German doctor is jailed for nearly three years and fined £25,000 for illegally issuing mask exemptions to 4,000 patients during Covid lockdown because she believed they harmed people’s health

• Court in the town of Weinheim convicted the doctor for issuing certificates
• The doctor had not met or examined most of those she gave exemptions to 
• Was also handed three-year work ban and ordered to pay €28,000 (£25,000) 

A German doctor has been sentenced to two years and nine months in prison for illegally issuing more than 4,000 people with exemptions from wearing masks during the coronavirus pandemic.

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

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

She was also handed a three-year work ban and ordered to pay 28,000 euros (£25,000), the sum she had received for issuing the medical certificates.

A German doctor has been sentenced to two years and nine months in prison for illegally issuing more than 4,000 people with exemptions from wearing masks during the coronavirus pandemic. Above: People wearing masks on Berlin’s metro

Her office assistant was fined 2,700 euros (£2,400).

The doctor’s lawyer intends to appeal against 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.

One held a sign that read in German: ‘Human dignity has been violated! When will you rise?’  

Public broadcaster SWR reported that a regional court in the south-western town of Weinheim convicted the doctor for issuing certificates to people from across Germany, most of whom she had never met or examined. Above: A man wears a mask while travelling on a train in Berlin

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.

In April 2020, the wearing of masks on public transport was made compulsory in Berlin and other cities.

Now, nearly three years on, 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. 

It comes after health chiefs in the UK warned this week that unwell adults should stay at home and wear a mask if they have to go outside. 

Professor Susan Hopkins, chief medical adviser at the UK Health Security Agency, said adults should ‘try to stay home when unwell’.

Those that do have to go out should ‘wear a face covering’, she said.

Sick Britons were also told not to visit healthcare setting ‘unless urgent’ and avoid vulnerable people.

Professor Hopkins said: ‘It’s important to minimise the spread of infection in schools and other education and childcare settings as much as possible.’

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