German state to fine face mask violators up to 5,000 euros

The Southern German State of Bavaria on Friday said arrangement had been concluded to impose fine of up to 5,000 euros (or 5,393 dollars) for violating anti-coronavirus mask rules.
The highest penalty is reserved for shop owners who do not ensure that their employees are wearing the required mouth-and-nose coverings, measures set to come into effect on Monday.
People who go into shops or travel on public transport without such a mask will face fines of 150 euros, as set out in an updated catalogue of fines.
Meanwhile, all the 16 Germany’s federal states had since made face coverings mandatory in public to varying degrees in a bid to reduce the spread of the novel coronavirus.
In Bavaria, Germany’s worst-hit state, with almost 40,000 cases of infection and more than 1,500 deaths, the rules apply to anyone aged 6 and above. A scarf is also permitted as a face covering.
However, in all, there had been around 150,000 cases recorded in Germany with 5,265 deaths.
The country had gradually commenced easing of restrictions, with retailers allowed to re-open and some pupils gradually returning to school, though Chancellor Angela Merkel cautioned that the country’s progress in fighting the virus was still fragile.