German full lockdown over Christmas

[Feedingthebirds1]

For four weeks. Starts on Wednesday (15th) to the 10th January. Food shops, banks and Christmas tree sellers the only businesses allowed to open.

A maximum of five people from no more than two households can mix during the lockdown, and for CE, CD and BD up to four family members even if that means more than two households.

How on earth will they get away with it? I know the Germans are more compliant than the UK (overall) but surely even they're going to object?

Maybe now people will quit moaning about lockdowns here. We are not the only country in and out of lockdown, although you would think so with the amount of moaning

I have seen most people wear masks, and more parents are now when picking up kids from the lower school. Compliance in shops and public transport is high

Personally I wish we could not have the five days off over Christmas as I am concerned about January

Well there’s probably still going to be moaning it’s no fun being in lock down. And a third of it happens is wearing.

But yes we’re all in the same dire straits in Europe. Not much in it. Just thinking about how unbelievably good it is we have a working vaccine. Imagining what next without is.. well not worth it as it hasn’t happened.

I used to live in Germany and still follow local news etc on Facebook- lots of people are kicking off big time about the new rules (particularly working parents whose kids' schools are closing) in the comments, with the odd 'too little, too late' type comment in support of the measures.

In fact, it's like every British thread re lockdowns... just written auf Deutsch!

@OverTheRainbow88

I wish Bojo would grow some and do the same

No thanks. We can't keep doing it over and over again.

@Itisasecret

The same will happen here after Christmas but we will be in a much worse situation than they are now.

Agree. Free mixing for five days not to mention all those breaking the rules anyway is going to lead to an awful January and February.

I wish we had a hard lockdown for Christmas to avoid all the unnecessary strain on the NHS etc just because some people can’t go without usual traditions for a year.

Under 14s are not counted in groups mixing.

The government are trying to make it into an extended Christmas holiday

www.thelocal.de/20201213/explained-these-are-germanys-tougher-new-lockdown-measures
EXPLAINED: These are Germany's tough new lockdown measures

English explainer of their rules.

Dutch news in English FWIW:

The head of the Dutch regional safety association on Sunday said that the Netherlands need to go into a total lockdown, like Germany, as the number of overnight coronavirus infections neared 10,000. [...] ‘If you don’t do anything, then people will come over the border en masse to do their shopping, and the cabinet is well aware of this,’ Bruls said. ‘I assume measures will be made public very quickly.’

From:

www.dutchnews.nl/news/2020/12/new-coronavirus-infections-near-10000-as-ministers-discuss-new-measures/

@FairyFairy

I used to live in Germany and still follow local news etc on Facebook- lots of people are kicking off big time about the new rules (particularly working parents whose kids' schools are closing) in the comments, with the odd 'too little, too late' type comment in support of the measures.

In fact, it's like every British thread re lockdowns... just written auf Deutsch!

Hang on there a sec! We’ve spent the last 10 months being told how crap we are in the U.K., how selfish and non compliant and generally useless we are. Do you mean the Germans are actually as divided and crap and moany as us?! Surely not

I work in a shop and can confirm 99% of customers wearing a mask. My dp works in a different shop and its the same there. We are in a lowish area tier 2, and nearly everyone is being very sensible.

Do you mean the Germans are actually as divided and crap and moany as us?! Surely not

Sorry to keep harping on about Germany's neighbours but here in NL we even had an extremely short-lived celebrity hashtag campaign "ik doe niet meer mee", basically, "I'm not going to do this/co-operate any more"! We also have anti-corona protests (don't seem to have worked yet ) and constant rave-style parties here and there across the country.

@FairyFairy

I used to live in Germany and still follow local news etc on Facebook- lots of people are kicking off big time about the new rules (particularly working parents whose kids' schools are closing) in the comments, with the odd 'too little, too late' type comment in support of the measures.

In fact, it's like every British thread re lockdowns... just written auf Deutsch!

I'm betting that in just about every country, the local equivalent of MN has had similar discussions with people complaining about restrictions. But to read some posts here, you'd swear that every other nation was led by competent, caring governments presiding over civic minded, 'compliant' (MN's favourite new word) populations.

