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While the third blockade was only in effect for a few hours, penalties for previous crown restrictions are again a topic of discussion. This time, the reason is a fine of 300 euros for a partner in Carinthia. Governor Peter Kaiser (SPÖ) appeared on the scene on Saturday. He called on the federal government to “establish understandable regulations for real life.”
According to a report from ORF Carinthia, a young couple was sanctioned. The cohabiting couple in which one of the couples was infected with the coronavirus received a fine after the healthy couple continued to live in the same home.
In the context of strict Corona regulations that have been in place since midnight Saturday, which, among other things, stipulate all-day exit restrictions in Austria except in certain exceptional cases, the regional head of Carinthia took action . He “hopes” the turquoise-green federal government will deliver the “unrealistic!” Quickly remove the regulation, Kaiser stressed through the state press service.
To suspend previous penalty notices
Until then, such sanctions, which are issued by the district authorities in the course of indirect federal administration such as health authorities, should be suspended. The governor of Carinthia will also make this request in writing and then in the course of the next videoconference between the governors and the federal government scheduled for January 4, he announced.
Because the state of Carinthia, Kaiser emphasized, had no way to change the relevant provision. The federal government is solely responsible for this. It assumes that in this context the sanctions already imposed will not have legal validity, said the head of state of Carinthia.
For Kaiser, the incident is important beyond the sanctions for the life partner. He fears that such “otherworldly criminal provisions” generally endanger the public’s confidence in the measures that are necessary to contain the corona epidemic. That is unfortunate. “It is not enough to write rules and regulations on a drawing board in a quiet room. A responsible and people-oriented policy also establishes these regulations in line with the reality of people’s lives,” said the governor.
It is not the first time that in the course of the Corona measures there has been strong criticism of one of the three federal states governed by the SPÖ; Besides Carinthia, these are Vienna and Burgenland. SPÖ state politicians complain that the turquoise-green federal government is sometimes faced with fait accompli with measures, and new rules to combat the corona epidemic are sometimes only reported on after press conferences or just before of that.
Ministry of Health: recommendations only
The Health Ministry called Kaiser’s criticism on Saturday in a reaction to the “Wiener Zeitung” as “incomprehensible.” A spokesman for the department announced that the federal government’s requirements for tracking contact persons were “clear.” “However, these are only recommendations. The competence here rests very clearly with the federal states and the administrative district authorities. They would decide on a case-by-case basis and could, if necessary, make additional requirements,” the health department said in a written statement.
