Economy – Munich – Retail under 2G rule – Bavaria
Munich (dpa / lby) – The first weekend in Advent with the 2G rule in retail was disappointing, according to the Bavarian Trade Association. “Many shops have 40 to 60 percent fewer customers,” said association spokesman Bernd Ohlmann on Saturday. “The Christmas business is bobbing and weak.” Retail in the Free State is “light years away” from the festive mood, instead of sales migrating to Internet trading: “2G is a mega-turbo accelerator.”
After all, most of the customers were “very disciplined” during the 2G controls, emphasized Ohlmann. “There were hardly any grunts.”
To make the controls easier, some cities wanted to use wristbands, as in other federal states. However, this could not be implemented in all cases. While ribbons were being issued in Bamberg, the project in Kempten was stopped for a short time. The Bavarian Ministry of Health “rated the project as not permissible,” said City Management Kempten on Friday.
This was disappointing for those affected, said trade association spokesman Ohlmann. “But it would be naive to think that the knot would only have popped through the ligaments. It would have been a relief, but not a breakthrough.” The hope that customers will now feel safer with the 2G rule has not yet been confirmed, said Ohlmann. From an economic point of view, business owners can only hope for the fourth weekend in Advent and the last working days before Christmas.
Since Wednesday, only vaccinated and convalescent people have been allowed to shop in parts of the retail trade in Bavaria. However, the 2G rule does not apply to everyday business. The Ministry of Health includes not only grocery stores, pharmacies, drugstores, petrol stations, hardware stores and newsagents, but also opticians, acousticians, baby stores, animal and feed stores, flower shops, shoe shops and bookstores – as well as craft shops and workshops. Clothing and sports stores as well as jewelers are affected by the 2G rule.
© dpa-infocom, dpa: 211211-99-345691 / 3