German doctor jailed, ordered to pay 28000 euros for illegally issuing 4000 mask exemptions

Berlin: Taking action against a German doctor who illegally exempted 4,000 people from wearing masks during the Coronavirus pandemic, the latter was sentenced to two years and nine months in prison, three years of work ban, and a fine of 28,000 euros.

Public broadcaster SWR reported that a regional court in the southwestern town of Weinheim convicted the doctor late Monday for issuing certificates to people from across Germany, most of whom she had never met or examined. 

In addition to the prison sentence, she was handed a three-year work ban and ordered to pay 28,000 euros ($29,550), the sum she had received for issuing the medical certificates. Her office assistant was fined 2,700 euros.

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“The process is more reminiscent of a sale of certificates than a medical procedure,” the court said in a statement. It noted that she was not faulted for providing certificates to her existing patients.

During the trial, she had argued that wearing masks was harmful to people's health.

The doctor's lawyer intends to appeal the verdict, SWR reported.

Dozens of supporters gathered outside the court in Weinheim, north of Heidelberg, to protest against the verdict and Germany's pandemic restrictions.

Germany ended requirements to wear masks in many indoor settings last year, though they are still compulsory on long-distance trains, in doctors' practices, hospitals, nursing homes and on some regional public transport.

Wearing masks and maintaining social distance has been made mandatory for the Germans following the warning of health chiefs in the UK recommending adults to should stay at home and wear a mask if they have to go outside. 

The UK health chiefs have also said that adults feeling sick should stay at home and avoid going out before recovering. 

According to Evening standard, The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has advised wearing masks outside to help stop the spread of COVID and flu as well as scarlet fever.

Therefore, Germans are still required to wear masks on long-distance public transport and in doctors' surgeries. Masks and a negative test are mandatory to enter hospitals and nursing homes.

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