Crown lock for all until January 24 «kleinezeitung.at

the The blockade in Austria is extended by one week. Because the possibility of Friday’s tests no longer applies in view of the opposition blockade announced on Sunday, as the APA learned from government circles. This means that commerce, gastronomy, tourism and probably schools will only be able to open on January 24. Health Minister Rudolf Anschober confirmed Monday morning that there will be no “freestyle” since the closure.

He regrets it but accepts the democratic decision, the minister said after the main committee meeting Monday morning in parliament. Meanwhile, exit restrictions have been extended by a week.

“The opposition has become concrete”

Formerly the president of the ÖVP club August Wöginger It confirms that the possibility of Friday at least no longer applies in view of the opposition blockade announced on Sunday. This means that retail, gastronomy, tourism and schools will only be able to open on January 25, he said. “The opposition has been specifically closed”said the club boss to the APA.

That was amazing, especially from the SPÖ, but obviously the National Council Club gave in to pressure from the federal states. “Now a national alliance would have been necessary, but if there is no majority in the Federal Council, the opening week of January 18 cannot go as planned. Now we are trying to proceed after January 24,” he said. the president of the ÖVP club. When asked if the schools will also remain closed, Wöginger clearly responds: “Yes, the lockdown is the lockdown.”

President of the green club Sigrid maurer He announced that he would now discuss with the opposition those points “on which at least the SPÖ and NEOS are positive, such as the exhaustive tests in certain professional groups”. That the opposition is against the freest “must take note.” “This means that the lockdown applies to everyone until January 24,” Maurer said.

Unclear school opening

Anchober said the opposition’s no: “This means that it will not be possible to carry out the first preliminary tests of the blockade.” Now he hopes that a consensus will be reached on the other three points planned: the tests related to occupational groups, those for access to gastronomy, tourism or events and those of the regions with a high rate of infection. Further talks with the opposition are also planned, he referred to an appointment on Tuesday afternoon.

Anschober did not want to compromise on the question of whether the schools would not open until January 24 or, as scheduled, January 18. He couldn’t “anticipate” he simply said.

Novella submitted for review shortly before New Years Eve

It was originally planned that those who undergo a test can enjoy the benefits a week before – For example, going to cultural and sporting events or buying goods that you don’t need every day, such as clothes or books. Also, it should personal service providers like hairdressers We will be able to receive clients again on January 17 schools begin teaching in the classroom.

The corresponding amendment, which would have made freedom to work possible, was submitted for evaluation shortly before the turn of the year. On Sunday, however, the opposition announced for various reasons that it would refuse to pass the law. This means that the bill could be approved by the National Council, but would be approved by the Federal Council thanks to the narrow majority of the SPÖ, FPÖ and NEOS (31:30) put on hold for about two months.

It is so clear to the coalition that the blockade must be extended for a week. Its plan of commercial, school or cultural opening through free tests on January 18, could no longer be implemented due to the attitude of the opposition. said from government circles to the APA. The lockdown will now apply to everyone in Austria until January 24.

SPÖ outraged by “threatening gestures”

The opposition did not want to hear any blame in his leadership on Monday. Head of SPÖ Pamela Rendi-Wagner He said that after the main committee meeting in parliament, the deciding factor for the extension or end of the blockade could only be the infection figures. All experts currently rate this as “too high”. The daily rate of new infections must be further reduced, “otherwise we are threatened with a fourth lockdown in February”, this should not happen. It won’t be known until the end of this week if the numbers are decreasing. “Based on this, a decision must be made whether a shutdown is necessary in mid-January or by January 24,” Rendi-Wagner said.

Chief SPÖ of Tyrol Georg dornauer he was outraged by the German government’s announcement that it would de facto extend the blockade by one week. Dornauer spoke of a “threatening gesture” and described it as “scandalous and against all reason”.

Briefly as “immature teenager”

FPÖ MP Dagmar Belavokitsch found in the government announcement that the lockdown will now apply to everyone until January 24, a “being offended” by Federal Chancellor Sebastian Kurz (ÖVP). In any case, confinement is an “absolutely inappropriate means”. He also referred to the requirement of the Covid Law, according to which restrictions can only be imposed if the capacities of the hospital are at the limit. “That is not the case”. A government “failure” in recent months identified the NEOS MPs Douglas Hoyos. He criticized the short evaluation period of just under three days: the government wanted to “quickly whip something up during the New Year holidays,” so his criticism.

Also the FPÖ boss from Tyrol Markus Abwerzger He did not save the federal government with criticism, he identified a blunder. “What is happening now is significant in the way the black and green federal government is dealing with the crown pandemic. They are constantly being bullied and blaming others, “Abwerzger said and saw Kurz constantly sitting on the” challenge “as an” immature teenager. “

More conversations

The talks between the Ministry of Health and the opposition were scheduled for Monday afternoon, but no changes of position are expected regarding the “test on Friday.” Rendi-Wagner said he believes there will be an exchange on how to develop a test strategy for Austria in the coming weeks. Another round of talks between the federal and state governments is also on Monday’s agenda.

“If the government believes that it can deceive the people of our country, politically blackmail the opposition and arbitrarily – without the relevant facts and the legal situation – lock up the population for one more week and thus cause more damage to the entire economy, so it’s the chancellor (Sebastian Kurz, ÖVP, note) leaned too far out the window in his detachment this time, “said Dornauer. The Tyrolean head of the SPÖ had recommended to his party two days ago that it vote against the freer ones.

Germany extends the blockade

Germany’s federal and state governments apparently agree: the crown lockdown will last until January 31, “Bild” reports. Already over the weekend there was a broad consensus in favor of extending the hard lockdown. Prime ministers from various parties made it clear that they see no basis for further relaxation.