- Title: Public life grinds to a halt in Bavaria, Germany erects temporary border fences
- Date: 21st March 2020
- Summary: MUNICH, GERMANY (MARCH 21, 2020) (REUTERS) PEOPLE WALKING ALONG QUIET STREET IN CITY CENTER "KARLSTOR" CITY GATE LEADING TO ALMOST DESERTED STREET EMERGENCY VEHICLES ON QUIET STREET NEARLY EMPTY SHOPPING STREET BARRICADES (NOT RELATED TO RESTRICTIONS ON MOVEMENT) VEGETABLE MARKET STALL ADVERTISING ASPARAGUS WITH NO CUSTOMERS POLICE CAR ON EMPTY STREET VARIOUS OF TRAM DRIVING PAST EMPTY TRAM STOP STREET WITH BARRICADES (NOT RELATED TO RESTRICTIONS ON MOVEMENT) "FRAUENKIRCHE" CHURCH EMPTY STREET (BARRICADES NOT RELATED TO RESTRICTIONS ON MOVEMENT) VARIOUS OF CARS PARKED ON STREET WITH NO TRAFFIC VARIOUS OF CHAIRS STACKED TOGETHER ON PAVEMENT EMPTY STREET VARIOUS OF EMPTY CHAIRS ON PAVEMENT SIGN READING (German) "BOOKS" BOOKSHOP "SENDLINGER BUCHHANDLUNG" SIGN READING (German) "Your favourite book will come to you! We'll find a solution. We're in the shop Tuesday to Friday 3 p.m. - 7 p.m." VARIOUS OF BOOKS ON DISPLAY IN WINDOW SHOP OWNER SIGRID GATTER LOCKING DOOR GATTER IN CONVERSATION WITH SHOP ASSISTANT VARIOUS OF BOOKS BEING PREPARED FOR DELIVERY (SOUNDBITE) (German) BOOKSHOP OWNER, SIGRID GATTER, SAYING: "From Wednesday the 18th we were no longer allowed to open, we had to stay closed. And we immediately began delivering orders by bike or by post. All our colleagues got going immediately to deliver books and bring them to the post office. We've now increased our radius, though we still don't have any e-bikes, which would be useful. But we're on our way and delivering books, even in weather like today. It's not so easy, but we're making it work." BOOKS BEING PREPARED FOR DELIVERY (SOUNDBITE) (German) BOOKSHOP OWNER, SIGRID GATTER, SAYING ON HER MESSAGE FOR CUSTOMERS: "Order, read, use the time... or listen, with audio books, it's all wonderful. Make the most of the offers from small shops, almost all of them are delivering - not just bookshops but of course all the others too. Whether it's a goldsmiths or a bookshop you can buy vouchers - use them." LEAFLET READING (English) "Don't cry, read!" BOOKS ON SHELF EMPLOYEE CARRYING BAGS OF BOOKS FOR DELIVERY EMPLOYEE LOADING BOOKS ON TO BIKE, PUTTING RAIN COVER ON VARIOUS OF EMPLOYEE RIDING OFF KREUZLINGEN, SWITZERLAND (MARCH 20, 2020) (REUTERS) COUPLE EMBRACING OVER NEW TEMPORARY BORDER FENCE SIGN READING (German) "NATIONAL BORDER" PEOPLE CHATTING OVER FENCE PEOPLE CLINKING BEERS THROUGH FENCE VARIOUS OF PEOPLE SITTING AND STANDING EITHER SIDE OF FENCE GROUP OF PEOPLE PLAYING CARDS THROUGH FENCE TWO YOUNG MEN EATING AND CHATTING OVER FENCE SIGN ANNOUNCING THAT THE BORDER CROSSING IS CLOSED AND TELLING PEOPLE TO USE THE MOTORWAY TOLL TOLL SIGN SIGN ANNOUNCING THE BORDER CROSSING IS CLOSED TO PEDESTRIANS AND CYCLISTS, TELLING THEM TO USE THE NEXT ONE 300 METERS AWAY WOMEN TALKING OVER BARRICADE FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF GERMANY SIGN BLOCKED ROAD
- Embargoed: 4th April 2020 13:37
- Keywords: Germany Munich Switzerland ban border coronavirus lock down restrictions social distancing
- Location: MUNICH, GERMANY / KREUZLINGEN, SWITZERLAND
- City: MUNICH, GERMANY / KREUZLINGEN, SWITZERLAND
- Country: Various
- Topics: Health/Medicine
- Reuters ID: LVA001C5ZVDC7
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: The normally busy shopping streets of central Munich were almost devoid of people on Saturday (March 21), as the state of Bavaria imposed strict restrictions to try and stem the spread of the coronavirus.
Restrictions on shops, bars and restaurants are in place across Germany, but the states of Bavaria and Saarland have gone further in banning their citizens from leaving their homes except to go to work, do essential shopping, visit the doctor or take exercise alone.
All non-essential shops must remain closed, but many small businesses are finding different ways to continue trading - such as Sendlinger Buchhandlung bookshop in central Munich, which is now offering home delivery by bike.
The shop's owner implored customers to do all they could to support small businesses, saying many were offering similar services.
In another measure aiming to curb the coronavirus epidemic, Germany has temporarily introduced border controls on its frontiers with some European neighbours.
A hastily erected temporary border fence between Germany and Kreuzlingen, Switzerland has not deterred people on either side from coming together to socialize. On Friday locals clinked beers and played cards through the bars of a metal barrier, and stood chatting across the top of street barricades.
(Production: Ayhan Uyanik, Arnd Wiegmann, Ralph Brock) - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
- Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2020. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
- Usage Terms/Restrictions: None
