Corona virus: Government tightened corona measures across Austria

The government presented on Monday a series of new adjustments in the fight against Corona. Foreign Minister Sebastián Kurz called on the population to comply with the measures. The number of new infections would again increase exponentially. If you don’t take countermeasures, up to 6,000 new infections a day threaten in December.

Fit in private meetings and events.
1. No assigned seating, only 6 people inside and only 12 people outside. According to Kurz, this includes all meetings, from joint groups on the playground to groups in the gym. The regulations are not applied by law in homes, the population is asked to comply voluntarily. Churches are excluded, more than six people can participate in masses, but all rules must be observed (distance, mask requirement).
2. Events with more people can only be held with assigned seats, and must be recently reported to the health authorities.
3. The authorization requirement for events remains 250 people.
4. Masks are required for all indoor and outdoor events. But there is no general mask requirement in public space, that was never the subject of discussion, Kurz said.
5. Food and beverages are prohibited at events, except for all-day training and higher education.
6. The maximum number of officially approved events is reduced to 1000 indoors and 1500 outdoors.

Gastronomy regulations

1. Only six people over 18 are allowed at a table (10 before).
2. Consumption in front of the pub after curfew is prohibited.
3. A mandatory prevention concept is applied for restaurants from 50 seats instead of the previous 200.

Protection of vulnerable groups in nursing homes

1. Mandatory mouth and nose protection in all general areas
2. Testing for new residents and readmission
3. Mandatory MNS uniform standards for staff and periodic checks
4. Health checks, pre-registration and mandatory MNS for visitors
5. Hygiene and prevention concepts are mandatory for all facilities.
The compulsory tests apply to nurses who come from abroad and work in body care services.
Federal states should toughen regionally
1. More event restrictions are possible up to a total ban
2. The closing time can be advanced at the regional level, there is no advance at the national level
3. Alcohol bans (and sales bans after curfew) and a requirement to wear a mask may be imposed in crowded outdoor areas.
4. Weight loss and distance learning in universities and schools is still a matter of State
5. Tighter measures in nursing homes and retirement homes beyond federal regulations
6. Bans on entering restaurants and shops
7. Quarantine measures for municipalities and districts

Life should not stand still

Before the government went public, a videoconference was held with provincial governors on Monday morning. Federal states are being asked to introduce tightening measures beyond national level measures to combat regional clusters.

“It will take months”

The Chancellor closed the press conference by announcing that this phase now “will take months before we have a vaccine.” Many other countries would have to resort to even more drastic measures. He hoped that Austria would be spared from this and appealed again for the population to adhere to the measures.