Gastro-Corona requirements: Industry boss calls situation "dramatic" - survey on bankruptcies dismayed

Turn the Corona loosening in terms of gastronomy - there is a reopening schedule. The industry is still trembling.

• On May 6th, the federal-state conference will discuss how to deal with the corona crisis .
• The future of the catering and hotel industry also plays an important role.
• Markus Söder classifies loosening for bars as "difficult to implement".
• Here you will find our guide to reporting *, as well as current case numbers in Germany as a map *. The following recommendations for corona protective measures are currently available *

Update from May 7, 8:56 a.m .: The corona requirements for the catering trade have been relaxed, but the hotel and restaurant association Dehoga still expects  further sales losses in the industry. This is what Dehoga boss Ingrid Hartges told   the newspapers of the Funke media group . Accordingly, it will still take some time before hotels and restaurants generate revenue-covering sales.

The relaxation in the hospitality industry is welcomed. The situation of the # hotel and # restaurant business is nevertheless dramatic, government aid in the form of a # rescue fund is urgently needed! Https: //t.co/kCWPpHPR8Q via @phoenix_de

She pushed for an early rescue package * for the catering and hotel industry : "The rescue fund is necessary because many companies will not survive otherwise", "50,000 companies still have no opening perspective." This included pubs, bars, clubs, discotheques and event Caterer, because until August 31 the big events were banned .

Hartges called the situation of gastronomy and tourism * "dramatic". A survey of the companies showed that a third was at risk of bankruptcy - 70,000 of the 220,000 companies.

Gastronomy hammer: Government allows two households to eat together - Several countries are rushing forward

Update 7:20 p.m .:  After Chancellor Angela Merkel and the Prime Ministers agreed on Wednesday that the federal states would specifically decide to reopen the restaurant business, the first different approaches are now emerging. 

According to information from the German Press Agency, restaurants and inns in Berlin may reopen on May 15 in the corona crisis, subject to conditions. Hotels are scheduled to follow on May 25th. In Saarland , catering establishments may reopen on May 18 at the latest, as Prime Minister Tobias Hans announced on Wednesday. 

In the Rhineland-Palatinate , catering businesses can open again on May 13, subject to conditions, as Prime Minister Malu Dreyer (SPD) announced on Wednesday. Hotels are to follow there in a second stage on May 18.

Schleswig-Holstein around Prime Minister Daniel Günther , on the other hand, does not want to make any concrete statements about a roadmap with regard to gastronomy until Thursday in the state parliament. 

In North Rhine-Westphalia the restaurants will reopen on May 11th. In Bavaria, the gradual opening of the catering trade is to take place from May 18. The cabinet had already announced this on Tuesday.

Before the planned beer garden opening after weeks of Corona closure, the operators in Munich are still waiting for important information. In many places it is unclear whether unlocking is worth it at all.

Gastronomy hammer: Government allows two households to eat together

Update 5.20 p.m .:  Chancellor Angela Merkel (CDU) and the Prime Ministers agreed on Wednesday that the individual federal states will decide on the reopening of hotels and holiday apartments . This could soon be the case in some countries. The first restaurants could reopen on Friday, May 9th . Appropriate hygiene requirements are required. 

Angela Merkel apparently despaired at the Prime Minister at the Corona summit: "I'm about to give up". 

Update 1:43 pm: Members of two different households should in future be allowed to  eat together again . That reports Bild.de with reference to exclusive information. The dpa also reported that family members of two households may meet in the future. 

Accordingly, an exception should apply to Saxony-Anhalt when the contact is blocked. Since the weekend, five people have been allowed to stay in public together. There were obviously heated discussions about the contact question. Chancellor Angela Merkel (CDU) is said to have said after the picture information in the telephone booth with the Prime Minister: "One plus five is not at all, that goes too far."

