The Frankfurt Christmas market should be open to everyone. Only in a few gold-plated 2G control areas. The health department is critical of the 2G rules.

Frankfurt – Right at the beginning of the press conference on Friday Lord Mayor Peter Feldmann (SPD): “The central message is: The Frankfurt Christmas market is taking place.” Offenbach and Darmstadt want to open their Christmas markets on Monday.

Feldmann argues that the Christmas market takes place in the fresh air, there should be no big opening ceremony on November 22nd and no stage program and that the market is spread over a larger area in the city center with fewer stalls. On the Römerberg, for example, there are only 15 instead of the usual 40 stands. There are a total of 170; this time the Roßmarkt comes to Römerberg, Friedrich-Stoltze-Platz, Mainkai and Paulsplatz. In addition, there is great anticipation among the population for the “smell of roasted almonds and steaming mulled wine”. The need is great after the market failed due to the pandemic in 2020. And he looks forward to looking into the faces of happy people again, not just the decorated Christmas tree.

Frankfurt Christmas market despite Corona: no access restrictions

In places where there is a crowd, visitors should wear masks inside. Security personnel should check that. “It should be a Christmas market for everyone. There are therefore no access restrictions in most of the market. “

2Gl is only intended for people aged 18 and over in two areas: on the LGBTQI + community’s pink Christmas market on Friedrich-Stoltze-Platz and on the new “Christmas Roßmarkt”. Neither mask nor distance are required there. Not even in a crowd. “That is the freedom of 2G, those who have recovered and those who have been vaccinated,” says Feldmann. Children and young people there need a negative corona test result. Children under the age of six can access the website even without proof. At the rest of the Christmas market, all restaurants will have separate eating areas. There should be no admission control, but eating and drinking at a distance. There are no heated dining rooms. But the Frankfurt artist Christmas market is: It is planned with 2G in the Paulskirche and the Römerhallen.

The head of the health department Peter Tinnemann is critical of the 2G areas at the Christmas market. “Too often people feel safe at 2G events and no longer adhere to the simple protective measures,” he said in an interview with the FR. For this reason, the health department recommends that the mask is also worn at 2G events and that people keep their distance. It has been proven that there were also transmissions at 2G events. “However, the state of Hesse has not given the health authorities the option of ordering an additional mask for 2G concepts,” says Tinnemann. “We are therefore currently viewing 2G without a mask with increasing concern.”

Corona situation: Christmas market in Frankfurt smaller than usual

The concept of the Christmas market was planned by Tourismus- und Congress GmbH Frankfurt (TCF). Your managing director Thomas Feda says there will be more “corona strips” and more toilet facilities.

Some stand operators canceled due to economic fears or staff shortages. Unlike until 2019, the costs and income of the Christmas market will not balance each other out. “With the security concept, the Christmas market will produce 30 to 40 percent more costs,” says Feda. Because he also expects fewer visitors: “There are fewer commuters and tourists in the city and an audience that is afraid of major events in pandemic times,” says Feda. Before the pandemic, up to three million visitors came: inside.

When asked whether, in view of the exploratory incidences, a Christmas market should really take place like this, Feldmann says: “We are discussing 2G plus. That could be a perspective. ”This regulation, which the Executive Minister of Health Jens Spahn (CDU) had demanded on Friday, says: Attending public events should only be possible for vaccinated and convalescent people who are also tested on a daily basis. (Sandra Busch, Kathrin Rosendorff)