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Dresden (dpa / sn) - Saxony's trade association is critical of the tightening and extension of the partial lockdown decided by the federal and state governments.

The stricter access restrictions could prove counterproductive if queues formed in front of the shops and supermarkets, said the general manager of the Saxony Trade Association, René Glaser.

"That creates new opportunities for contagion."

The previous hygiene concepts in retail have proven themselves in both small and larger premises of shops, supermarkets, department stores and shopping centers.

From the retailer's point of view, it would have been better to keep the previous requirement of ten square meters of sales area per customer.

The federal and state governments decided on Wednesday evening that the partial lockdown with the closure of restaurants, theaters, fitness studios and leisure facilities, among other things, would be extended until December 20.

At the same time a tightening of the regulations for the retail trade was decided.

This means that in shops with more than 800 square meters - i.e. in many supermarkets - fewer customers are allowed to shop at the same time.

The trade association now expects that, of all things, further sales will migrate to the Internet during the important Christmas business - at the expense of fashion and shoe stores, perfumeries, watch, jewelry and toy stores in the city centers.

Online trading, especially the platforms, has posted “well above average sales” since April, according to Glaser.

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The association, on the other hand, assesses the situation for inner-city retailers as "extremely tense".

The lockdown imposed in the spring had already hit the dealers.

Although the stores are likely to open in the current partial lockdown, there is a "massive decline" in customers and passers-by by up to 50 percent, reported Glaser.

There are many reasons for this: absent tourists, closed restaurants, hotels and museums, returning to the home office - and canceled Christmas markets.

In November alone - usually the second busiest month of the year - sales fell by up to 40 percent, and in some stores such as fashion or shoe stores by up to 80 percent.

Traders could no longer work economically, and many found themselves increasingly needy.

Without the expansion of emergency aid to the retail sector and effective bridging aid from the federal government, the association fears dramatic consequences.

Empty, desolate inner cities are possible consequences.

The association also appealed to the union to move away from "resistance to Sunday openings".

With the canceled Christmas markets in Saxony's cities, the shopping Sundays also fall into the water.

In Leipzig, for example, they were planned for November 29 and December 20, 2020. Since they are tied to the organization of a Christmas market, there will be no Sunday shopping in the run-up to Christmas this year, according to the Leipzig city administration.

This would have required regulation by the Free State.