(Photo by USAG Bavaria Public Affairs)
GRAFENWOEHR, Germany — Individuals wanting to use off-post public transportation or retail stores in Bavaria will now be required to wear a medical-grade FFP2 mask, starting Jan. 18, 2021. Children under 15 years old are not required to wear this specific mask. However, children above the age of 6 are still required to wear a cloth face covering of some type.
FFP stands for “Filtering Facepieces,” and FFP2 masks can be purchased at local Apothecaries and other stores off-post. On-post retailers are working through the logistical chains to make FFP2 variants available, but it will take some time. Additionally, the use of FFP2 mask equivalents, like the N-95, is currently under discussion. The USAG Bavaria Public Affairs Office will release more information about the availability and use of similar masks once additional information is received.
While FFP2 masks can be more expensive, these masks can be reused with proper handling and storage. Here are some tips to extend the longevity of these medical-grade masks:
Additional FFP2 mask handling pointers:
For more information, visit the USAG-Bavaria COVID-19 FAQ page.