Updated:
—
The corona numbers are slowly falling, but the federal emergency brake still applies. Different rules could soon apply to hardware stores.
Berlin – The federal emergency brake came into force on April 23, 2021 and defines uniform nationwide corona measures. The regulations depend on the seven-day incidence. The more it falls, the looser the rules become.
Obi, Hornbach and Co .: These rules could apply in hardware stores from June
In shops of up to 800 square meters, 20 square meters must be available per person. This applies to many supermarkets, for example. For shops with a retail space of over 800 square meters, however, particularly strict rules apply. These include DIY stores such as Obi, Hornbach and Co. If the incidence is over 100, DIY stores have to double the distance between customers. For areas of over 800 square meters, the following applies: Only one additional customer per 40 square meters may enter.
If the incidence exceeds 150, customers can pre-order the goods online and collect them from Obi, Hornbach and Co. It is then no longer possible to rummage through the shelves of the hardware store. This regulation applies up to the mark of 200, after which the Click & Collect system is no longer allowed.
The nationwide seven-day incidence in Germany is currently below 50 – and the trend is falling. In the previous week, the value was still 68. If the development continues, more people could shop in hardware stores at the same time in June.
High incidence: The stricter distance rules in hardware stores still apply here
In some counties, however, the corona numbers are still above the 100 mark, which means stricter distance rules. This applies, for example, to the independent city of Memmingen with a seven-day incidence of 140.6 (as of May 27) or for Hildburghausen with 123.4 and Coburg with a value of 109.5. The number of customers in DIY stores is severely limited here – and it is expected to remain so in June. Only when the region is below the limit for five days in a row can the stricter measures be lifted. This could also lead to longer waiting times. The trade association had warned in advance of long queues due to the stricter distance rules.
–
