Corona in Hessen: Petition calls for the Christmas market to be canceled
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Claudia Kabel
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Madeleine Reckmann
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Kathrin Rosendorff
The autumn corona numbers are also increasing in Hesse. Cities like Darmstadt are revising their security concepts. There is resistance to the Christmas markets in the region.
Frankfurt am Main – Louis Vespermann is currently setting up his “Alte Frankfurter Backstübb” stand on Thursday afternoon. His feeling: “Afraid”, that’s how he describes it. “It is the first time that we are allowed to be at the Christmas market in Frankfurt. I invested a lot of money in the new stand. If it takes place from Monday and is not canceled at the end, as in Munich. “Then it will be tight,” says Vespermann. His fear is not unfounded, because the number of corona infections is increasing daily, the Robert Koch Institute warns of larger get-togethers, and many cities in Hesse are considering how to react to the Christmas market.
At this point in time Vespermann could not yet know that. On Thursday evening, Prime Minister Volker Bouffier (CDU) will give a cautious all-clear. “I know that a lot of people look forward to the Christmas market, just to be together again, to enjoy a special atmosphere,” said the head of government after the federal-state meeting.
“You can and can still adhere to certain rules.” He is very grateful that he doesn’t have to tell the operators and showmen that this is no longer happening. “In Hesse, unlike in other countries, we can have very high incidences of death, and we are responsible for that.” Ultimately, he trusts that the local authorities will make the right decisions. In some places, where it is narrower, restrictions might be possible. But that should not apply to Frankfurt.
Christmas market in Darmstadt: distances were not kept and masks were not worn
At the Darmstadt Christmas market, which opened this week, the already concept was improved: There was a crowd on the Friedensplatz on the first two days in the evenings; The city press office announced that distances were not observed and masks were not worn. That is why the square was fenced in on Wednesday and the number of people checked since 5 p.m. If there are crowded situations at individual points, access will be temporarily blocked. This was the case on Wednesday at 8 p.m. According to the city, further adjustments, such as 2G or 3G rules, are possible in the fenced-in areas depending on the further development of the infection process and the resolutions of the Prime Minister’s Conference.
Christmas market in Wiesbaden: It is still open whether the market will take place
It is unclear whether the shooting star market in Wiesbaden will open on Tuesday as planned. “We observe how the number of infections in the city is developing and what decisions are being made by federal and state politicians,” said a spokesman for the state capital. A cancellation of the market is currently not planned. One possibility is to make the rules for the visit stronger. So far, the mask requirement applies. In walk-in stands, the operators decide whether the guests have to comply with 2G or 3G. The separated gastro area may only be entered under the 2G rule.
Frankfurt Christmas market freely accessible in the city center
Vespermann’s stand is on the Roßmarkt. The Roßmarkt is part of the Frankfurt Christmas Market for the first time, so that it is more spacious than usual. There is also no opening ceremony on Monday and fewer booths overall. People should wear masks where things get tight. City police and security guards are supposed to control the death. Vespermann says his North German specialty lard cake (“like a crepe, only fresh”) is being offered for the first time at the Frankfurt Christmas market. However, visitors cannot eat it at the stand, they can only take it with them. The stand is still outside the separated 2G zone, where convalescent and vaccinated people can drink something at the mulled wine stands without a mask or distance. Here and at Friedrich-Stoltze-Platz (“Pink Christmas”) there should be 2G admission controls. Otherwise, the Frankfurt Christmas market in the city center is freely accessible.
So the plan. “At the moment we’re sticking to this plan,” said a spokeswoman for the municipal tourism & congress GmbH, which is responsible for the structure and concept of the Frankfurt Christmas market, on Thursday. A rejection is not under discussion.
Christmas market in Frankfurt: “The Christmas market is positive for the soul”
At the stand of “Santa’s Fruits” not far from Neue Kräme, Rico Levy, who has had a real Santa Claus beard for years, is hanging up the poster: “30 years anniversary”. His wife says that for the first time in all these years, dying psyche comes into play. That they might have to dismantle everything and go home. “My parents sit in front of the television and watch the news. My phone could ring at any moment, ”she says a few hours before Bouffier speaks. What annoys them most is the unreasonableness of those who refuse to vaccinate: inside. “This stupid behavior brought us into such a situation in the first place.” And how do the people of Frankfurt feel: inside? A young woman who lives not far from Paulsplatz, which also has the Frankfurt Christmas Market in front of the door, says: “Well, I’ll go there, but only in the 2G area, so I feel more comfortable.” A man at the Roßmarkt says: “That the Christmas market takes place gives me a sense of normalcy. As a vaccinated person, I did everything to make the situation better. I deserve to go there. The Christmas market is positive for the soul. “
How important is the Christmas market to retailers? “In the current pandemic situation this is not uncritical, but the Christmas market is very important as a frequency generator. He brings people out of the home office and into the city center. This is economically important not only for retailers, but also for taxi drivers and restaurateurs, ”says Joachim Stoll, Vice President of the Hessen-Süd trade association.
Frankfurter launches petition “Stop the Frankfurt Christmas Market”
The Frankfurt activist (#NoFragida) Annette Ludwig started an online petition “Stop the Frankfurt Christmas Market” on Tuesday. By Thursday, more than 500 people have signed this. “I am more horrified every day that the Christmas market is about to take place. He will be full of people who crowd. “
She emphasizes: “It is the wrong signal. People are taught that nothing can happen. But I trust the Robert Koch Institute, which warns of major events. If only one person dies, that is one person too many. ”They do not understand that Lord Mayor Peter Feldmann (SPD) is not acting. “I would have trusted Mr. Feldmann, who is otherwise so interested in the well-being of the city society, cancels the Christmas market.” (With cka, mre and pit)