Corona summit: The federal and state governments are planning far-reaching easing steps for trade

Created: 02/15/2022, 14:26

By: Lisa Mayerhofer

The federal and state governments are preparing far-reaching relaxation of the corona measures.

© Axel Heimken

The federal and state governments want to discuss further easing of the corona measures on Wednesday.

The retail sector should breathe a sigh of relief.

Berlin – In the fight against the corona pandemic *, retail can prepare for far-reaching easing: A leaked draft resolution for the federal-state consultations on Wednesday provides for a three-stage plan.

Retail: Restrictions are lifted, mask stays

"By the beginning of spring on March 20, 2022, the far-reaching restrictions on social, cultural and economic life are to be gradually withdrawn," says a draft for the consultations between Chancellor Olaf Scholz and the Prime Minister on Wednesday, which is available to Reuters.

In the first step, there should no longer be any access restrictions in retail* nationwide.

The mask requirement will probably continue to apply.

At the moment, the Infection Protection Act only allows protective measures until March 19th.

However, the federal and state governments should continue to adhere to “low-threshold protection rules” such as keeping your distance and wearing a mask – and extend the rules accordingly.

2G rule overturned in retail in many countries

So far, the 2G rule has applied in retail, according to which only vaccinated and recovered people are allowed to enter the shops.

So far, shops for everyday needs such as supermarkets, drugstores and bookstores have been exempt from the rule.

However, the 2G regulation is already no longer in force in many federal states or has been softened.

For example, the 2G restriction was overturned by the Administrative Court in Bavaria in January.

Also in Lower Saxony, Brandenburg and Baden-Württemberg there is no longer a 2G obligation in retail.

2G continues to apply in North Rhine-Westphalia, but this should only be checked in random samples.

Meanwhile, Saxony-Anhalt will remain with 2G, while Thuringia is switching to 3G.

Associations are demanding clear opening steps

Before the Corona summit on Wednesday, the German Chambers of Industry and Commerce (DIHK) and the BDI industry association called for nationwide and clear opening steps in the corona pandemic from the federal and state governments.

Before the consultations on Wednesday, DIHK President Peter Adrian said in Berlin: "More and more companies are threatened by the pandemic - concrete opening steps are therefore now crucial.

The situation in retail, hospitality and the leisure industry has deteriorated considerably as a result of the corona measures.”

BDI President Siegfried Russwurm emphasized that the industry expects more ambitious targets for the new phase of the pandemic.

"A clear national roadmap for further pandemic management is overdue," said Russwurm: "We need directional decisions for further dealing with the virus *, which primarily serve to prevent and ward off further waves."