Stuttgart / Karlsruhe (dpa / lk) – No window shopping, only targeted shopping – this is the slogan Prime Minister Kretschmann issued before the weekend. Some of the pedestrian zones were jam-packed. The inner cities in Karlsruhe, Pforzheim and Baden-Baden were well frequented. Many people in the southwest apparently wanted to get their Christmas presents quickly before the tough lockdown on Wednesday.
Photo: Symbolbild / Pixabay
Panic buying on Saturday
The exit restrictions that have been in force nationwide since Saturday were not visible in many inner cities on the third weekend of Advent – at least during the day. With a view to the closure of stores, countless people went out to buy Christmas presents. “These are pure panic buying,” said the general manager of the Baden-Württemberg trade association, Sabine Hagmann, on Sunday. Because of exceptions in the new regulations and because retailers are still allowed to open, this is in principle also allowed. At night, the new corona rules are well observed.
Huge damage in retail
The closure of the retail trade from Wednesday shortly before Christmas was bad news for the employees too, the managing director made clear. People sometimes have to work short-time, lose part of their income or even lose their jobs. You understand that politicians have little experience in dealing with a pandemic and must act quickly when in doubt, said Hagmann. But for weeks politicians had virtually ruled out a lockdown. From their point of view, the damage that could occur now will mean the end for some dealers. “That is irreparable, as it intervenes in the middle of the Christmas business.”
Full city center in Karlsruhe
The Karlsruhe police reported a significant decrease in the number of visitors to Karlsruhe city center on Saturday. The reason for this was probably both the rainy weather and the exit restrictions that came into force. However, queues formed from time to time in front of the ECE Center. Much less was going on on Marktplatz or Friedrichsplatz. The serving of alcohol had stopped there, and a mulled wine stand had already been dismantled. The stands on Stephansplatz were hardly frequented.
There is no rush to the Black Forest
The number of visitors on the Schwarzwaldhochstrasse was also limited, said the Offenburg police. There was a traffic chaos there last weekend due to numerous snow excursionists. Many people had not adhered to the applicable distance requirement. To avoid crowds, there were no more mulled wine stands here either. After a rush of day trippers, access to the Kandel mountain in the Central Black Forest was restricted on Sunday. The country road from Waldkirch was also closed to cars. The municipality of Oberried in the Breisgau-Hochschwarzwald district had also blocked access to the Stollenbach. And despite the large number of visitors, it was a relatively quiet weekend on the Feldberg, reported the head of the mountain rescue station.
Toilet paper, lemon peel and powdered sugar sold out
In the state capital Stuttgart and Reutlingen the inner cities were jam-packed. Toilet paper, lemon peel and powdered sugar, for example, were sold out here and there. “That’ll come again,” said Hagmann. “You don’t have to worry about that.” According to the police, there were only a few pedestrians in downtown Stuttgart on Saturday evening at around 9:30 p.m. The traffic on the streets had also decreased significantly in the course of the evening and there were only a few passengers on buses and trains. The Mannheim colleagues reported something similar.
Monitoring the nightly curfew
Interior Minister Thoma Strobl called on people to abide by the new rules. The police will control the measures against the corona pandemic nationwide. “First of all, it is important to bring people closer to the new rules with a sense of proportion,” said the CDU politician. “The police will monitor compliance with sensitivity and the necessary consistency, especially the night exit restrictions throughout Baden-Württemberg.” Strobl warned against disregarding the exit restrictions in the evening and at night: “Anyone who is on the road after 8:00 p.m., on foot or by bike, motorized or in public transport, should have a good reason to be aware of the new Corona Regulation is covered. Anyone who then stays in public for no good reason must expect a fine. “
Nights stay calm
The police in the state capital, for example, checked around 500 cars and 800 people on Sunday night. Most of the people checked had a valid reason to be outdoors. Most of the drivers were on their way home. Around 170 people did not have such a reason. In Mannheim, the second largest city in Baden-Württemberg, the police controlled 434 cars and 512 people. 67 people violated the requirements. Overall, however, the night went quietly and without significant incidents. In Pforzheim and Baden-Baden, too, most people adhered to the night curfew.
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