Dhe effects of the corona virus are increasingly becoming a threat to the German economy, which consumers will also feel. With rapidly increasing diseases in Italy including sealed off communities, especially in Lombardy south of Milan, the plague has moved closer to Germany with larger numbers of cases.
With 260 infected people and seven deaths, Italy is the world’s third largest disease center after China and South Korea. Some companies, such as Allianz, Siemens or Deutsche Bank, are now copying their precautions for China to the crisis regions in Italy.
Almost the same, upon request from the companies, the situation around the Covid 19 virus, as the disease is now officially called, was closely monitored and the recommendations of the WorldHealth Organization followed.
For example, Allianz, Deutsche Bank and other companies have imposed travel restrictions on mainland China and Hong Kong, which are now being extended to affected parts of Italy. Employees are asked to “postpone all trips that are not absolutely necessary,” said a spokesman for the Frankfurt bank.
also read
– – – – –
Siemens reacts similarly. If possible, all trips to China and now also in Italy’s crisis regions should be canceled. On a case-by-case basis, it should be discussed with the supervisor whether those returning from China or Italy “should use home offices better first,” said a spokesman.
The Italian major bank Unicredit-Group, to which the German HVB also belongs, has also issued a travel ban in crisis regions. In some branches in Italy, unspecified “prevention sets” were distributed and common rooms in Milan were closed.
The alliance says that travel restrictions for China have now been introduced for northern Italy and South Korea. Specifically, this means a travel ban to South Korea and to and from the affected municipalities in Lombardy and Veneto, as well as a major waiver of non-essential Northern Italy trips.
Daimler, Voith and IBM co-wrote the “Manual for Pandemic Planning”
Siemens explains that preparations are also underway for a pandemic. Details would not be published publicly. The Federal Office for Civil Protection and Disaster Relief (BBK) published a “Handbook for Pandemic Planning” ten years ago and has updated it ever since. Experts from Daimler, Voith or IBM contributed to its creation. There are numerous checklists with items such as “Define core functions of the company” or “Obtain protective equipment”. Which companies have taken specific pandemic preparedness remains open.
What is certain, however, is that more and more economic sectors are preparing for cuts. One example is the food trade. So Aldi does not eliminate delivery bottlenecks. “For some items, it is already foreseeable that the delivery quantity will decrease at the start of sales and that these items could be sold out more quickly if demand is high,” said a spokeswoman for Aldi Süd.
also read
– –
Corona fear on the stock exchange – – – – –
However, it is not yet certain which products it could actually be. “We are in close contact with our suppliers and check the current state of affairs for each individual article,” it said. Competitor Lidl claims to have developed processes for various scenarios in all countries in which the company is represented, which ensure the operational process in warehouses and branches under special circumstances.
According to the company, this could include the delivery of branches from different distribution warehouses or the rescheduling of logistics routes. The supermarket chain Rewe has given the all-clear for its network. There is currently no need for adjustments to the food range. “The supply of goods is guaranteed,” said a spokeswoman. But watch the situation carefully.
DER Touristik offers Milan travelers free rebooking
Rewe’s travel subsidiary DER Touristik, one of the largest providers in Germany, also reacts to the situation in Italy. DER Milan travelers are offering free rebookings and cancellations until February 28, as a goodwill gesture, because sights in the city have been closed as a precaution and there could be longer waiting times at Milan Airport. “Otherwise, all regions of Italy are easy to travel,” said the tourism subsidiary of Rewe. There are no restrictions except in Milan.
According to Lidl, business trips to and from Italy have been suspended “until further notice”. Last Friday, a warehouse and two branches in the Lombardy region south of Milan were closed as part of the quarantine measures by the Italian government.
also read
– –
Economic consequences of the corona virus – – – – –
Lidl emphasized that this was an official preventive measure in the context of security and was not related to the possible cause of the spread of the corona virus in the region. “In close coordination with the authorities, a branch has temporarily resumed operations to ensure the food supply for the Italian population in the affected areas,” added the spokeswoman.
BDI: Several industries anticipate delivery bottlenecks
By networking the economy across national borders, the supply chains with China and now Italy can also stall. It is often procurement and sales markets. Crisis planning does not only affect companies.
As Bernd Salzberger from the Regensburg University Hospital, chairman of the German Society for Infectious Diseases, said on request, this also applies to patient care. “Every hospital has a plan in its pocket, we have enough beds and well-trained doctors,” said the expert. However, Germany could at some point have a problem with the supply of medical devices and medicines, since a large part of them are manufactured in China.
also read
– – – – –
A similar warning comes from the Federation of German Industries: “In the coming weeks, several industrial sectors in Germany are expecting bottlenecks in deliveries from the Far East, including electronics, automobiles, pharmaceuticals and paper.” The warning about cuts in the Italian Business fail.
– –
– –
– – – – –
