Many hoteliers and restaurateurs are already feeling their guests' reluctance to consume.
Once all citizens have received their new advance payments on the next gas bill and if the new corona wave piles up as high as the Federal Minister of Health expects, then the hotels and restaurants will face what is perhaps their greatest stress test in the pandemic.
Because without a lockdown – which all politicians want to avoid as much as possible this time – the industry can hardly expect any significant aid programs or bridging funds.
A lack of guests or at most very frugal guests, together with high energy and food prices and the other consequences of inflation, result in a combination that could be dangerous for many companies in the hotel and catering industry.
Before the oven goes out
Of course, the hoteliers and restaurateurs cannot expect the state to open the money floodgates wide as it did at the beginning of the pandemic in order to avert pub deaths.
However, what should be a matter of course for the public sector is predictability and reliability.
That is what is sorely lacking right now.
An assessment that applies to the settlement of bridging allowances as well as to the question of who has to wear a mask indoors in Hesse in autumn and on which occasion.
It remains to be seen whether the pandemic will really be affected if a guest in the restaurant puts on a mask for a short walk to the toilet.
The guest will have to endure this if he wants the regular pub to continue to receive guests in the spring of next year.
If the state no longer helps her, then only regular guests can.
And if only to warm up again with a good glass of wine or beer.
Maybe before the oven is completely out.