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The government announced details of the next opening steps on Wednesday. The exit restrictions will run until January 6, but retailers, hair salons and schools will open next week, and fun on the slopes will be possible starting December 24.
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Austria will reopen the country “gradually and cautiously”. That’s what Chancellor Sebastian Kurz (ÖVP) said at Wednesday’s press conference. “I am aware that nobody wants restrictions.” He is also aware that none of this is popular and that the order of the initial steps never suits anyone. “What is certain is that if we opened everything at the same time, we would immediately see an increase in the number of infections and a third closure in January would be inevitable.” For Kurz, it’s about making a “dignified” Christmas possible. “Our goal shouldn’t just be to reduce the number of infections by Christmas, there shouldn’t be one infected person sitting under every Christmas tree infecting everyone else.” The virus should not be reintroduced by returning travelers, as in summer.
The most important facilitation steps at a glance:
- Body hugging and retail service providers open Dec. 7.
- The compulsory schools and kindergartens will reopen from December 7. From 10 years old, a mask is required in class. High schools and colleges will continue to be distance learning. Regular operations will resume for high school graduates.
- At Christmas (24/25/26 December) and New Year’s Eve (31 December) a total of 10 people may gather, regardless of the number of households involved.
- Day skiing should be possible again from December 24.
- Tourism, gastronomy and culture remain until Heiligendreikönig. From January 7 the industry will start again.
- Pickup is possible from restaurants, including ski cabins.
- The exit restrictions are maintained in principle, as before: the house can only be left for work, basic necessities of daily life, exercising outdoors or helping other people. The exit restriction is maintained between 8 pm and 6 am During the day, people who live together in a household can meet other members of the household (up to 6 adults and 6 children).
In public spaces, a distance of one meter applies to all people who do not live in their own home. Protection for the mouth and nose should also be used in closed rooms.
- Libraries and bookstores are reopening.
- They also open museums and galleries.
- There are no Christmas markets, no more punch stands.
- Quarantine obligation when entering from risk areas
- Income replacement is expanded, but only to 50 percent.
Mandatory mask in elevators
“In two weeks it will be announced how the culture can continue,” said Vice Chancellor Werner Kogler (Greens). It is a perspective for theaters and theaters. Outdoor sports should be possible again from December 24. He calls skiing, cross-country skiing, or ice skating. “Mouth and nose protection must be worn on elevators and gondolas and there are corresponding capacity limits on gondolas.” Indoor sports facilities, however, remain closed according to Kogler.
“Successful emergency braking” in hospitals
Health Minister Rudolf Anschober (Greens) is trying to assess the second or previous partial blockade. It was possible to stabilize the number of infections. “It goes down significantly every day, albeit at a slower pace, but the trend is correct,” Anschober emphasized. Names 3972 new infections (7540 three weeks ago) in the last 24 hours. The difficulty is that the measures would only decrease with a delay. “The main problem is deaths, we have 121 deaths in the last 24 hours.” There has been slight relaxation in the intensive care units for a week. “The emergency brake in hospitals has been successful.” New infections are expected to drop to 2,000 a day by December 9.
No trips abroad for Christmas
Interior Minister Karl Nehammer (ÖVP) reminds Austrians that there are still exit restrictions. Its appeal, not everyone should go shopping on the first day, because then the infection rate would grow again dramatically. When it comes to traveling, he slows down, “there will be great difficulties to come back.”
The fact is that Christmas parties are not celebrated abroad or that Austrians with a migratory background do not go to their countries of origin.
The Jan 7 Plan
Federal Chancellor Kurz announced that gastronomy, culture and tourism would be unlocked as of January 7, and that will be possible with security concepts and restrictions.
Those: APA
