Corona in Bavaria: Federal government adopts 2Gplus rule for gastronomy - Söder chooses a special route for the Free State

Created: 01/08/2022, 06:32 AM

From: Cornelia Schramm

From now on, 2G plus applies to restaurants nationwide.

However, the Free State considers the decision to be critical and does not go along with it for the time being.

Bavaria's hosts take a deep breath - many had feared even more losses.

Munich

- Michael Dördelmann has not unlocked the Stephanskeller for months - the ballroom for 220 people is hibernating in the Weihenstephan Bräustüberl (Freising district *). Inevitably. "Because of the 2G rule, we are only half as busy as usual," says Dördelmann. “The trade fairs, Christmas parties and private parties have all been canceled.” And even on Friday, on bridging day, there was no reservation at lunchtime. “The guests are holding back. With 2G plus it would get even worse. "

The plus, which has long been a bogeyman for companies like the Weihenstephan Bräustüberl, was decided yesterday by the federal and state governments: If you haven't been vaccinated a third time, you will have to present a daily negative quick test when you visit a restaurant - in addition to your vaccination certificate and ID card.

Bavaria's Prime Minister Markus Söder * (CSU) is skeptical of the decision: Unlike in other federal states, bars, pubs and discos have been closed for a long time - so it would first have to be checked whether 2G plus is even necessary.

Gastronomy: Bavaria takes a special route - otherwise the 2Gplus rule applies nationwide

Almost half of the vaccinated Bavarians would not be affected by the rule - after all, 40.5 percent have already been boosted. For Dördelmann, the rest also counts. “For us, that's just one more piece of paper that we have to check,” says the 56-year-old. "For many, however, it will be too much effort to get tested for a coffee or an after-work beer." After the events, the walk-in customers also disappear.

Angela Inselkammer, President of the Bavarian Hotel and Restaurant Association, shares this concern.

She fears that the plus could be the death knell for many companies.

“Your financial reserves have been used up.

With 2G plus, opening in the weak sales months is no longer profitable for many, ”she says.

December showed that, thanks to the 2G rule * and the distance requirement in the catering industry, not much has changed in terms of incidence.

"There too, the panic was great beforehand - completely unfounded," says Inselkammer.

Michael Dördelmann from the Weihenstephan Bräustüberl checks the guests' vaccination certificates and ID cards - and in Bavaria it stays with 2G for the time being.

© Rainer Lehmann

For fear of renewed closures and a wave of layoffs, Inselkammer rejects the potential tightening.

“2G is enough.

The plus would be just another inhibition threshold for guests, ”she says.

"It also sounds like: Be careful, please don't go to the catering trade - it's dangerous there." The opposite is the case: "If people don't meet here, they meet in private."

Restaurant association and landlords breathe a sigh of relief: the 2Gplus rule does not apply for the time being

Dördelmann and Andreas Fischer from Mohrenplatz Wirtshaus in Garmisch-Partenkirchen * fear that. “In the village, people often celebrate until three o'clock in the morning - in private houses,” he says. “A gastro curfew doesn't help if those who are no longer allowed to come to us come together like that.” The same applies to 2G plus - but Fischer still wants to remain confident. “It doesn't help: Either you join in as a host or you lock up.” The latter is not an option for the 64-year-old and his 30 employees. “We are all vaccinated and test ourselves regularly. I also believe that everyone who has been vaccinated twice will also get the third vaccination. "

It will be a few more weeks before everyone has the booster *.

“2G plus could worsen the January slump a little, but it would probably not change much for us in the long run.” Nevertheless, he breathed a sigh of relief yesterday when Fischer learned that Bavaria wanted to take a milder special route for once.

Constantly new rules - of course that unsettles the guests, says Fischer.

“We as a company have to set an example of security and not just pretend - then people will come too.” Even if the “plus” should come.

(cos)