Sunday, November 1, 2020

New Shut-Down-Lite Period Unfolds

 1.  Period starts today and runs until 1 December.  However, if the numbers don't retreat or decline in fair way....most political folks hint that this would continue on into December.

2.  Travel restrictions?

The way it reads....if your boss/company gives you a task and it means two overnights in Dresden, then it's legit and the hotel can accept you.  If on tourism travel?  NO, the hotel cannot accept you.

The odds of police auditing hotels?  That's been openly discussed and some hotel folks think that hotels expect the police to show up occasionally, gaze over the check-in's and then go to mess with folks in the hotel.  It's a silly scenario, but this is reality in Germany today.

3.  Grocery stores can still sell 'everything'?  Yes.  Unlike Belgium or France, which went to 'essentials' only....German stores can still sell everything.  At any moment, this could change though.

4.  General acceptance of the Shut-Down-Lite deal?  Based on polling (different polls)....it's likely that three out of four Germans are accepting this one-month period.  If it goes into December, new polling might not be as positive.

5.  One unified Shut-Down-Lite book of rules?  Hell no....each state basically wrote their own version of this.  So you want to gaze over your state's rules and respond only to that version.

A lot of different understandings on the number of people who can be invited into the house, or that you can have a social event on the patio with.

6. Eating out?  Zero possibility throughout all of Germany.  Although you can call up and do a pick-up.  Most restaurants are attempting to survive in this period by take-out operations.

7.  Entertainment in this month of shut-down?

Virtually zero.  Most all states went to the full closure (kinos, brothels, casinos, etc). 

Some states did waiver outdoor zoos.  Thuringia waivered museums.  

Oddly enough, churches and demonstrations are waivered in all states.

8.  Compensation for companies affected?  Small companies can use a pot of 10-billion Euro (small means up to 50 employees).   The rule is that 75-percent of the normal November income (say of 2019) will be compensated (if closed).  For larger companies/operations....the EU rules apply (this hasn't been laid out too well).  

Generally, the business analysts say the pot of money is only half of what will be required. 

9.  Court challenges?  Lot of chatter going on about this subject.  Based on what journalists are writing....there could be tens of thousands of lawsuits started up this week throughout the sixteen states. For state and Constitutional judges....November will be a hectic month for them.

10.  Finally, Christmas activity.  Well....Christmas markets throughout the country have been mostly all cancelled now.  The food stalls?  It won't be happening.

Shut-Down-Lite odds of extending through all of December and maybe into January?  It's not a topic to bring up with Germans.  

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