Coronavirus: German cafe customers wear pool noodle hats to impose social distancing

Cafe-goers saw the funny side of the hats.
Cafe-goers saw the funny side of the hats. Photo credit: Facebook/Cafe & Pastry Shop Rothe

A German cafe got creative enforcing social distancing requirements by having their customers wear "pool noodle" hats.

Cafe & Pastry Shop Rothe, in the northern German city of Schwerin, shared photos of customers wearing the hats to its Facebook page as many states begin a gradual ease of lockdown restrictions.

"Customers liked to go along with the gag," owner Jacqueline Rothe told local tabloid Berliner Kurier.

Local media report that cafes and restaurants in the state of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern were able to reopen at the weekend if strict hygiene measures were adhered to - such as 1.5m spacing between tables.

"It is not the same coffee drinking as before," Rothe told Kurier.

Some Facebook users found the funny side of the hats - which were reportedly only used once, while others thought they were plain ridiculous.

"I laughed heartily. And the customers who took part in it certainly had difficulties enjoying the cake because they had to hold their bellies with laughter," one commenter said

"Funny under other circumstances. Currently ... not funny," another wrote.