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The government ordered a harsh “blockade” for Austria from Tuesday. Schools finish their lessons on the spot, shops have to close with the usual exceptions, hairdressers and other services with closeness to the body will be the same. Of course, most of it should have ended on December 7th this time. Schools and retail should at least reopen, so hope.
The most important measurements at a glance
- Exit restrictions apply throughout the day.
- in the future you should only meet people from your own home; those who live in a single household must define a contact person
- there are exceptions for which it is allowed to leave the house: basic needs of daily life, professional purposes, helping other people or physical and mental relaxation
- Schools and kindergartens are closed; However, if necessary, you can babysit.
- shops are largely closed, exceptions apply to pharmacies, supermarkets and banks
- Service providers such as hairdressers and podiatrists must also close
- In hospitals and nursing homes, only one visit per week and the patient is possible, and only if the sick or injured person is hospitalized for more than seven days
- the measures apply from Tuesday at midnight until December 6 inclusive
The “lockdown”, which was announced on Saturday afternoon as usual by the Chancellor, the Vice Chancellor, the Minister of Health and the Interior, unleashed the persistently high number of infections that had brought Austria to the top of the world, which in this case was inglorious. On Saturday, the number of new infections dropped to nearly 7,100, but the number of intensive care patients increased as did those of corona patients admitted to normal wards. Health Minister Rudolf Anschober (Greens) warned: “The situation is very, very serious. Many in hospitals will soon be at the end of their strengths and capacities.”
Therefore, the measures were announced at two press conferences. In the first, Chancellor Sebastian Kurz spoke of the fact that reactivating the measures was simply “necessary.” A blockade lasting just under three weeks, including the closure of large sectors of commerce, service companies, and schools and kindergartens, is the chosen solution. Kurz Urgent Appeal: “Avoid Contact.” You should only meet people from your own household. Who lives in a single household must define a contact person. “The more consistently we implement the measures, the shorter we will need them,” the Chancellor said. On December 7, as planned, schools and shops will reopen. Churches will refrain from public services during the shutdown, Kurz added.
Vice Chancellor Werner Kogler also appealed to the Austrians for help with this “unreasonable demand”. No one is safe from ending up in an intensive care unit. And in these there should continue to be a free bed for each patient. That’s why Kogler appealed: “Please stay home, reduce your physical contacts.” In addition, the vice-chancellor pointed out the possibility of continuing to send children to school if necessary. And he called people to move despite all adversities. This appeal came on Friday from a prominent Salzburg physician.
The reproduction factor must fall to at least 0.9.
Health Minister Rudolf Anschober spoke of the fact that the second wave was “tougher and more dynamic” than the first. This is one of the reasons why the “emergency brake” lock must now be pulled. This also worked in the Czech Republic. We also know why the numbers have risen: the Austrians’ range of motion has not decreased significantly, as in spring. But Anschober is sure: “We will contain the virus again.” The objectives are to reduce the reproduction factor to at least 0.9, to achieve a stable situation in December and then perhaps even to be able to celebrate “a Christmas like before”.
This is what grants look like
In a second press conference, which focused on the planned financial aid, the Minister of Finance, Gernot Blümel, first addressed the fixed-cost subsidy: The fixed-cost subsidy II of up to 800,000 euros must be requested from Monday, November 23. Then Blümel turned to the new closings and the planned financial aid. Service companies that now also have to close receive compensation of 80 percent of their turnover. In the retail sector, however, individual companies are assigned to subsectors. Depending on the sub-branch, between 20 and 60 percent of sales are ultimately offset. Criteria required for classification include, for example, loss of value, profitability of sales or effects of recovery of sales. In any case, it should be possible to apply for the help via FinanzOnline, ideally also from Monday 23 November.
Family Minister Christine Aschbacher spoke of an “exceptional situation” that everyone would demand. I also understand all those who are suffering from the crisis. However, he urged the Austrians to “resist”. In her role as Minister of Labor, she again referred to the zero percent reduced-time work model. And he assured that companies will receive support to make the home office possible. Those who work from home will continue to be insured against accidents and will continue to receive the commuter allowance.
School supervision is still possible
Education Minister Heinz Faßmann emphasized that open schools had been his goal. But: “Health is now a priority.” Schools are not drivers of infection, but they are not free from it either. Therefore, teaching will be switched to distance education, starting Tuesday, November 17. Until then, parents should also announce if they need on-site care for their children despite the closures. This is open to everyone, not just parents who work in systemically important professions. Tests and school work will be postponed until after it reopens.
From December 7, however, students would return to schools, including those in the upper grades, accompanied by certain measures, such as mandatory masking in class. Universities, on the other hand, are only marginally affected by the new rules: They should continue to rely on distance learning, but face-to-face teaching is possible for individual types of courses like labs or arts training, Faßmann added.
The closure again needs the approval of the main committee of the National Council. The exit rules, as well as the provisions for the event area, must be confirmed there after ten days, so they are formally only valid until November 26.