@lucywarlowsrighthand

Do you mean the Germans are actually as divided and crap and moany as us?! Surely not

Sorry to keep harping on about Germany's neighbours but here in NL we even had an extremely short-lived celebrity hashtag campaign "ik doe niet meer mee", basically, "I'm not going to do this/co-operate any more"! We also have anti-corona protests (don't seem to have worked yet ) and constant rave-style parties here and there across the country.

We have Rita Ora and Kay Burley and Piers Corbyn (jeremy’s brother)

Yep- lots of criticism of Merkel in the comments and even the odd conspiracy theorist

They are as lazy as racoons

www.google.com/amp/s/www.bbc.com/news/amp/world-europe-54959871

I'm betting that in just about every country, the local equivalent of MN has had similar discussions with people complaining about restrictions. But to read some posts here, you'd swear that every other nation was led by competent, caring governments presiding over civic minded, 'compliant' (MN's favourite new word) populations.

Absolutely

An example FB comment for you (auto translated into English) Sound familiar, anyone?

'I am slowly finding it sad what a Ms. Merkel and a Mr. Söder take from us! Do these people who do not keep their distance or mask obligation in a meeting actually think about what the normal working people are? Short-time work with less money, children without care, livelihoods that break down, old people who get lonely in the homes? And all because you haven't achieved anything in the past few months? Do you have social contacts with children, but the already rich footballers keep playing and partying in the dressing rooms? Do we have to go to work and sit in overcrowded buses? Sad the whole thing and yes it is sad when you lose a loved one through illness, nevertheless all of our lives have to go on normally again at some point! This mountain of debt that our government is now making can no longer be removed by generations!'

Why are Christmas Trees essential, but toys or socks to go under them not?

I'm in Germany and am glad they are doing this. Yes, it's going to be a nightmare without childcare for the youngest two and having to work from home but my eldest already has 3 weeks off school for Christmas holidays. The numbers here are rising steadily and much worse than in spring when we were in strict lockdown much sooner.
They had originally allowed 10 people (from any number of households!!) to be together indoors over Christmas which just seemed ridiculous to me. New rules are much more sensible.
I haven't heard what financial help there will be for all the retail/entertainment businesses that will suffer though, it's a huge worry how that will turn out.

Very appropriate expat username @givememarmite

I am only posting what i have seen but will never speak for others.
Different areas different compliance rates. EG, Morrisons, staff at door
reminding people and asking people to waer masks, so good compliance. Icelands, no one at the door and less compliance. The reason I wear a mask is to protect others and reduce the risk and it would be nice if they did the same for me.

“I wish we had a hard lockdown for Christmas to avoid all the unnecessary strain on the NHS etc just because some people can’t go without usual traditions for a year.”

Strain on the NHS is one of the usual traditions of winter.

@MoirasRoses

YES *@ZaraCarmichaelshighheels* - I’m in a tier 3 area & since masks were made mandatory indoors, I’ve seen two people not wearing one the hundreds of times I’ve been in shops & public places! And both those people were wearing sunflower lanyards. I’ve also been on holiday & to you visit relatives in other parts of the country (when we were allowed) & I everyone was wearing one in those locations too.

It’s just made up nonsense that ‘no-one is wearing one’. Maybe a bus of high school teenagers might be the exception but I live next door to a high school & even those walking, about 80% are wearing them.

I have seen a few groups of younger people with noses hanging out of their masks in the supermarket and a few people wandering about alone also noses out. Probably a dozen or more at one time. On the same trip one person with no mask but wearing a lanyard and one with a mask around the chin who changed direction and made off when I stared at him.

I only go out once a week so that seems rather a lot of idiots to me.

@Itisasecret

The same will happen here after Christmas but we will be in a much worse situation than they are now.

Yup

@FairyFairy

Very appropriate expat username *@givememarmite*

It's turned into a very expensive habit this year as I haven't been able to go home, nor have any visitors who usually bring it over for me...€15 for two jars on Amazon 😱

@sirfredfredgeorge

Why are Christmas Trees essential, but toys or socks to go under them not?

Christmas trees are sold outdoors though, easy to social distance and traditionally Germans don't put their tree up until 24th so buy them later too