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Persistently high number of infections, chaos around traffic light regulation, a German travel warning for Vienna – there have been enough reasons for action in the federal government recently. Then yesterday things went fast. At 11 am, the Corona Quartet announced a new tightening, three hours later Federal Chancellor Sebastian Kurz (VP) and Vice Chancellor Werner Kogler (Green) and his two specialist ministers presented the measures that should be applied from Monday at midnight , as usual. . In addition to expanding the mask requirement, the most notable adjustment will be that private celebrations and indoor events are only allowed with a maximum of ten people.
It is precisely this inland area that is primarily responsible for the fact that the number of new infections “has more than doubled in the last two weeks,” Kurz said. Now everything possible must be done to avoid a second blockage. Because all over Austria the numbers are increasing. Especially in Tirol, Vorarlberg and Vienna, where almost half of the new infections were registered.
No traffic lights
However, the latest mandatory coup against the red-green city government did not materialize this time. Also striking: the Corona traffic light, the prestigious project of Health Minister Rudi Anschober (Grne) for a summer, was not even mentioned this time. At least in front of the scenes, they wanted to put coalition issues aside.
Image: APA / GEORG HOCHMUTH
Instead, Anschober looked for the positive in development. During the summer, the number of hospital patients decreased despite the increase in new infections. This is due to the fact that younger people are increasingly affected (“average age 34, in spring it was 58 years”). Interior Minister Karl Nehammer (VP) announced more intensive policing “in some areas” in relation to the expanded mask requirement and stricter rules for restaurants and private parties. Kurz ruled out that there would be an inspection in private apartments: “That would not be compatible with basic rights.”
Tax reduction also in 2021
In addition to the tightening, the government had only one relief to offer on Thursday: For companies in the restaurant, hotel and culture sectors affected by the crown crisis, the VAT reduction to five percent will also apply in 2021.
Upper Austria Deputy Governor Christine Haberlander (VP) spoke of a bitter hardening. However, they devise “uniform standards at the national level that can be lived in for a long time.” There was some harsh criticism from the opposition: the head of the FP, Norbert Hofer, spoke of “scaremongering” and “murderous agent for gastronomy.” Gerald Loacker (Neos) accused the coalition of “random driving without traffic lights.” Already at Easter it became clear that “restrictions on private rooms are not possible.”
For the vice president of the SP club, Jrg Leichtfried, the Austrian government “played” the advantage after the harsh spring blockade.
Image: APA / GEORG HOCHMUTH
Private celebrations up to ten people
For the Minister of Health, Rudi Anschober (Green), the additional measures that will come into force by regulation on Monday night are “very precise.” The stated goal is to restrict social contacts.
In fact, the announcements of the highest government still leave room for interpretation. What Federal Chancellor Sebastián Kurz (vice president) agreed: “You can never completely avoid attempts to evade it”, but “we regulate what we can regulate and we respect that there are constitutional limits.”
This is especially the case with the maximum limit of ten people at private events. For meetings in “their own four walls,” a restriction “is not constitutionally possible, in public places it is,” says Kurz. For this reason, from the government’s point of view, the limit of ten people is putting a stop to celebrations in clubs and discos, since the previous practice of declaring it a “closed private event” is impossible. Compliance should be monitored primarily by the police.
Celebrations in bars for weddings, company events, etc. They should also be covered by the ten-person rule, but this cannot be legally safeguarded: if several ten tables were reserved for larger groups, it would be difficult to avoid it, “but you’re smart you’re not,” Kurz appealed to common sense.
Exceptions are funerals that can be designed at your own discretion. The regulation also does not apply to religious services, but religious communities undertake to take voluntary measures such as the mandatory use of masks and less singing.
Image: APA / GEORG HOCHMUTH
The ten-person rule, on the other hand, should be valid for “organized courses with fixed start and end times,” such as group courses in gyms or leisure courses. Events within companies, such as meetings, are not recorded. However, for larger meetings, assigned seating and a prevention concept are required.
Previously, there was a maximum limit of 50 for indoor events with no assigned seats. For organized professional events (for example, in culture and sports), the previous regulation is maintained: a maximum of 3,000 people can participate outdoors with assigned seats, 1,500 indoors. A prevention concept is also a prerequisite here.
For Kurz, the balls are “unthinkable from today’s perspective.” When it comes to winter tourism, the strictest measures are an indication for aprs-ski.
- In addition to the ten-person rule for pub bookings, there is also a bar consumption ban. In restaurants, food and drinks can only be served at the seat, this should also apply to company events. In the future, guests must wear a mask, except at the table.
- The use of mouth and nose protection is also expanding and will apply not only to local visits but also to religious services in the future and, for the first time, outdoors, to markets.
- These measures, which are valid at the national level, can be reinforced by regional authorities with the entry into force of the Covid Measures Law in October. Nor can a greater adjustment at the national level be ruled out.
The traffic light commission was met
The Crown Commission met again on Thursday and decided that six more cities and districts should change from green to yellow: Salzburg, Villach, Imst, Eisenstadt, Eisenstadt-Umgebung and Rust. Zwettl changes from yellow to orange. This means that no federal state is completely green anymore. Nothing changes in Upper Austria. On Monday, all the cities and districts of Upper Austria, except Ried, Schrding and Braunau, turned yellow.
Brgermeister Michael Ludwig (APA)
Photo: APA / ROBERT JAEGER
Denmark places Austria on the “red list”
Denmark issued a travel advisory for all of Austria yesterday. Trips that are not strictly necessary are not recommended. Participants must undergo a Covid test. Like the Netherlands and Portugal, Austria crosses the limit of 50 new infections per 100,000 inhabitants in one week, according to the state “Serum Institute”.
As reported, the federal capital Vienna was classified as a risk area by Germany and Belgium on Wednesday night. The German ambassador to Austria, Ralf Beste, said in 1 that the decision was made “with a heavy heart, but incorruptible.” He justified this by the fact that Vienna had long been stable above the limit of 50 new cases per 100,000 inhabitants in a week. This will be continually checked. A small border traffic is also allowed for the Viennese.
“We also noted in our travel advisory that the numbers are increasing in Tyrol and especially in Innsbruck, but it is not so permanent yet as to issue a warning,” Beste said. The mayor of Vienna, Michael Ludwig (SP), emphasized that cities like Paris and Prague are also affected. Viennese tourism companies fear massive effects in an already very difficult situation. Every six nights in Vienna they were spent by guests from Germany last winter.
Anyone traveling from Vienna to Germany must have a negative test or be quarantined for 14 days. Best called on people to take responsibility for open borders. If violations are found during random checks, there could also be penalties.
Article of
Lucian mayringer
Startup Policy Editor
