New corona measures apply in Germany. But the elimination of the mask requirement, for example, does not apply everywhere. What now applies to Aldi, Lidl and Co.
Berlin/Kassel – For a long time, customers in the supermarket had to like Aldi, Lidl, Rewe, Edeka and Co. wear a mask, but that will soon be the end of it, at least in some federal states. The 2G and 3G rules, the obligation to wear masks and the upper limit for participants in events should actually fall on March 20th. Numerous federal states had the so-called However, “Freedom Day” has been postponed to the beginning of April and the applicable Corona rules maintained.
The legally granted and binding transition phase ends on April 2nd. The current Federal Infection Protection Act provides for the Corona– From April 2, 2022, only allow measures to take effect in hotspot areas. However, these must be determined by the municipalities in cooperation with the state government. Mask requirements, distance rules and admission restrictions should remain in these hotspot regions. This means that masks are still compulsory in supermarkets and shopping centers.
Corona measures at Aldi, Lidl, Rewe, Edeka: Where is the mask requirement retained?
A request from several federal states to extend the existing corona rules again throughout Germany was rejected by the majority. He has Federal health ministers following the special meeting of federal and state health ministers announced on Monday (03/28/2022). According to data from Karl Lauterbach (SPD) nationwide corona rules are “legally no longer possible”.
In view of the high number of infections and the Omicron variant However, some federal states, including Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, have decided to extend the previous corona measures by another month and to maintain the mask requirement in supermarkets, among other things. Other federal states have not yet made any fixed regulations for the coming weeks and are in consultation. However, Hessen is different: despite the fact that it is still higher Corona numbers in Hesse Prime Minister Volker Bouffier announced the so-called “basic protection”.
New Corona rules at Aldi, Lidl, Rewe and Co.: “Basic protection” and no hotspot regulation in Hesse
Accordingly, from April 2nd, the mask and test obligation will largely no longer apply throughout Hesse. Customers in the supermarket no longer have to wear a medical mask. These measures are then only mandatory in areas in need of special protection. From Saturday in Hesse, masks only have to be worn in medical practices and hospitals (not for inpatient hospital patients), in old people’s and nursing homes, in nursing and rescue services, in buses and trains (public transport and long-distance traffic) and in collective accommodation such as homeless and refugee accommodation .
The hotspot regulation for Hesse does not apply because, according to Bouffier, it can no longer be implemented because the Hessian state government cannot accept a fixed guideline value as meaningful. However, the Hessian Prime Minister appealed to each individual to take personal responsibility: “The pandemic is not over yet.”
| Edeka | no obligation to wear a mask on your own |
| Rewe | also only mask requirement in hotspots |
| Aldi south | Mask requirement expires |
| Kaufland and Lidl | Masks are only compulsory in federal states with state requirements |
| Globus | Wearing a mask is no longer required |
| dm and Rossman | probably no mask requirement due to house rules |
Masks are no longer compulsory in supermarkets: Lauterbach refers to Aldi, Lidl, Rewe and Edeka’s domiciliary rights
Health Minister Lauterbach, however, is appealing to retailers to voluntarily maintain the mask requirement and to make use of their domiciliary rights. For example, Aldi, Lidl, Rewe and Co. could continue to insist on the mask requirement when shopping in the supermarket and continue to require customers and employees to wear a mask. Lauterbach’s hope therefore rests on the dealers.
However, they are less enthusiastic and, according to media reports, issued a fundamental rejection according to the mask requirement by domiciliary rights. “Masks are an obstacle to business,” says Bernd Ohlmann, spokesman for the Bavarian Trade Association, “the vast majority of our members tell us: ‘There is no shopping feeling with masks.'” However, it can be assumed that the majority of customers will voluntarily continue to wear the mask when shopping in the supermarket.
“The mask is now part of everyday life for many customers, but it is not a permanent solution,” said the managing director of the German trade association, Stefan Genth, to the editorial network Germany (RND). Various supermarket and discounter chains such as Aldi, Lidl, Rewe and Edeka have already commented on the mask requirement. Retailers can exercise their domiciliary rights and continue to require customers to wear a mask. In addition, the corona rules of the federal states apply.
Mask requirement in the supermarket? These corona measures apply in the federal states
However, not all federal states participate in the so-called “basic protection”, which is intended to replace the obligation to wear masks, access restrictions and other measures in public life. In some regions, 3G in restaurants, 2G-Plus in clubs and discotheques as well as vaccination, test and proof of recovery should still be mandatory for some institutions. Masks are still compulsory in the supermarket. The following rules will come into force in the individual federal states from Saturday, April 2nd, 2022:
- Baden-Württemberg: Masks no longer have to be worn indoors, and there are no access rules. Masks only have to be worn in public transport, in clinics and in medical practices. Hotspot rule is not applied.
- Bayern: Corona restrictions end, “basic protection” should run until April 30th. Masks are not compulsory in retail and leisure facilities. In local and long-distance transport, in nursing homes, medical practices and clinics, as well as compulsory testing in schools and daycare centers. There is no hotspot regulation.
- Berlin: Masks will only be compulsory on buses and trains, medical practices, hospitals and other care facilities. Testing is mandatory in hospitals, prisons or homes for asylum seekers, as well as in nursing homes. The obligation to test also applies to schools and day-care centers.
- Brandenburg: Masks are compulsory in local public transport, hospitals, care facilities and refugee and homeless accommodation. A hotspot regulation is still being discussed.
- Bremen: Basic protective measures should apply: An FFP2 or surgical mask must be worn in medical practices, hospitals or local public transport, and tests are planned to be carried out several times a week in daycare centers and schools.
- Hamburg: Corona rules should probably be extended by another month. The citizenship is to decide on Wednesday (March 29th, 2022) whether the city will be declared a corona hotspot.
- Hessen: The basic protection takes effect. Accordingly, from April 2nd, the mask and test obligation will largely no longer apply throughout Hesse.
- Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania: Stricter measures will continue to apply until April 27. The entire country has been declared a hotspot for this.
- Lower Saxony: 2G and 3G are no longer required, masks are still compulsory in hospitals, care facilities, homes and prisons as well as in doctor’s offices and in local public transport. The obligation to test in schools and day-care centers remains.
- North Rhine-Westphalia: Measures are to be extended, but it is not yet clear whether the federal state will become a hotspot. The state government wants to discuss how to proceed in the next few days.
- Rhineland-Palatinate: Most Corona rules are no longer applicable. Masks are compulsory in hospitals, medical practices, care facilities or on buses and trains. There should initially not be a hotspot regulation with stricter regulations.
- Saarland: The regulation of the current corona measures is scheduled to expire on April 2, 2022. There will be no hotspot regulation in the federal state.
- Saxony: Current corona rules are scheduled to expire on April 2nd, basic protection measures to contain the corona pandemic will be used.
- Saxony-Anhalt: On April 3rd, a relaxed Corona Containment Ordinance will come into force. This will initially apply until April 30th. More detailed measures are still being discussed.
- Schleswig-Holstein: The mask requirement in many indoor public spaces will be abolished. Only vulnerable groups should continue to be protected by mandatory masks and tests. The federal state refrains from a hotspot regulation.
- Thuringia: The infection protection measures in the Free State should end on April 2nd, the basic protection measures prescribed by the federal government are sufficient according to the CDU parliamentary group. An extension of the rules is to be discussed at a special meeting.
Whether and where a mask still has to be worn in the supermarkets and shopping centers in the Federal Republic from April 2 varies from region to region and will still be decided for some federal states. (Helena Gries)