In the end, it seemed inevitable: Germany has opted to extend its national lockdown until March 7. However, that doesn’t mean everyone is on board with the decision. The new resolutions - especially those concerning shops and schools - have been met with displeasure and disappointment from opposition politicians, business representatives and teachers’ associations. 

Lockdown extension triggers disappointment and displeasure

The federal and state governments’ plans to extend the coronavirus shutdown has provoked widespread resentment and criticism, with representatives from opposition parties, teachers’ associations and the hospitality, real estate and retail industries all chiming in to express their disappointment. 

The parliamentary group leader for the Left party, Dietmar Bartsch, accused Angela Merkel of “having mentally walled herself up in lockdown” and failing to provide a step-by-step plan back to everyday life. FDP general secretary Volker Wissing also described the agreement between the federal and state governments as inadequate. “The resolutions fall short of expectations,” he said. “There is a lack of clear perspectives that are urgently expected by the people.” 

Federal states to decide when to reopen schools

Above all, the decision to abandon a coordinated approach to the reopening of schools and childcare centres has triggered sharp criticism. Education associations, trade unions and student representatives have near-universally condemned the decision to allow federal states to take the decision into their own hands. 

“Giving the states a free hand is an own goal,” said the chairperson of the Education and Science Union (GEW), Marlis Tepe. “The federal government has capitulated to the federal states on the subject of schools and daycare centres: The acceptance and support of the federal states' measures will continue to decline among teachers, educators, learners and their parents.” 

The President of the German Teachers’ Association, Heinz-Peter Meidinger, was also critical of the decision, arguing that face-to-face teaching should only be permitted once the seven-day incidence rate has been brought below 50 new cases of COVID-19 per 100.000. He accused the federal states of acting “again not uniformly according to the infection process, but according to political considerations… The federal states, which are now rushing forward… are running a great risk.” 

On the other hand, the idea of pushing teachers and educators further up the vaccine priority list was met with general approval. Federal Families Minister Franziska Giffey described this as an “important signal of recognition and protection for those who work with the youngest.” 

Businesses want clear plan for reopenings

Various voices within the business sector also criticised the “vague” plan to begin reopening other areas of life only when a stable incidence rate of 35 new infections per 100.000 had been achieved. “For a successful restart, we in wholesale need reliable lead time in order to be able to equip and supply our partners from the catering and hotel industry,” said Anton Börner, President of the Federal Association of Wholesale, Foreign Trade and Services. 

Ingrid Hartges, General Manager of the German Hotel and Restaurant Association, added: “The fact that hotels and restaurants are not mentioned in the present resolution triggers frustration and despair in the industry.” She said they were not expecting a specific opening date, but “a statement as to when and under what conditions hotels and restaurants may receive guests again.” 

She added that the catering industry had created 300.000 new jobs subject to social security between 2010 and 2019. “Our operations were closed on November 2 and will be closed for a total of six months at the end of February, including the lockdown in 2020.” 

The Federal Association of Medium-Sized Enterprises was also not tight-lipped with its criticism: “It’s five past 12!” said Managing Director Markus Jerger. “The government must not continue its haphazard corona policy, otherwise there is a risk of irreparable damage that will have a long-term impact on prosperity in Germany… Again the federal government is putting off small and medium-sized businesses with non-binding promises and leaving them beginning on the drip of bridging aid.”