The first opening steps are likely to be ahead. The trade hopes that Christmas presents in particular will now be returned.
The evidence is growing that the federal government is likely to announce the first opening steps from the lockdown on Monday. May reopen on Monday, February 8th. Most economically relevant is the opening of trade – with customer restrictions and an FFP2 mask requirement. In this sector, a good billion euros is lost per lockdown week; many companies and jobs are therefore already at risk. The starting shot could be given on February 8th.
Trade association managing director Rainer Will announces himself by broadcast: “The trade association appealed to the federal government to take this opening step right up to the end, since trade was never a corona hotspot due to short stays and loose customer contact.”
The trade association points out that compliance with the 2 meter minimum distance (“elephant” instead of “baby elephant”) would correspond to a distance of 16 square meters per customer and guarantees compliance.
The trade association assumes that customers will take the opportunity to exchange numerous Christmas gifts, redeem vouchers and money gifts. “The catch-up effects will generally be less than a third, as the lockdown duration was a very long one,” it says.
