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On Wednesday, the federal government announced easing measures for the time after the hard lockdown. In the evening, Chancellor Kurz was invited to ZiB 2.
The tough lockdown phase in Austria will end on Monday. On Wednesday, the “Virological Quartet” led by Federal Chancellor Sebastian Kurz (ÖVP), Vice Chancellor Werner Kogler, Health Minister Rudolf Anschober (both Greens) and Interior Minister Karl Nehammer (ÖVP) appeared in front of the press. The highest government announced the opening of schools, services related to the body and commerce. Gastronomy and culture will be closed until 2021. On Wednesday evening, Federal Chancellor Sebastian Kurz responded to questions from ORF journalist Armin Wolf.
Austria is accepting massive economic damages and massive restrictions to combat the pandemic, the foreign minister said. Strict travel regulations are necessary, Kurz said. It was not the question of nationalities, the chancellor justified himself when asked about his claim that the virus was introduced from abroad in the summer. Kurz withdrew from the matter of people returning to Austria.
“The second wave hits us harder”
There is no entry or exit ban, but protective measures are needed. The government wants to prevent people from traveling to neighboring countries to spend their holidays there, especially at Christmas or New Years Eve.
At this time, the second wave hits Austria more than other countries. “It is up to all of us to reduce the contagion figures,” Kurz appealed to a national alliance. But Kurz also said that a series of measures are needed and recalled that tourism would also be greatly affected. So Armin Wolf couldn’t rent a hotel if he wanted to visit relatives in Tyrol, Kurz brought the journalist on board.
“In the meantime, we have over 100 deaths a day and yet we are severely criticized for the measures,” Kurz understands negative feedback regarding government work only to a limited extent. He called on everyone to hold back in the private sphere. In addition, the head of government also promoted the next massive tests. According to Kurz, it is not surprising that there are difficulties in the run-up to these tests, “challenges” can be expected.
Covid also wreaked havoc in the area around the Chancellor.
In a personal statement, the Chancellor said that he knew a person who died from the coronavirus and that he also knew a person who was better after treatment in an intensive care unit. A third acquaintance of the Chancellor had to be hospitalized, although “he does not belong to any risk group.”
One of Wolf’s questions related to the mask requirement for students aged ten and over. “An imposition,” Kurz said. Wearing a mask is also a burden for him, but the question is always about the alternative. Kurz does not see the solution as optimal, but it is a necessary step. In an outlook for the future, Kurz said the numbers will now decline, but will rise again slightly for Christmas. Therefore, the objective of the measures is that as few people as possible contract Covid-19 during the holidays. At the same time, Kurz announced a second round of massive testing for early 2021.
