The closure of stores in Germany can liquidate up to 120,000 of them

The continuation of the lockdown in retail operations in Germany could result in the closure of more than 120,000 stores. Josef Sanktjohanser, President of the Handelsverbandes Deutschland (HDE), warns in a letter to Chancellor Angela Merkel that this will have catastrophic consequences for city centers and social life. In a letter available to the DPA, he called on the Chancellor to "make the necessary change to the pandemic strategy" at a meeting with federal state officials on Monday. The main criterion should no longer be just the development of infections, but also other aspects need to be taken into account, for example, the capacity of intensive care units, the proportion of severe COVID-19 disease and a larger number of tests. The stores are ready to contribute to all efforts to achieve the early and complete opening of all facilities, while maintaining hygiene rules and distances. Extraordinary sacrifices are required from retail, but without sufficient compensation. "Cities, parks and green spaces are full of people, streets are full, many companies are working normally, only shops, gastronomy and hotels are still closed. This daily image of the traders concerned is angry and increases their despair," the HDE chief writes to the chancellor. In addition, the government has fallen far short of its promise to support healthy businesses through state aid.