Moenchengladbach
One hour of mask duty a day? This is behind the curious rule of an Edeka branch
Between 7 a.m. and 8 a.m., customers are only allowed to go shopping with mouth and nose protection at Edeka Endt in Mönchengladbach
© Stephan Schulz/ / Picture Alliance
Since the beginning of April it has been possible to shop almost all over Germany without masks – actually. In an Edeka branch in North Rhine-Westphalia, the mask requirement still applies, for one hour a day.
For most Germans, the mask requirement is a thing of the past. For example, mouth and nose protection only has to be worn in hospitals, care facilities, airplanes and in local and long-distance traffic. This does not apply to hotspots, where special measures may continue to apply.
However, the customers of Edeka Endt in Mönchengladbach still have to wear a mask when shopping – at least between 7 a.m. and 8 a.m. The one-hour mask requirement that applies every day is intended to enable risk groups such as the elderly or chronically ill and physically impaired people to be able to shop safely.
That regulation is therefore legally possible, since supermarkets and shops can make use of their domiciliary rights, contrary to the current corona measures, and can independently order a mask requirement.
The mask requirement regulation is causing discussions on Twitter
“A lot of older people go shopping at that time anyway, so that fits quite well,” said a store employee to the t-online portal. There would be no problems with customers who didn’t want to comply with the regulation: “It’s going quite well here.”
A customer shared the notice at the entrance to the Edeka branch on Twitter. The post caused mixed reactions: while some Twitter users welcomed the measure, many criticized the short time window. “If ‘we want to protect were meant seriously’, instead of the marginal time of 7-8, there would simply be a sign that said, ‘Here masks are mandatory’,” writes one user. Another user comments: “It’s just stupid if the risk groups have to work at the times. Solidarity could also be demanded around the clock.”
Sources: Thuringian General, t-online