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The end of the tunnel does not seem in sight at the moment: the numbers and increases of infections with the coronavirus remained unchanged at a high level on Monday. An average of 731 new infections were reported per day for the past seven days. By Monday there were 563 new infections. Health Minister Rudolf Anschober (Greens) remained optimistic that no real second wave would come.
So far there have been 38,658 positive results in 1,458,095 tests registered in Austria. This means that about 2.65 percent of the tests performed confirmed a SARS-CoV-2 infection. There are currently 8,375 actively infected people in Austria, 767 patients have died so far, 29,516 are considered to have recovered.
364 patients with Covid-19 in the hospital
As of Monday, 13,412 tests were recorded in the electronic registry (EMS), more than Sunday (around 12,500), but significantly less than Saturday (18,000). However, Anschober told a news conference that the number of tests had not decreased over the weekend. There are currently 364 Covid-19 patients undergoing hospital treatment. 67 of them are in intensive care units.
Anschober hopes that the measures for bars, clubs and private events that took effect on Monday will improve the development of the Covid 19 numbers. “That should work,” he said. Some of the measures taken were “advanced” due to the increasing number of infections, Anschober admitted in the ORF program “In the center.”
In the event that the latest restrictions on private events and celebrations, as well as the renewed expansion of the mask requirement did not have the desired effects, the Minister of Health indicated a possible advance of the curfew in the catering sector (currently it is the 1 am) and increased sharpening of the mouth and nose protection. in. You could also imagine “intervening in groups” in this case.
“Comprehensive test strategy”
The Health Minister continues with “a comprehensive testing strategy,” he emphasized. Tests to detect symptoms suggesting SARS-CoV-2 and the detection of risk groups would be necessary and important, so the results should be available more quickly. Some federal states have been “excellently prepared” for this, Vorarlberg needs 20 hours from the test to the result. On the other hand, it is necessary to “readjust” in this sense in Vienna, Anschober said.
The Vienna Councilor for Health, Peter Hacker (SPÖ), rejected the criticism in the ORF-Ö1 “Mittagsjournal”: Anschober “welcomes us on signs on every corner, so he is also in the election campaign. He returned the ball to the federal government: “We have been waiting months for a decree on the test strategy.” There are administrative problems in “all Austria”, not just in Vienna. He noted that, unlike Vienna, some countries only conduct 150-200 tests per day. “If I do 150 tests a day, I greet everyone personally,” Hacker says. In Vienna it was around 7,000 during the week and almost 5,000 on the weekend.
The new measures came into effect from midnight and refer to leisure activities, gastronomy, markets and fairs. At private events without assigned and marked seating, only ten people are allowed instead of the 50 above. According to the Ministry of Health, this includes “group social activities”, for example, yoga courses, Zumba lessons, rounds of cards and game nights, but also film screenings, exhibitions, weddings and baptisms, confirmations and celebrations of the first communion. The only exceptions are funerals.
There are only recommendations for private apartments.
The new upper limits (a maximum of 100 people allowed outdoors for non-professionally organized events without a safety concept) do not apply in the professional area, that is, not for professional sport. The government explicitly excludes private apartments for which there are no limits, only the recommendation not to receive excessive guests.
In addition, the requirement of the mask is reinforced. Mouth and nose protection must now also be used outdoors in all markets and trade shows, and in indoor restaurants, for both customers and staff. The mask can only be removed from the host in the seat, with a maximum of ten people per table. The 1am curfew, which has long been mandatory, now also applies to closed events – clubs or pubs for private hire.
Wedding celebrations limited to ten people.
The new restrictions to prevent the spread of the coronavirus also affect weddings. For church weddings, a minimum distance of one meter from people who do not live in the same household should be observed. In addition, the Ministry of Health recommends wearing a mask, providing disinfectant in the entrance area and restricting singing.
In the case of weddings at the registry office, it is the responsibility of the competent authority to take the accompanying protective measures according to local conditions. These are based on the general distance and hygiene recommendations. The respective registry office provides information in this regard.
From the point of view of the Ministry of Health, subsequent wedding celebrations are considered events without assigned and marked seats, and have therefore only been able to take place in closed rooms with up to ten people since Monday. Up to 100 people are allowed outdoors. Since the use of a mask is mandatory in closed rooms, the MNS protection in the ballroom can only be removed on the seat where people eat and drink. When serving food and beverages, catering rules apply. Weddings are defined as closed events, so the party ends at 1:00 am at the latest.
Up to 500 people are allowed for burials in cemeteries. The same recommendations apply to church funerals as they do to weddings. Church services are generally excluded from the last setting. (apa)
