Living the German COVID Restrictions, As Told By an Exhausted Parent

People seem fascinated by our ever-changing Corona restrictions in Germany so I decided to give you some more details and a perspective from one very frustrated mom.

Since the first week of November 2020, we have been in lockdown as we wait for a vaccine. We’re coming up on five months now. Two weeks ago, the politicians started loosening up a bit to allow shops, museums, and nail salons to open by appointment. But now numbers are increasing again to pre-lockdown, and we’re looking at the possibility of yet more rules and a return to the way we were. Later today, we will most likely have a new set of rules. 

These are the particular rules most impacting my daily life so I stuck with them. I’m sure there are more that might affect those in different industries or populations, but this is all I can keep up with.

COVID “rules” from early March (likely to change this week):

1. Face to face contact: Who we can hang out with. Besides my family, I am allowed to be with two other people from another family, but the same family. If one of these extra peeps is 14 or younger, they don’t count in the mix. (Note: 14 seems to be some magical number for COVID in Germany.) The activity doesn’t really matter just the number. Being in the house in a small room counts the same as being on a soccer field spread out. 
2. School: Grades 7-10 at home only. Both kids attended in-person school until mid-December. Now, only my oldest who is nearly 17 may attend school as he’s part of “the final grades.” My daughter who is 15 (Grade 10) may not. So she must remain in virtual school at home (since December) with our slow Internet. She’s not alone, as kids in grades 7, 8, and 9 may also not attend school in person, but every other grade is allowed. Kids in school must wear masks and stay 1.5 meters apart.  They are not allowed to remain on campus after school for any activities.
3. Always lots of rules with Sports. If you play “high level” sports and are training to be a serious athlete, you may train and compete as usual. However, if you just like to play sports with your club team, you only can if you are 14 years old or younger. If you are age 15 and only play sports to keep fit and sane, you may not play unless you are with only 1 other person from another household. We are continuing to pay for club sports (which are pretty inexpensive) even though there is no training of any kind. The gyms are now open with an appointment. Not to worry as professional sports are allowed to play without spectators. 
4. Restaurants are closed. Since Nov. 1, restaurants have been closed. Not even outdoor seating spaced out is allowed. Some restaurants have figured out how to do takeout and delivery. Many have not. Hard to box up a schnitzel or spargel soup. While there is no outdoor seating, it’s completely fine to get takeaway from a restaurant and find a spot to eat nearby with your family and 2 other people from another household. In some places, it’s Ok again to even have a beer while doing so. It’s just a matter of finding a place to sit as tables have been put away.
5. Make an appointment to buy shoes or find jeans. Only recently have they opened “retail.” Retail is defined as anything that is not essential. The definition of essential is: grocery, farmer’s markets, pharmacy, flower shops, book stores, home improvement shops, bakeries. In our state, in order to shop, you must make an appointment online (called “click and meet“) to shop during your time slot so we don’t crowd too many people into H&M at once. Prior to this, however, stores like Müller (smaller version of Target) were packed with people browsing.  The predecessor to ‘click and meet’ was the even more popular ‘click and collect.’ To participate in this activity, one had to call and order what you wanted over the phone or take a photo through the window and text it to the store manager. If you tried to just knock on the door, they couldn’t sell you anything without the phone call. Step aside my friend, and make that call. 
6. Only “medical masks“ prevent COVID. Though for months and months, we all accessorized with colorful, expensive patterned masks, in February they decided only medical masks (N95/FFP2 or the blue surgical masks) would stop the spread of COVID and keep numbers from increasing. So it’s the law in any store or busy street to don your disposable mask. We all ran out and bought hundreds of ‘made in China’ masks to help keep the numbers low. Now politicians are resigning over the latest medical mask scandal.
7. Overnight hotel stays are forbidden.  We can hike and hike all we want, but only by taking day trips. Hotels and rental apartments cannot host overnight guests. However, you can fly to southern Spain for a sunny vacation.  
8. “Me-time” activities only recently resumed. Hairdressers were the first to open in early March after the news of “underground” grooming sessions happening in private homes. Just like prohibition but without the booze. Things like getting a manicure, a facial or a massage have been on the forbidden list for months unless those places are linked with physical therapy, dermatologist, or “foot care” practices. Two weeks ago, these places can now be open and host clients as long as you book an appointment.
9. Church is always open. While I don’t attend church here, church services have stayed open through the duration of COVID. There are some similar restrictions, and worshippers must register ahead of time.

Here’s what else you need to know:

1. Germany has the worst Internet I have ever experienced. Period. All this “home office” and “virtual school” is, well, challenging when the WiFi crashes several times a day.
2. This is not a tech savvy country. I imagine the younger generations are, but for the most part Germany is heavily paper based. The idea of “click and meet” or even “collect” is hysterical. No small shop as the resources to set up a way to allow people to register prior to visiting other than by phone.
3. Fast food or even things like “fast causal” are less popular. We don’t have places like Chipotle, Cava, Panera, etc. around to grab some food to go. Germany is a country where restaurants are part of the culture. Going to lunch or dinner takes time. “To go” wasn’t much of thing when we got here three years ago other than for pizza, Indian, Chinese, Thai, and McDonalds.