At the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, there was a lack of knowledge about the virus and how to best mitigate its spread. However, it soon became clear that, despite the limited information, Germany had taken a different approach. Instead of using a simple mask, as was the case in most countries, Germany opted for a more specific type of mask, the FFP2 mask.
The German government, led by Health Minister Jens Spahn, quickly procured a large quantity of these masks, with no regard for cost. The free distribution of the masks at pharmacies, financed by the government, resulted in significant profits for the pharmacies.
The Corona hysteria has largely subsided and the debate about the necessity of the FFP2 mask has faded away. However, the question of what happened to the unused masks remains. In Hamburg, millions of FFP2 masks are now being incinerated, as their expiration dates have passed. State funds are literally going up in smoke. The mask scandal is ongoing.
This is not the first time that a large quantity of unused masks has ended up in the trash. In 2023, 1.2 billion masks were destroyed for the same reason.
The mask procurement in Germany was a manifestation of ministerial incompetence combined with corruption. The mandatory use of FFP2 masks became a symbol of this German corruption, worn on every German’s face. However, a proper examination of this period is still not in sight in Germany. Instead, the masks, financed by the state budget, are being quietly incinerated.