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In his opinion, the Health Minister, Rudolf Anschober (Grne), did not underestimate the second wave of the corona pandemic, as he explained in several interviews with newspapers this Sunday. “No, I have not,” he told the “press.” We have been preparing very carefully since June, “because we knew that the fall would be extremely critical and difficult.” “And then this second wave hit the whole of Europe with incredible force,” the minister said. Austria also did not fail in the fight against pandemics: “If we had failed, we would be completely different. The second wave has much stronger dynamics and impact in Europe than the first,” Anschober told the “Kleine Zeitung.” With the “new plan” (the third “strict” lockdown, note) one now has “the opportunity to dramatically reduce infections by mid-January.” The year 2020 with the corona pandemic was “an extremely demanding and worrying year” for everyone, Anschober said in the “Kurier.” “For me it was the biggest challenge of my life so far.” However, “he never regretted taking over the health department:” It feels good when you can make a contribution.
To find out in the “Presse am Sonntag” that his party had to be convinced of the first blockade in spring by the VP, Anschober said that he and Chancellor Sebastian Kurz (VP) were “two very different personalities.” Ultimately, he’s a “quick decision maker” and is “the guy who prefers to think about it for two days, talk to experts, and weigh it down.” However, these differences add “very well.”
When asked if the opening during the summer had not already been a mistake, the minister answered in the negative. “You can’t keep an entire country locked up for so long.” The gradual opening was correct, he told the “Kleine Zeitung”. In the summer “many factors” came together at the same time: “openness, tourism, the opening of borders”. The movements and contacts have multiplied, the risk situation has become “dynamic”. “According to all experts, the situation was critical but stable until October 22. And then the figures soared. As in all EU countries and with all neighbors.”
It’s easier “to read the book from behind than to write it,” he said of the criticism. Experience has taught us that “you have to be more careful when opening steps”. The Minister of Health considers that “the tracing of contacts, the management of contact persons and many tests” are essential. “Comprehensive digitization” should make this easier and faster for all parties, both for those affected and for the authorities. “This is my urgent appeal to the countries.” To criticize the regulations from home, Anschober referred to the high number of them. “Of these 140 regulations, there were three or four problems,” he told the “press.”
When asked how many blockades will follow after the third which is now imminent, Anschober said in another interview with “Krone”: “It cannot continue like this because Austria cannot endure this situation in the long term.” The aim at the moment is to “reduce quite massively” the number of infections and, based on this, increase the evidence. The deciding factor is also the time saved before vaccination. When asked when Austrians will get their lives back, Anschober said, in the course of 2021, but “most likely in the second half.” “Some protected areas, like the mask, will be with us longer.”
The Minister of Health defended the opening of the ski slopes in the face of criticism: “Active sport is allowed without contact. It is good for everyone and strengthens us.”
