For the first time there is a red traffic light in Tyrol: calls to refrain from private parties

Heute entscheidet die Ampel-Kommission, ob u. a. in Innsbruck ein sehr hohes Corona-Risiko besteht.

© Thomas Böhm

By Peter Nindler and Anita Heubacher

Innsbruck, Vienna – How should politics react quickly but appropriately to the number of corona cases that has increased significantly recently? In Tyrol, a second curfew blockade is ruled out, for the Governor of Tyrol, Günther Platter (ÖVP) and the President of the Chamber of Commerce, Christoph Walser (ÖVP), this is inconceivable. Still, it requires more restrictions, both are safe. After all, red light districts threaten for the first time in Tyrol. Today, the traffic light commission meets in Vienna and will again carry out a risk assessment.

In the state capital Innsbruck, in Inn Valley with Innsbruck-Land and Schwaz, the number of infections has skyrocketed significantly in recent days. More recently, there were 80 cases in Innsbruck homes, and at the same time, new private groups are emerging. Those who tested positive can be assigned a total of 204 sources of infection, but 32 of them have fewer than 10 infected people. An indication that the private sector remains a problem area.

„Einen neuerlichen Lockdown wird es sicher nicht geben. Derzeit stimmen wir weitere Maßnahmen ab.“ LH Günther Platter (VP)

© Thomas Böhm

“I know that people are tired after the massive social, economic and social restrictions, but the next few months will also be a great challenge,” emphasizes Governor Günther Platter (VP). But if development continues, the situation will go back to April, Platter warned.

“We urgently need to reduce the number of infections”

He and his party colleague, Health Judge Bernhard Tilg, appeal to the Tyrolese to take personal responsibility and reduce private gatherings and celebrations to the necessary level. “We urgently need to reduce the current number of infections, as we already did when we dealt with the first wave through appropriate measures,” emphasizes Tilg.

There is still disagreement on what measures will be announced in the coming days. Above all, Platter would like national guidelines, especially regarding curfew regulation. In Tyrol, the curfew has been brought forward at 10 pm. Because there have only been a handful of infections since then, Platter defends the meaning of the Tyrolean solution.

“Before that, we faced some groups at dinner at night.” A registration requirement for restaurant visits would be desirable for him, but the legal basis for this is unstable, adds the governor. However, Platter recommends that hosts submit these voluntarily.

Kapazitäten in Spitälern spielen bei der Einstufung eine wichtige Rolle.

© Foto TT / Linda Rieser

The management of visits in nursing homes and for the elderly, event restrictions or a staggered start of school hours are also in the room. What Platter doesn’t want, as TT emphasizes, is renewed social isolation from older people. The question of a possible extension of the fall holidays does not arise for the black-green state government. The signal would be bad. Therefore, the federal government and the state of Tyrol will coordinate intensively in the coming days to find a common thread for the most uniform approach possible.

The green coalition partner is also campaigning for compliance with protection regulations in the private sector. “This is the only way we can prevent the coronavirus from spreading further,” said the head of the green club, Gebi Mair.

In any case, the recommendations of the traffic light commission are eagerly awaited. If the traffic light in the Tyrolean districts turns red from Friday, indoor events are only possible to a limited extent.

In addition to the Tyrolean regions, this also threatens the districts of Salzburg and Upper Austria, as they say. Ultimately, it not only depends on the number of cases, but above all on risk factors such as the capacities of hospitals. However, these are still sufficiently available in all districts.

245 positive Tests gab es am gestrigen Tag im Land.

© APA (dpa)