Federal emergency brake: Aldi, Lidl, Rewe and Co. - What will change in supermarkets in May?

What changes in May depends on the development of the corona numbers.

From an incidence of 100, only half as many people are allowed to go to the supermarket at the same time.

Munich - supermarkets and discounters are among the shops for everyday needs.

That is why grocery stores such as Aldi, Lidl, Rewe and Co. remain open even when the incidence is high.

But from an incidence of over 100, the distances between the customers must increase.

With a sales area of ​​up to 800 square meters, one customer is allowed per 20 square meters - so 40 in total.

Shops over 800 square meters are allowed to let in one additional customer for every 40 square meters. Typical Lidl or Aldi branches, for example, are often 1,200 square meters. In addition to the 40 customers who are allowed up to 800 square meters, another ten are likely to enter.

The trade association warned in advance that this restriction could lead to waiting times - and was right: On Saturday there were sometimes long queues in supermarkets.

But it is precisely these gatherings of people that the new law should actually avoid.

Consumers will therefore have to plan more time for their shopping in May as well.

Especially when the incidences are high.

A new app should help to see in advance which supermarkets are overcrowded.

If you can, you should do your shopping in the late morning or early afternoon to avoid peak times.

The video explains which holidays consumers have to pay attention to in May:

Federal emergency brake in supermarkets: Why is the limit actually 800 square meters?

After a pandemic for over a year, we are already familiar with many of the concepts.

Everyone from young to old today can explain the meaning of the seven-day incidence and know what the R-value is all about.

But what exactly is behind the limit of 800 square meters, which also applies to larger supermarkets? 

To clarify this question, it is worth taking a look at the law.

Because the limit of 800 square meters was known from public building law even before the Corona times.

Buildings above this limit are so-called special structures.

The 800 square meter mark can therefore not be substantiated with virological facts.

The trade association HDE therefore speaks of an arbitrary limit that leads to distortion of competition.

Experience has shown, however, that the large shops in particular are a crowd puller.

The retail expert Peter Kenning therefore finds the step understandable: “This interference in competition should be accepted in order to ensure people's health.” In a very pragmatic way, one could say: the limit has to be somewhere.

This is comparable to the speed limit in urban areas of 50 km / h.

This limit also serves to protect people and was set arbitrarily.

It can be factually documented with the response time within the framework.

But it could just as well have been 49 km / h or 51 km / h.

It is similar with the 800 square meter rule.  

List of rubric lists: © FrankHoemann / SVEN SIMON / Imago