German court says: hospitality venues can simply stay open
While restaurants and cafés in the Netherlands are recovering from the new lockdown, things are very different in Germany. A group of restaurant owners filed a lawsuit against the city of Berlin. And… they won!
In Berlin it was decided last week that restaurants and cafés had to close by 11 p.m. at the latest. One of the measures to prevent the spread of coronavirus, just like our 10 p.m. closing time recently. But eleven restaurant owners strongly disagreed. They say that bars and restaurants do not contribute much to the increase in coronavirus infections, as long as they comply with the regulations. Those regulations are very similar to ours: keeping your distance and wearing face masks. If all guests follow them, they claim, people run no greater risk in our establishments than in a supermarket or a shop.
‘Disproportionate measures’
And what do you know: the judge ruled in their favor! As a result of the judge’s ruling, the measure was suspended with immediate effect. The court called the measures ‘disproportionate’ and indeed found no evidence that more people are infected in the hospitality sector than elsewhere.
And what about us?
Probably a welcome boost for the Dutch hospitality industry. It had already been whispered that Dutch restaurants might be allowed to remain open while bars and cafés had to stay closed. That resembles the measures implemented in Paris and a few other French cities. A number of hospitality entrepreneurs from Alkmaar are also protesting the mandatory closure of their businesses. They plan to organize a protest march and are looking into whether they can simply open as usual despite everything.
Also read:
- How to: cook when you’re worried about coronavirus
- Coffee first, then breakfast? You’ll regret it!
- How fresh are canned vegetables, really?
Source: NRC
