクを着けた路面電車の利用客）
　今週からドイツの１６州すべてで公共の場でのマスク着用が義務付けられたが、地域差が大きい。ベルリン州（特別市）の規則では、マスクの着用を義務付けられるのは公共交通機関のみで店舗では不要。違反者に対する罰金もなく、最も緩い内容。
　一方バイエルン州の規則では、違反者には１５０ユーロ（約１万７０００円）の罰金、店員にマスクを着用させない場合、経営者に５０００ユーロ（約６０万円）の罰金が科される。
　ベルリン動物園駅では、駆け込み購入者向けに再使用できるマスクを自動販売機で１枚５・５０ユーロ（約６４０円）で販売している。
　ドイツは都市封鎖（ロックダウン）が徐々に緩和し始めている。小規模店舗や自動車販売店、一部の学校はすでに再開が認められ、他の制限の緩和に向けて計画策定が進んでいる。
　ドイツの新型コロナウイルスの感染者は１５万５０００人超だが、死者は５７００人余りで、ドイツでの致死率は世界で最も低い水準にある。【翻訳編集ＡＦＰＢＢＮｅｗｓ】
〔ＡＦＰ＝時事〕（2020/04/28-13:06）

Germany made wearing masks on public transport and in most shops mandatory on Monday, even offering them in vending machines, as the country became the latest to cover up in the fight against the coronavirus.
It's warm, slippery, you can't breathe well, but if it's to avoid infection, I'm fine with it, Emil, a commuter at a Berlin train station, told AFP.
Starting this week, donning face masks in public is compulsory in all of Germany's 16 states but there are many regional differences.
The rules are most relaxed Berlin, where masks are required only on public transport and not in shops. There are no fines for not complying.
Bavaria on the other hand has threatened penalties of 150 euros for anyone caught flouting the rules and shop owners who fail to make staff cover up can be fined 5,000 euros.
The World Health Organization initially said masks should only be worn by medical workers and carers but the little squares of fabric are now widely seen as key to gradually reopening societies as the world learns to live with the pandemic.
With its new rules, Germany follows in the footsteps of a string of European countries where mask-wearing is now compulsory, including Austria, Poland and the Czech Republic.
At one Berlin regional train station, compliance was widespread on the first day with even small children donning colourful masks.
I work in the health field and I think we should have had this in place much sooner in order to protect each other, said Claudia, a passenger in her 50s who opted for a mask with a floral pattern.
Fellow commuter Andre, also in his 50s, was less enthusiastic.
With the mask on, I can't eat on the train, he said, pulling down his mask to talk to AFP. I have to eat before or after. It's not very important, but personally it bothers me.
Germans are free to choose which type of mask to wear, from disposable ones to self-made cloth versions, and many states have said they will also accept scarves and bandanas.
Berlin's Zoo station offered reusable masks for sale in a vending machine for anyone caught out at the last minute, charging 5.50 euros ($6) apiece.
In Frankfurt, the local transport company handed out 10,000 disposable masks to passengers on buses, trams, metros and trains.
Tiny Saarland state, along the border with France, has vowed to hand out five free masks to each of its one million residents.
- Gradual relaxation -
The mask-wearing comes as Germany slowly begins relaxing its lockdown.
Smaller shops, car dealerships and some schools have already been allowed to reopen and plans are being drawn up to ease other restrictions.
Although Germany has recorded over 155,000 coronavirus cases, it has one of the lowest mortality rates in the world -- just over 5,700 people have died.
Keen not to undo the good work, Chancellor Angela Merkel has repeatedly urged Germany's states to proceed with caution, even as the lockdown batters Europe's top economy.
Merkel said she strongly recommended wearing masks in public, and Germans are eagerly waiting for their first glimpse of the veteran leader doing her usual weekly shop in a mask.
raph-mfp/kih/jxb