Photo shows “the jabbed and the unjabbed … separated with a fence in a supermarket” in Germany.
Stand up for the facts!
Our only agenda is to publish the truth so you can be an informed participant in democracy.
We need your help.
I would like to contribute
No, this isn’t a photo of a fence in a German market
If Your Time is short
- This photo was taken in Romania, where fences were erected in a market to restrict access for people who didn’t have proof that they had been vaccinated or recovered from COVID-19.
In early December, we fact-checked a claim that a photo showed a fence in a German mall separating the vaccinated and the unvaccinated. Germany had recently announced unvaccinated residents would face stricter restrictions in the country, but the picture didn’t show that — it was taken in Latvia, which requires proof of vaccination or recovery from COVID-19 to patronize some businesses.
A similar image and claim are also being shared on social media.
"Germany," begins the description of a photo showing what looks like a store with a long fence cutting through the center. "The jabbed and the unjabbed are separated with a fence in a supermarket."
This photo was taken in Romania, and this post was flagged as part of Facebook’s efforts to combat false news and misinformation on its News Feed. (Read more about our partnership with Facebook.)
The image and images like it were posted in November.
Sign up for PolitiFact texts
"Today at Kaufland Arad I was surprised to find that some fences have appeared," reads the English translation of a Romanian description of the same photo that’s being shared on Facebook. Kaufland is a market chain that has locations in Romania, and Arad is a city in Romania.
The same account posted other photos from Kaufland showing fencing and said that the store had placed a fence inside to restrict where unvaccinated shoppers could be.
Featured Fact-check
On Nov. 24, a Romania news channel reported that metal fences had been erected in some markets to separate people who had a digital certificate showing proof of vaccination or recovery from COVID-19.
Since Oct. 22, Romania has required a European Union Digital COVID Certificate or a Romanian-issued "Digital Green Certificate/Green Pass" to access some public locations such as restaurants, shopping malls, museums, and gyms, according to the U.S. Embassy there.
In Germany, people seeking entrance to bars, restaurants and some stores must also show proof of vaccination or evidence that they recovered from a recent infection. But this image doesn’t show those rules in effect.
We rate claims that this photo was taken in Germany False.
Our Sources
Facebook post, Dec. 3, 2021
PolitiFact, No, this isn’t a photo of a German mall separating vaccinated and unvaccinated shoppers, Dec. 8, 2021
Facebook post, Nov. 22, 2021
Kaufland site, visited Dec. 17, 2021
Facebook post, Nov. 23, 2021
Facebook post, Nov. 23, 2021
Embassy of Romania in the United States of America, Information about the EU Digital Certificate on COVID, visited Dec. 17, 2021
U.S. Embassy in Romania, COVID-19 Information, last updated Dec. 9, 2021
Ziua de Vest, Gard de sârmă ofensator la hipermarketurile Kaufland România pentru a separa persoanele vaccinate de cele nevaccinate. Se cere boicotarea magazinelor, Nov. 24, 2011
Ministry of Health, COVID-19 digital certificate, visited Dec. 17, 2021
R3 Media, Asociația Pro Consumatori: Români, boicotați magazinele Kaufland! Cumpărați de la micii producători locali și de la magazinele care vă respectă drepturile constituționale, Nov. 23, 2021
Browse the Truth-O-Meter
More by Ciara O'Rourke
No, this isn’t a photo of a fence in a German market
Support independent fact-checking.
Become a member!
In a world of wild talk and fake news, help us stand up for the facts.