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Because stores don’t have to close until Wednesday after the federal and state governments’ decision, concern about Christmas shopping tours on the remaining two days this week is increasing. Federal Economy Minister Peter Altmaier (CDU) has asked people to refrain from buying Christmas gifts in stores in the last two days before the crown closes. Due to the risk of infection, people should only buy “the bare minimum,” Altmaier said on the Internet program of the newspaper “Bild”.
SPD Chairman Norbert Walter-Borjans also warned of a flood of retail customers on Monday and Tuesday. “The next two days will be decisive for the development of the whole month,” he said on the Internet program “Bild Live”. You have to avoid queues in front of the stores.
Germany is returning to a harsh lockdown on Wednesday due to the increase in the number of corona infections and deaths. This was decided by the federal and state governments on Sunday. Since holiday shopping could be concentrated on the two days that are only available due to this decision, there is now concern about an increased risk of corona infection. At the moment, there was no explanation why the stores did not close on Monday.
Retail will remain largely closed until January 10. The exceptions only apply to supermarkets and some other stores, especially for daily needs. An extension of the lock is not excluded. The federal and state governments will likely discuss this on January 5.
Distributors just expect “higher customer traffic”
Altmaier recommended the vouchers as Christmas gifts, which could then be redeemed when stores generally reopen. When this would be the case, “no one can responsibly predict” at this time. The benchmark for this is the evolution of the number of infections and deaths.
However, the HDE trade association does not expect stores to run. In the case of Christmas gifts, there could be a “higher number of customers” on Monday and Tuesday, HDE managing director Stefan Genth told “Handelsblatt.” But many clients certainly would have adjusted their plans for closure in recent days. Distributors have also demonstrated in recent months that they have functional hygiene concepts.
In the grocery trade, her association didn’t expect “hamster purchases,” Genth said. Customers have learned that supply chains and sourcing the population “work even under tough conditions.”