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Coronavirus: Government cuts VAT on catering - with one exception

Update from May 6th, 11:29 am: Restaurants and cafés should be relieved because of the Corona crisis and therefore temporarily pay less taxes. The federal cabinet decided on Wednesday in Berlin that the VATon food for one year is reduced from 19 to 7 percent. "We give restaurants and restaurants a major boost when they open again," said Sarah Ryglewski, Parliamentary Secretary of State for Finance. The Bundestag and Bundesrat still have to approve the aid.

Specifically, the regulation should apply for one year from July 1. It only affects food , not drinks . At the same time, the cabinet decided that grants from employers for short-time work benefits are largely exempt from tax. The Ministry of Finance assumes that the measures will generate around 2.7 billion euros less tax this year and next.

Gastronomy: opening in just a few days? Economics ministers of the countries agree on the period

Update from May 5, 9:03 p.m .: The state ministers of economy are striving for a nationwide controlled opening of the hospitality industry in a corridor from May 9 to 22. The German press agency learned this on Tuesday evening after a video conference between the country ministers and the Minister of Economic Affairs, Peter Altmaier  (CDU). An opening is planned for tourist accommodation until the end of May .

It is therefore practically certain that tomorrow's video viewing by Chancellor Angela Merkel (CDU) with the prime ministers of the federal states will be decided.

The opening is linked to compliance with hygiene regulations and distance regulations as well as plans to protect employees.

Some countries had already announced opening steps for the hospitality industry, with health protection requirements and restrictions. The hospitality industry is one of the sectors most affected by the crisis.

Corona virus: traffic light system in Baden-Württemberg gives hope to gastronomy

Update from May 5, 2:10 p.m .:  In the Corona crisis, Baden-Württemberg will be using a traffic light system for institutions and events from next week onwards to identify what is allowed and what is prohibited. 

This should give the general public guidance, said Prime Minister Winfried Kretschmann (Greens) on Tuesday in Stuttgart . According to this scheme, mass events remained red until further notice. However, if the status is yellow, gastronomy can hope to reopen soon.

Gastronomy: Huge easing steps in Bavaria - beer gardens reopened particularly early 

Update of May 5, 12:39 pm: Bavaria's Prime Minister Markus Söder announced some easing of the corona measures for the gastronomy in his state at a press conference on Tuesday . The decision was particularly difficult in this area, said Söder at the conference. Because hygiene measures are the most difficult to take there. "We will allow hotels and tourism at Pentecost, on the 30th, " but saunas and swimming pools are excluded. In addition, strict hygiene requirements would generally have to be met. 

Also, apartments and campsites should reopen . In the area of ​​normal gastronomy, the opening will take place in stages, Söder announced. On May 25th,  “we think it is reasonable to open restaurants ” - with strict requirements. Accordingly, the number of guests should be limited , distances are important and kitchen staff and waiters must wear masks . As a guest you should also wear a mask when entering the restaurant or going to the toilet. The bars may then remain open until 10 p.m. In addition, the outdoor catering may open from May 18 , but only until 8 p.m. 

Corona virus: special mouthguard is supposed to save the catering industry

Update from May 5, 12:08 p.m .:  The corona crisis is causing great headaches, particularly in one industry . Gastronomy is suffering significantly from the pandemic: no guests, no sales. 

Alexis Vaiou runs a Greek restaurant, he also suffers from the Corona measures. In order to be able to open it again soon, he has developed a special mask that covers the mouth and nose, but with which the food can still be consumed. A zipper makes it possible. And the principle is simple: zip on - eat in - zip on.

Does this special mouthguard save gastronomy?

© Screenshot Facebook / Sat1

Update of May 4, 10:22 p.m .: Federal Minister of Economics Peter Altmaier and the economics ministers of the federal states want to advise on Tuesday about possible easing of the corona restrictions in the catering trade . As the German press agency also learned on Monday from groups of participants, the digital conference on Tuesday evening should also focus on the hotel industry and the event industry . Another topic is the status of the aid programs, for example for the self-employed . 

Gastronomy opening in Corona crisis: Consultations will take place next Wednesday

The talks will help prepare Chancellor Angela Merkel (CDU) for discussions with the Prime Ministers of the federal states next Wednesday. In the past week, the federal and state governments had commissioned the responsible ministers to prepare proposals for the framework conditions for a gradual opening of gastronomy and tourism offers. This should then happen at the meeting after next. 

