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In the fight against the coronavirus pandemic, the federal government announced a further tightening on Thursday. Social contacts will be further restricted throughout Austria; in the future, only ten people will be allowed in private celebrations and indoor events. In gastronomy, the MNS is also mandatory for guests. Consumption is only possible sitting down.
The corona measures will be suspended as of Monday at midnight:
Crown tightening effective from Monday
The measures will be applied throughout Austria from next Monday. The tightening was announced at a press conference by Federal Chancellor Sebastian Kurz (ÖVP), Vice Chancellor Werner Kogler (Greens), Health Minister Rudolf Anschober (Greens) and Interior Minister Karl Nehammer (ÖVP).
SARS-CoV-2 infections have increased recently, especially at private parties and closed events. The government is now putting an end to this as in the future only ten (more recently there were 50) people will be able to participate in indoor events and celebrations. The only exceptions are funerals, but not weddings or other holidays. “Funerals must be carried out in the way that the family wants,” Kurz said. The private sector is excluded from this.
Great professional events remain
In the case of large professional events with assigned seating and a safety concept, including sporting events such as Bundesliga football matches, the existing regulation is maintained: 3,000 spectators are allowed at outdoor events, 1,500 in the covered area. These limits, which also apply to the cultural sector – theater, operas, concerts – must “be maintained,” said Vice Chancellor and Sports Minister Werner Kogler (Greens). There were hardly any infections in “exercising as such”, and this area works “quite well”.
The curfew is set at 1 am
The curfew is generally set at 1.00 am, even for closed events in clubs or private rental venues. Only private apartments are excluded from the ten-person rule and limited-time meetings. Interventions in this area would probably not be permissible from a fundamental rights perspective either. “We are staunch Democrats and we accept the rule of law,” stressed Chancellor Kurz. The education sector and the labor market are not covered by the ten-person regulation, but where greater attention should be paid to the minimum distance from the neighbor and hygiene standards. The latter also applies to fitness studies. Training courses with fixed start and end times can only take place there with a maximum of ten participants.
Mask requirement is expanded
In the catering industry, where masks were previously required for staff, mouth and nose protection is being extended to guests. Consumption is only allowed seated, with a maximum of ten people who can sit at a table. The mask should be worn in bars “wherever you are on the move” and not just “when you are sitting at the table”, as noted by the Chancellor.
Next summer, a normal one?
For nightclubs and discos, the new restrictions are likely to raise existential questions. When asked about this, Kurz commented: “The measures are very tough, but necessary to avoid further damage to the economy and the labor market.” The 2020/21 ball season is also likely to have ended prematurely. This is “from the current point of view as we had it, unthinkable,” said the Chancellor. “What is possible will happen,” he asked for understanding: “We hope that next summer will be normal.”
Avoid a second lock
“We are aware that it is once again resignation,” Kurz admitted. However, all regions of Austria are affected by a growing number of infections, the country is growing exponentially: “We have to react now to avoid a second lockdown.” It is not only a question of protecting the population and the health sector, “but also of cushioning as far as possible the negative effects on the location of companies and the labor market.” The most recent travel advisories from Germany, Switzerland and Belgium would pose a threat to tourism, commerce and gastronomy, Kurz said. Therefore, it is important to prevent the “catastrophic consequences” that come with increased lockdown.
VAT reduction for 2021
To ease the economy, the crown-related VAT cut, which has already come into effect, will run until 2021, the chancellor announced. According to Health Minister Rudolf Anschober (Greens), a concept for winter tourism should be available next week. Especially the federal states, where there are currently a comparatively low number of infections, would have “the unique opportunity that travel warnings against them are kept within limits and that winter tourism can take place there,” Kurz said, who made it clear at the end of the press conference that with the next tightening it may still be possible. The end of the story has not been reached: “If more action is needed, it will be taken.”
Police want “intensive control”
Interior Minister Karl Nehammer (ÖVP) guaranteed that the new regulations will be complied with and violations will be punished: “The police are prepared and will intensify controls in some areas.” The Minister of Health, Anschober, trusted that the population will accept the new rules of the game: “Most of them are awake.” He identified a “race between increasing numbers of infections and increased awareness of risk.” The current package of measures contains “precise answers” to the development of the number of cases, has been coordinated with the Crown Commission and is supported by it, Anschober stressed.
Powers for federal states
The federal states also have the opportunity to refine their areas of competence with their own resources if necessary. The Covid Measures Law, which will be discussed in the National Council next week and which will come into force at the beginning of October, establishes, according to Anschober, “that federal states can implement stricter rules, expanded regulations.”
Increase in hospitalizations
Anschober was “clearly concerned” about the increase in hospitalization of corona patients in Austria. 264 sick people are currently in normal hospital wards, 55 are also in intensive care units. Compared to spring, there were already a lot of sick people and, over the course of the shutdown, these numbers experienced a “downward trend.”
These numbers cannot be equated, Anschober said, because more are being tested at this time. “We are testing more than ever, 15,000 tests are done in 24 hours.” But this curve “should worry us.” So far there has been a “strong dissociation in the number of infections and hospitalizations.” The reason: the average age of those who tested positive is significantly younger. “Our average age was 58.59 years in the spring and we are now 34.35 years old. More than 20 years apart.”
“We have a very wide margin in the forecasts,” Anschober said. Stay linear for the next two weeks, there will be 650 to 660 infections per day. The other variant represents a significant increase: up to 1,500 cases of infection per day. “Our room for maneuver is still very great,” Anschober said. “This is a phase in which to set the course”, is convinced the Minister of Health. Therefore, an analysis is carried out every day in a “highly professional manner”.
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