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Potsdam (dpa / bb) - In the event of an extension of the strict Corona restrictions, the catering industry in Brandenburg demands further help beyond November.

The company celebrations from mid-November to Christmas are the four best-selling weeks of the year, which have now been canceled, said the President of the German Hotel and Restaurant Association (Dehoga) Brandenburg, Olaf Schöpe, on Monday at the German Press Agency.

"There must be compensation for December."

Schöpe sees a possible time window for openings on the Christmas holidays as critical, as it is not worthwhile for many innkeepers and hoteliers to start up again.

The industry will see in the first three months of the coming year how much damage the companies have suffered from the corona restrictions.

He fears that restaurants will die out, because numerous older restaurateurs are already closing in order not to get even further into trouble.

"We have to do everything we can to ensure that as many companies as possible survive," emphasized the Dehoga President.

In this context, Schöpe criticized the state government, which in his opinion had inadequate discussions with the industry about the consequences of the pandemic and concrete help.

That could have "taken fire out of the kettle", he said.

According to the association, from March to the end of November the loss in sales for the industry across Germany was 32 billion euros.

At first, Schöpe did not have exact figures for Brandenburg.

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Chancellor Angela Merkel (CDU) will consult with the Prime Ministers of the federal states on Wednesday about how to proceed with the corona pandemic.

An extension of the partial lockdown, which has been in force since the beginning of November and was initially limited to the end of the month, is becoming apparent.

In a draft resolution of the chairmanship of the Prime Minister's Conference for the consultations with Merkel, an extension until December 20 is proposed.

The managing director of the Association of Entrepreneurs' Associations (UVB), Christian Amsinck, also called for “December aid”.

The money must reach the companies quickly.

The federal government should therefore consider simplifying and streamlining the application process, said Amsinck.

"Every day counts for companies."