corona
Survey: Many want 3G in retail
Almost half of the respondents are in favor of abolishing the 2G regulation in retail. Photo: Soeren Stache/dpa
© dpa-infocom GmbH
In many regions, a shopping spree is currently only possible for those who have been vaccinated or have recovered. Many people are bothered by this – but others find the rule useful. Courts are also dealing with the issue.
Almost half of consumers in Germany are in favor of abolishing the 2G regulation in retail.
In a survey by the opinion research institute YouGov, 49 percent of those questioned stated that they would support a 3G regulation for their state instead, so that in addition to those who had been vaccinated and those who had recovered, those who had been tested would also have access to non-grocery stores. Around 38 percent rejected such a relaxation of the corona requirements.
On January 26, 2022, YouGov surveyed a total of 1,637 people in Germany aged 18 and over. The results were weighted and are representative of the German population aged 18 and over. The question was: “Would you currently support or reject a return to the 3G regulation for your state in retail, i.e. access for those who have been vaccinated, have recovered and have been tested, away from the 2G regulation?”
The federal and state governments had decided on the 2G rule for large parts of the retail trade in view of the increasing corona incidence figures at the beginning of December last year. Shops for daily needs such as supermarkets, drugstores and pharmacies were excluded.
2G employs the courts
However, the regulation has already been overturned by courts in several countries, resulting in a patchwork of different access rules. The 2G rule still applies in most federal states. However, it was abolished in Lower Saxony, Baden-Württemberg, Bavaria and Saarland.
The German Retail Association (HDE) has been calling for the 2G rule to be lifted for some time. Just a few days ago, HDE President Josef Sanktjohanser wrote in a letter to Federal Health Minister Karl Lauterbach (SPD) that a comparison between countries with and without 2G regulations shows that there are “no recognizable effects” of the access restrictions in retail on the infection process. The HDE President complained that the effects of 2G on the trade concerned were great. The non-food trade is suffering from a drop in sales of up to 30 percent. Thousands of businesses are at risk.
However, in view of the rapid increase in the number of infections, the federal and state governments stuck to the current measures during their most recent consultations last Monday.