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Federal Chancellor Sebastian Kurz (ÖVP) spoke at a press conference on Saturday of a “near explosive growth” in the number of infections and an impending overload of intensive care capabilities. Therefore, a “second blockade” is “necessary”, stressed the chancellor.
This closure is a bit more relaxed than in the spring, because all the shops and service providers, such as hairdressers, remain open. However, it brings massive cuts in the freedom of the population: between 8:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m., a night-out restriction will be applied from Tuesday, a kind of “visiting ban”. You are then only allowed to leave your own four walls in exceptional cases, for example to work or play sports, and you have to make this credible in case of a police check. At the moment, only two households are allowed to meet, and garage and garden parties are also prohibited.
Prohibited events
The situation is also bleak for the catering, leisure and tourism industries: events are banned except for professional sports. All theaters, opera and concert halls, as well as museums, must close by November 30. Exceptions are essays and artistic performances without an audience that are carried out for professional purposes.
Leisure facilities such as swimming pools or fitness studios will also need to close. Locals can only offer pick-up and drop-off services, hotels cannot accept tourists, only business travelers. The government promised an aid package to cover up to 80 percent of lost sales.
Stop in amateur sport
While world-class sport may continue to function, albeit without spectators, amateur sport will come to a standstill when the new pandemic regulation takes effect. This will stop the regional league soccer leagues down. The covered area is also taboo for all amateur athletes, but outdoor sports facilities, such as golf or tennis courts, can remain open. However, only individual sports activities that do not come into contact with others are allowed.
Schools and kindergartens are not closed
Kindergartens, elementary schools and lower grades will now stay open differently than in March. The higher level, like universities, is shifting to distance education.
Visits to hospitals, sanitariums, and nursing homes and for the elderly are limited to protecting the sick, the elderly, those in need of care and the staff. Through November 17 inclusive, visits are only allowed every other day, with a maximum of one visitor per day. In general, patients, the elderly, and those needing care in hospitals and homes can receive a maximum of two different visitors during the next two weeks.
It was about “dramatic interventions in our social life. The decision was not easy for us. But it is necessary,” Kurz said to understand what, as he admitted, “unpopular measures to lower the numbers.”
“Let us all do our part. For the Republic of Austria and therefore all of us to come out of this crisis well,” Kurz appealed in a televised speech on Saturday night. He addressed citizens to explain why such drastic measures are being taken again and to “ask” them to reduce social contacts and keep their distance.
If the package of measures works and the population joins, Federal Chancellor Kurz assumes that “the first initial steps” can be taken in December “to return to a reasonably normal life.” If this goal is not achieved, “we will face a difficult situation,” Kurz admitted.
Measures like exit restrictions have yet to be approved by the main committee of the National Council, which of course is a question of form due to the majority of the ÖVP and the Greens. The committee meets on Sunday. The approval of the exit restriction can only be granted for ten days, so it must be extended several times if it is applied throughout November.
Criticism comes from the opposition
The government received much criticism for its approach from the opposition, who did not feel sufficiently involved. The club chiefs of the SPÖ, FPÖ and NEOS told the APA that each regulation that is presented to the main committee must receive explanations of the effect. The medical association and intensive care physicians welcomed the announced regulations.
While Tyrol governors Günther Platter, Wilfried Haslauer of Salzburg and Thomas Stelzer of Upper Austria (all ÖVP) expressed their support, the tough measures for Burgenland governor Hans Peter Doskozil (SPÖ) are “only partially understandable”. It found that the prescribed exit restriction “is currently not justified.”
The mayor of Vienna, Michael Ludwig (SPÖ), announced that the measures would of course be supported, but he would have liked more participation. The Governor of Carinthia, Peter Kaiser (SPÖ), would have liked better “traceability”, for example when cinemas were closed.
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