Mask requirement at Ikea, Douglas, Thalia?
decision has been made
Created: 04/01/2022Updated: 04/01/2022, 20:57
By: Jessica Young
The federal government is relaxing the corona measures on April 3rd.
In many shops, the mask requirement is therefore no longer applicable.
Dortmund – The incidence is higher than ever, but that seems to have receded into the background.
After more than two years of pandemic, the Germans are tired of their constant consideration.
The federal and state governments no longer want to regulate, and large retail chains apparently do not want to be stricter than politicians, as RUHR24* knows.
Infection Protection Act (IfSG) | Basis for the measures to contain the corona pandemic |
Effective date of the last change | Sunday March 20, 2022 |
contents | Among other things, basic protection measures, hotspot regulation, mask requirement in air and long-distance passenger transport |
Mask requirement ends: These shops will no longer use corona protection from April
From this Sunday, many nationwide corona rules, such as the obligation to wear a mask, will be shelved.
The changes will primarily affect numerous supermarkets* and retail chains.
They can now fall back on their domiciliary rights and decide for themselves whether or not to maintain the measure to protect employees and customers.
Some supermarkets and discounters have already made a decision to make masks compulsory.*
Retail chains have also announced that they will no longer be required to wear masks by April 3rd.
These include shops from a wide variety of areas, from hardware stores to classic textile retailers and perfumeries.
But the rules should also be relaxed in the Thalia bookstores:
“As a company, we comply with the regulations and laws applicable in the respective federal state.
We will therefore not maintain the mask requirement in our bookstores after April 3rd.
Our customers are free to continue to wear a mask when shopping.
The situation is similar for the German Douglas branches.
End of the mask requirement: Douglas customers will have to prepare for this in the future
“We continue to adhere to the applicable corona rules of the federal government.
This means that the mask requirement will no longer apply in our stores from April 3rd, ”said a spokeswoman for the perfumery chain.
However, the company remains true to some corona measures.
Employees should also continue to have the opportunity to receive free quick tests.
The new regulations are planned for Germany, but this can still change.
"It remains to be seen which federal state will introduce the hotspot regulations in the short term*.
Here, too, we will adhere to the applicable requirements and, if necessary, make it compulsory to wear a mask again," explains the spokeswoman.
But Douglas and Thalia are not the only companies defying the appeal by Health Minister Karl Lauterbach (SPD) to enforce the mask requirement in shops by domiciliary rights.
Ikea will also let its customers decide for themselves whether they wear a mask or not (more news about the corona virus in NRW at RUHR24)
A used orange face mask lies on the sidewalk.
© Peter Kneffel/DPA/symbol image
Mask requirement ends: What Ikea customers now have to consider when visiting
"As in the past two pandemic years, we support the resolutions and ordinances of the federal states to contain the infection process at all times.
This means that we will now make our regulations analogous to the legal requirements and those of the state ordinances," says a statement.
As soon as the mask requirement in retail is lifted, this should also apply to Ikea.
Nevertheless, the safety and health of customers and employees have the highest priority.
"In view of the dynamic rate of infection, however, we would like to point out to our customers and employees that wearing a mouth and nose protector will continue to protect themselves and others," it continues.
Some hardware stores join in the mask decision.
Will the mask requirement at Ikea be lifted soon?
© Artur Widak/Imago
Mask requirement in April: How Hornbach deals with the easing of the federal government
"If the so-called mask requirement in retail should end in April, people can also shop in our markets without such a mask - if they wish," said press spokesman Florian Preuss.
The same applies to the employees in the respective branches.
You should continue to have free mouth and nose protection available.
"After the end of a mask requirement, they can then decide for themselves whether they want to wear it or not.
After the experiences of the past two years, the colleagues are aware that there can still be situations in everyday work in which wearing a protective mask can make sense.
Protective measures such as the disinfectant dispenser, the so-called "spit protection" in the checkout area and the distance markings should continue to be maintained.
"We have had good experiences with it and have not gained the impression that these measures are perceived as a hindrance," says the expert.
*RUHR24 is part of the IPPEN.MEDIA editorial network.