By the way: British researchers have recently considered what life with Corona could look like without a vaccine or medication . These would not be pleasant prospects for the catering industry either. 

Update of May 4, 12:36: The restaurant is far from the easing of Corona - measures remained excluded. Now prescht Lower Saxony and plans the first federal state, the opening of restaurants . The state government presented a five-stage plan for relaxation in the catering industry in Hanover on Monday . According to the concept, initial relief could apply from May 11th .

Cafes, restaurants, restaurants and beer gardens should then be allowed to open again indoors and outdoors. Discotheques and bars, on the other hand, should remain closed. However, the guest occupancy rate must not exceed 50 percent of the basic capacity. This is to guarantee that the distance requirement can be met. 

Gastronomy opening in Corona crisis: Lower Saxony is advancing

The next stage could then begin on May 25th . Then hotels , youth hostels and guest houses could be allowed to open again. The maximum utilization of 50 percent also applies here. However, holiday homes should be available for rent from May 11th.

Lower Saxony's plan for the gastro has not yet been finalized. This should only happen after the consultations between the federal and state governments on Wednesday. 

Lower Saxony's Prime Minister Stephan Weil explicitly pointed out in the relevant press conference that this was not a plan that was planned for all federal states.  "That is a plan for Lower Saxony - very clearly," said Weil. He referred to the different development of infection numbers in the countries.

Corona: gastronomy opening in Germany? Sector in need - unemployment skyrocketed

First report from May 4, 2020:

Munich - In the Corona crisis *, restaurateurs are suffering   particularly from the closings. On Wednesday, May 6th, the next federal-state talks will discuss how to proceed with the catering trade. However, without the prospect of opening the bars as early as May , said NRW Prime Minister Armin Laschet . Already at the end of April, he pushed for early relief for the catering trade. Bavaria's Prime Minister Markus Söder , on the other hand, was cautious to skeptical. 

Gastronomy in the Corona crisis: Söder is critical of opening up the gastro 

The catering industry is one of the " most sensitive areas" in the crisis, according to Laschet. But he also knows that “wherever alcohol is served, the distance requirement is quickly forgotten”. That is why Markus Söder initially classifies the proposed easing as difficult to implement. For him, this economic area remains "the greatest challenge ", even if "clever, great concepts" have already been presented by the participants for the upcoming conference.

#Gastronomy is the "most challenging area" for possible relief in the corona crisis, said Prime Minister # Söder. pic.twitter.com/k9mop3RgvO

But in the catering industry, the currently applicable mouth protection obligation will not be able to be implemented, even a distance requirement "in view of alcohol is now, let's say, at least more difficult to implement consistently," said Söder.

Corona in the gastro: unemployment in the hospitality industry increased by 208 percent

The focus of German restaurateurs is given the current shortage of thousands of businesses at the federal-state conference on May 6th . Bavaria's restaurateurs made a dramatic appeal to politicians:  Angela Inselkammer , President of the Bavarian Hotel and Restaurant Association, called for a gradual revival of the catering and hotel industry. Companies should be allowed to open - as far as hygiene standards for infection protection can be observed. And that regardless of boundaries such as company sizes or opening times.

+++ Hospitality industry records the highest increase in all sectors of the German economy in unemployment +++

Inselkammer: "Gradual" restart "must be decided". Likewise, cries for help after aid funds.

More here: https://t.co/niCyGlWSHq

"Without the hotel industry and gastronomy, our lives will become poorer, we are not only systemically important, but life- relevant, " says Inselkammer. Unemployment in the hospitality sector rose by 208 percent in April compared to the previous month. This is the highest increase in all German economic sectors. The Munich restaurateurs found themselves at the end of April for a curious and creative protest action on Odeonsplatz.

Economic experts are concerned that unemployment could increase enormously despite short-time work.

List of rubric lists: © dpa / Peter Kneffel