Business associations reacted with relief to the planned relaxation of the corona restrictions in Germany, but called for further steps. The German Retail Association (HDE) welcomed the end of 2G access restrictions for shops. This is long overdue, said HDE general manager Stefan Genth on Wednesday in Berlin. However, politicians must clearly state that “in the future, too, 2G and 3G access restrictions when shopping will no longer be part of the toolbox used to combat the pandemic”. The distinction between trade in daily and non-daily needs should no longer play a role in corona measures.
The Association of the German Trade Fair Industry AUMA reacted cautiously. “The federal and state governments have given an important signal that encourages the German trade fair industry,” said managing director Jörn Holtmeier to the newspapers of the “Funke Mediengruppe”. As in retail, however, all 2G access rules would have to fall. “We call for the rapid return to 3G at trade fairs in order to enable the international audience to participate without any problems,” said Holtmeier. It is also important that all vaccines recognized by the World Health Organization are accepted in Germany.
The Central Association of German Crafts (ZDH) explained that the three-step opening gives companies important planning capability. The exit perspective is of essential importance, especially for the trades, for which a disproportionately large number of restrictions and corona requirements apply, such as the food trade and the automotive trade, said ZDH President Hans Peter Wollseifer. “It is all the more incomprehensible that the severely restricted personal service trades such as hairdressers and beauticians are not taken into account in this opening concept.”
During their consultations on Wednesday, the federal and state governments had agreed to withdraw corona measures in three stages over the next four weeks until the beginning of spring on March 20th. It depends on the federal state when individual restrictions will be lifted or reduced by then. (dpa)