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Disappointment, misunderstanding, head shaking: merchants leave in the middle of the all-important Christmas season. Because the Federal Council remains firm: department stores and florists now have to close from 7:00 p.m. and on Sundays and holidays. Exceptions are only possible for cantons with a good epidemiological situation.
Fresh buns from Sunday’s bakery can be rubbed on your leg, as can quick shopping for missing baking ingredients. The Sunday morning newspaper? You can forget that in the next few weeks. Because gas station stores also have to respect the closing of Sundays.
“Retail is not a source of contagion,” says Patrick Kessler, managing director of Handelsverband.swiss. Only the cantons with blocking of leisure activities and restaurants were able to reduce the infection quickly and significantly. “The Federal Council acts against available knowledge and experience.”
Trade as a pawn sacrifice
According to the association, the risks in gastronomy are obviously greater. The consequences of the decision: The Federal Council also runs the risk that the post office will no longer deliver packages in the next two weeks. The assumption: If people can’t shop on Sundays as planned, they order more online and the post office won’t deliver anymore. Ultimately, according to the association, the impression emerges that “stationary retail is being used as a sacrifice.”
The Swiss Retail Federation follows the same line. “The stricter measures are a massive threat to the retail trade”, and the shortening of the opening hours of the stores is not sensible in terms of sanitary policy. “The ban on Sunday sales that have already been approved exacerbates the situation,” said a statement. (aurochs)
