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The provincial governors of Vienna, Lower Austria and Burgenland went “openly” on Tuesday evening to a conversation with Health Minister Rudolf Anschober (Greens). The Mayor of Vienna, Michael Ludwig, the Governor of Burgenland Hans Peter Doskozil (both SPÖ) and the Governor of Lower Austria, Johanna Mikl-Leitner (ÖVP), assured us that we should listen to the advice of the experts in peace and quiet and seek solutions together in the interest of the population.
Anschober, who is pushing for stricter rules due to the tense situation in hospitals, said when he received the three guests at his home that he did not want to be satisfied with “alibi measures.” What is needed is a “package that really helps curb the growing number of infections.” Ludwig spoke of an “Easter break” that he himself could imagine personally. He did not elaborate. They don’t want to anticipate talks, but they want to make fact-based decisions “in the interest of the public.” “Health is the most important thing for us.”
“Joint approach”
Mikl-Leitner spoke of a “joint approach”. I also didn’t want to go into details, but rather hear the opinions of the experts first. Doskozil, who recently pushed for steps, was also very cautious. The governors and the minister are aware of their responsibility to draw the correct conclusions. But first I wanted to hear the numbers and data from the experts. It is always bad when such things are discussed “between the door and the hinge,” Doskozil said, alluding to yesterday’s summit at the Chancellery, which ended relatively unsuccessfully. The most important are definitely the hospitals and the intensive care capabilities that exist.
In Vienna (7-day incidence on Monday according to AGES 321.9), Lower Austria (271.7) and Burgenland (256.1), the situation is especially tense due to the strong spread of the most dangerous variant B.1.1. 7. In individual districts, the incidence is even well above the threshold of 400, beyond which, according to the high incidence regulation, Schubers must present negative corona tests for outgoing districts or regional access points.
A strong regional blockade was not expected in the run-up to the talks. Obviously, soft measures are being considered, such as an expansion of testing (gargling) and a higher FFP2 mask requirement (for example, for kindergarten teachers and younger pupils or in company social rooms). There are also likely to be faster quarantine reactions to positive test results in schools. After a positive case, the entire class could be quarantined (currently only for two or more cases). Cross-border travelers should expect a tightening of the validity of the evidence presented. Calls should also be made for better involvement in contact tracing.
Probably not a trade ban
There will probably not be a suspension of trade, a return to distance education or stricter contact rules, at least during Easter. This was made clear by statements by Chancellor Sebastian Kurz (ÖVP) and state governors on Monday after the grand summit. The Governor of Lower Austria, Mikl-Leitner, once again emphasized this position on Tuesday afternoon: “Internal trade must remain open. Additional restrictions do not help us in the fight against pandemics because there (in trade, note ) there is practically no further spread. “
Anchober – as he revealed after the big summit on Monday – would consider decisive action against the influx to intensive care units absolutely necessary. But as Minister of Health you are sometimes “alone in the hallway,” he announced on “ZiB2” on Monday night. He hopes to use a “toolbox” to get the countries or regions that are particularly affected to take action. It was unclear overnight if a result could be announced after the summit. (apa)
