Corona: Austria begins to warn at traffic lights, is it coming from us? – Policy abroad

Once again someone was faster than us …

Austria presents the crown traffic light! The situation of the pandemic in our neighboring country has been monitored by a four-color traffic light alert system since Friday. Right at the beginning, the traffic lights went yellow in four regions!

The infection situation in each region should be evaluated weekly (Thursday) and on the Internet (https://corona-ampel.gv.at/) at a color level from green (low risk) to yellow (medium), orange ( high) to red. appear (sharp). Specific measures must be applied at each stage.

As with the upper crown limit in Germany, one criterion is the evolution of the number of cases in the previous seven days. For this, the occupancy rate of the hospitals, the traceability of the contagion chains and the relationship of the tests carried out with the number of positive evidences are taken into account.

The big question: will a traffic light in the shape of a crown also come from us, which everyone can immediately understand? In Berlin there is already a similar system (tricolor), with positive experiences. Austria had already taken a pioneering role in the fight against the crown in the past, and Germany followed suit in several cases (eg mask requirement).

This is how the Ösi traffic light works

According to constant media reports, traffic lights in one district (Kufstein) and three major cities (Vienna, Linz and Graz) were lit yellow immediately after the start.

After a commission of experts in Austria assesses the situation weekly, the real decision on the color of the traffic light must rest with regional and federal policy.

Chancellor Sebastian Kurz (34, ÖVP) explained on Friday morning which measures should be triggered by the respective color levels.

► If the traffic light is yellow, there should be a tightening of the mask requirement in retail, gastronomy and events.

The problem: According to the Austrian daily “Der Standard”, there is a lot of turmoil between the federal, state and local governments. Linz Mayor Klaus Luger (59, SPÖ), whose city is yellow, rebelled against Kurz’s plans shortly after the press conference. He explained: “Due to this obscure traffic light construction, we will not adjust anything.”

► Orange or red would result in tougher measurements, he said. A lockdown is not planned.

However, the parliament will only be able to decide on the legal basis for the measures at the end of September.