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Chancellor Sebastian Kurz (ÖVP) expects a “clear return to normalcy” in the first half of 2021. The prerequisite for this is an effective vaccine, Kurz said Thursday at the 37th Vorarlberg Economic Forum. He cannot yet say whether the government will respond to the second wave by tightening measures. One is currently busy with evaluating the measures taken. “You have to give me a day or two,” Kurz said.
The 37th edition of the Vorarlberg Economic Forum was held virtually in light of the pandemic. Briefly answered questions from Gerold Riedmann (editor-in-chief of “Vorarlberger Nachrichten”), who was turned on from the Federal Chancellery.
“Extremely serious” situation
It assumes that the vaccination of certain parts of the population can begin in the first half of 2021 and that the pandemic will be under control, said the Chancellor. He described the current situation as “extremely serious”. He combined the “request to all to support the measures.” Most infections occur in the private sector. As in much of Europe, “the number of infections in our country is so high that the capacity for intensive care has reached its absolute limits.” That is the reason why “tough measures” had to be taken.
How winter will turn out, also economically, remains extremely difficult to assess. You can see in other countries like Israel that a second blockade is operating. “But it is in the stars if we will go down as much in the number of infections as in spring,” Kurz said. If the measures are relaxed too quickly after a crash, the number of infections would rise again quickly. “Therefore, we will have to continue living with restrictions,” said the chancellor.
Gastronomy: 20,000 requests for help
Due to the second wave, the next few weeks would also be “challenging”. The travel, food and hospitality industries are severely affected by the shutdown. More than 20,000 applications for Corona grants have already been received from catering establishments. Companies have received 80 percent of the turnover since last November, “the first funds are starting to flow,” Kurz said. Regarding travel advisories, the chancellor said that Germany, in particular, was proceeding very restrictively.
Kurz described the coalition climate with the Greens as good and the cooperation is very professional. “Anything else would be intolerable,” said Kurz, who referred to “tough decisions.” A year ago I would never have imagined that one day I would have to impose restrictions on freedom or intervene in the economy.
