German business decries easing plan
German business groups expressed dismay yesterday after Chancellor Angela Merkel and state leaders agreed to a gradual easing of coronavirus curbs but added an “emergency brake” to reimpose restrictions if case numbers get out of control.
“The results of the coronavirus summit are a disaster for the retail sector,” said Stefan Genth, chief executive of the HDE retail association.
Under the five-stage plan agreed upon late on Wednesday, up to five people from two households will be allowed to meet from March 8, with children under 14 exempt. Some shops, including book stores and garden centres, can reopen.
Other retailers can only reopen in regions where case numbers are below 50 cases per 100,000 people over seven days. If the incidence rises above 50, “click and meet” restrictions kick in, whereby customers book a slot to go to a store.
Yesterday, Germany’s seven-day case average rose to 64.7 from 64 on Wednesday. New infections increased by 11,912 to 2,471,942 and the death toll rose by 359 to 71,240.
“The stable incidence of 50 prescribed for opening shops is not in sight,” the HDE said, adding that retailers were likely to lose another 10 billion euros (about 364 billion baht) in sales by the end of March compared to 2019.
Ms Merkel’s chief of staff Helge Braun defended the decision to ease curbs only gradually, saying that the emergency brake for regions with incidence rates above 100 was needed to avoid a third wave of infections.