Mouth mask mandatory from today
Rural – To prevent the spread of the corona virus, wearing a mouth mask in shops, museums, at the hairdresser’s and in many other places will be mandatory from Tuesday 1 December. This applies to everyone aged 13 and older.
To prevent the spread of the corona virus, the cabinet wants to wear a mouth mask in shops, museums, restaurants and theaters from 1 December. In education too (with the exception of primary school) people will then have to wear a mouth mask. For contact professions, the rule applies to both the customer and the professional, such as the hairdresser or the driving instructor. A mouth mask was already mandatory in public transport, but from now on this is also the case at stations and at bus and tram stops. The masking obligation applies to everyone aged 13 and older. Anyone who does not comply with the rule risks a fine of 95 euros.
A mouth mask must completely cover the nose and mouth and it must be designed to prevent the spread of viruses. Medical mouth-nose masks are intended for healthcare; mouth masks are suitable for use in shops, at school, on public transport and at the hairdresser. Therefore, it is preferable to use masks that can be bought at the drugstore or supermarket. A splash shield (faceshield) does not completely cover the nose and mouth and should therefore not be used as an alternative to a mouth mask. The same applies to a scarf or bandana, for example. Until the moment of the definitive starting date, the mouth mask is not mandatory and people cannot be fined. However, urgent advice already applies.
Public interior spaces, station buildings and airports
The masking obligation applies in all public interior spaces, station buildings and airports. Examples of public indoor spaces are shops, museums, petrol stations, restaurants, cafes, theaters and concert halls. A mouth mask is not mandatory if people have a fixed seat. In concrete terms, this means that in restaurants or theaters, for example, the mouth mask may be removed when people are seated at the table or in the hall. When subsequently getting up to go to the toilet or outside, the mouth mask should be worn again. In buildings intended for the practice of religion, such as churches, mosques, temples and synagogues, a mouth mask is not mandatory.
Education
In secondary education, secondary special education, secondary vocational education and higher education, pupils, students, teachers and other staff must wear masks when moving through the school building. The mouth mask can be removed during class, when everyone has a fixed sitting or standing place. So a teacher does not have to wear a mouth mask when he or she is standing in front of the group, but he does have to wear a round of the classroom. Gym, singing, theater, dance and certain forms of practical education are excluded from the masking obligation.
Contact professions and healthcare providers
In contact professions, the 1.5 meter measure is often not realistic. That is why wearing a mouth mask is also mandatory at the hairdresser, during driving lessons and at the nail stylist. This applies to both the customer and the practitioner of the contact profession. Care providers such as general practitioners and physiotherapists are exempt from the obligation. Nevertheless, it will often be the case that there will also be asked to wear a mouth mask. On the basis of the Care Quality, Complaints and Disputes Act (Wkkgz), hospitals and care institutions apply their own rules with regard to mouth masks or other personal protective equipment. Patients, visitors and caregivers should follow these.
Exceptions
The obligation to wear a face mask does not apply to people who cannot wear or put on a face mask due to a disability or illness. The police and boas can ask people to demonstrate that this exception applies to them. Mouth masks are also not required during sports, acting, musical rehearsals or performances and giving interviews on radio and TV.
The duty to mask masks is laid down in a ministerial regulation, which was sent to the House of Representatives and the Senate by the ministers De Jonge (VWS), Grapperhaus (J&V) and Ollongren (BZK), together with the ministerial regulation with the measures set out in the current emergency regulation. stand. Under the temporary corona law, Parliament has seven days to consider these arrangements. The regulations, and therefore also the mouth cap obligation, initially apply for three months. After that period extension is possible. As soon as there is no longer a medical necessity, the regulations will be withdrawn.
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