Luxembourg's Covid law will expire on 30 June, potentially creating a legal grey area for people who continue to wear medical masks voluntarily in certain public places.
LSAP MP Mars Di Bartolomeo had tabled a motion calling for the legislation to be extended temporarily, until a permanent exemption for medical masks could be added to the Penal Code.
Responding during Thursday's debate, Health Minister Martine Deprez said the government did not intend to extend the Covid law, but would instead adapt and clarify the rules on mask-wearing. Di Bartolomeo's motion was subsequently rejected by 42 votes to 18.
The issue concerns Luxembourg's ban on concealing the face in places such as public transport, schools, hospitals, care facilities, courts, and public administration buildings. The current Covid law expressly allows medical masks to be worn in these locations.
Once that exemption expires, people wearing masks there voluntarily could theoretically risk a fine unless another justification applies, such as a medical certificate or professional requirement. Wearing a mask would not become generally illegal elsewhere.
Until the government introduces the promised clarification, uncertainty therefore remains over voluntary mask-wearing in places covered by the face-concealment ban.
