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In the main committee of the National Council, the Christmas ordinance was approved on Wednesday, according to parliamentary correspondence, with the votes of the ÖVP, the Greens and the SPÖ. The news is that it will be possible to visit the zoo again from December 24. In the first two days of Christmas (24 and 25), no mask is required for celebrations with family or friends.
Ten people are allowed to gather for private Christmas parties on December 24 and 25. There is no requirement for a distance and mask, he said in a broadcast from the Health Ministry. This also applies to extended private living areas such as a barn or garage.
To protect against infections in the elderly and nursing homes, the use of FFP2 protective masks is mandatory for all employees as of December 18. Visitors must also wear an FFP2 mask and have a current negative Covid19 test result. Employees are tested twice a week, currently once. Home operators must provide residents with a test twice a week.
The ski lifts can open from December 24.
It is mandatory to wear mouth and nose protection in the workplace in closed spaces. The ski lifts will open on December 24, the gondolas can only be used 50 percent. From this day on you can also visit zoos, animal parks and botanical gardens. According to the broadcast, the novelty is that museums, exhibition halls, libraries, archives and zoos must also have a concept of prevention.
In relation to mandatory testing, it is stated that there is no obligation to conduct tests for people who were placed in verifiable quarantine due to a Covid19 infection in the last three months.
Special regulation for certain regions
In an additional decree, the federal states will be instructed Wednesday to create an MNS obligation for highly frequented outdoor public places, such as shopping streets. District authorities must clearly mark those locations, he said.
Health Minister Rudolf Anschober (Greens) explained that Covid19’s third protective measures ordinance represents a strong expansion of the MNS obligation and further strengthening of the protection of residents in nursing homes and nursing homes. “We are also creating clear rules for joint private Christmas parties in this exceptional year,” said the department head.
The third Ordinance of Covid19 protection measures enters into force on December 17 and is valid until December 26. Next Tuesday, the main committee will meet again to discuss the regulations for New Year’s Eve.
SPÖ wants to close the trade after Christmas
The opposition put forward proposals against an impending third wave crown on Wednesday: SPÖ leader Pamela Rendi-Wagner wants to close the deal after Christmas if necessary, Neos president Beate Meinl-Reisinger calls for a “national alliance of vaccination”. Both are against mandatory vaccination. Interior Minister Karl Nehammer (ÖVP) leaves open the possibility of further action in view of the persistently high number of infections. Criticism of the government comes from the FPÖ.
For Rendi-Wagner, it would be appropriate to close the exchange between the New Year and January 6, if the number of new infections per day from the last 2,700 of the weekend does not drop to 1,000. “It’s only six days,” said the SPÖ boss, but this would cause a significant slowdown in the infection process. From his point of view, this would be important to allow “contact tracing” again by the federal states. And with intensive care patients too, with nearly 600 cases, they are far from the 200 target, according to Rendi-Wagner.
Interior Minister Karl Nehammer (ÖVP) admitted on Wednesday after the Council of Ministers that the number of new infections was still too high. “We still have to make an effort,” Nehammer told the public to adhere to the measures. However, he left open whether the government could prescribe further cuts. This will be decided based on ongoing assessments of the situation.
Nehammer has defended the obligation to quarantine travelers from risk areas, even if they meet Austrians abroad on Christmas visits. He noted that it is possible to leave the country after the holidays even before the quarantine expires: “We are aware that it is difficult. But we believe that it is necessary to break the chains of contagion.”
The Neos had recently criticized this regulation. His party leader, Meinl-Reisinger, on Wednesday called for a “vaccination alliance” to announce participation in possible Covid vaccines after Christmas. Neos and SPÖ (as well as the government) reject a vaccination lamp. “The key to a high level of participation in vaccination is the confidence of the population in vaccination, in its efficacy and safety,” said SPÖ chief Rendi-Wagner.
Strong criticism of the FPÖ
The FPÖ also criticized the turquoise green federal government because the crown measures were “fact-free, alien to life, and incomprehensible.” Not surprisingly, in view of the chaos the government is producing, citizens are no longer familiar: “Austrians have better things to do than study new regulations and laws every day,” said club president Herbert Kickl. , in a transmission. (apa)
