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The government announced details of the next opening steps on Wednesday. The exit restrictions will run until January 6, but retailers, hair salons and schools will open next week, and fun on the slopes will be possible starting December 24.
Austria will reopen the country “gradually and cautiously”. That’s what Chancellor Sebastian Kurz (ÖVP) said at Wednesday’s press conference. “I am aware that nobody wants restrictions.” He is also aware that none of this is popular and that the order of the initial steps never suits anyone. “What is certain is that if we opened everything at the same time, we would immediately see an increase in the number of infections and a third closure in January would be inevitable.” For Kurz, it’s about making a “dignified” Christmas possible. “Our goal should not only be to reduce the number of infections by Christmas, there should not be an infected person sitting under every Christmas tree infecting everyone else, but the virus should not be reintroduced by people who have returned home. “.
The most important facilitation steps at a glance:
- Body hugging and retail service providers like hair salons and estheticians open Dec. 7.
- As of December 7, the compulsory schools and kindergartens will reopen. From 10 years old, a mask is required in class. High schools and colleges will continue to be distance learning. Regular operations will resume for high school graduates. The final classes of the other types of schools are also returning to face-to-face classes.
- At Christmas (24/25/26 December) and New Year’s Eve (31 December) a total of 10 people may gather, regardless of the number of households involved. Exit restrictions will be lifted on these days.
- Daily skiing should be possible again from December 24, and zoos can also be visited again.
- The hotel, gastronomic and cultural sectors (with the exception of museums and galleries) will remain closed until Heiligendreikönig. Starting on January 7, these divisions will intensify again.
- Pickup is possible from restaurants (6 am – 7 pm), also from ski huts. Delivery services are possible without time restrictions.
- Departure restrictions between 8 pm and 6 am remain in effect. During the day, people who live together in a household can meet other household members (up to 6 adults and 6 children). In public spaces, a distance of one meter applies to all people who do not live in their own home. Protection for the mouth and nose should also be used in closed rooms.
- The events are prohibited.
- Funerals of up to 50 people are possible, wedding celebrations are prohibited.
- Libraries and bookstores will reopen next week.
- Museums and galleries can also be visited again.
- There are no Christmas markets, no more punch stands.
- Obligation of quarantine (10 days or PCR test after five days) when entering from risk areas (from mid-December).
- The sales replacement will extend into December, but only up to a maximum of 50 percent of the prior year’s sales. Finance Minister Gernot Blümel (ÖVP) estimated the costs at around 1 billion euros.
Statements from the highest government to hear
Mandatory mask in elevators
Vice Chancellor Werner Kogler (Greens) announced that outdoor sports will be possible again from December 24. He explicitly mentions skiing, cross-country skiing, or ice skating. “Mouth and nose protection must be worn on elevators and gondolas and corresponding capacity restrictions apply on gondolas.” Indoor sports facilities, on the other hand, remain closed, according to Kogler, and contact sports (such as soccer) still have to wait.
“Successful emergency brake” for anchors
Health Minister Rudolf Anschober (Greens) is trying to assess the second or previous partial blockade. It was possible to stabilize the number of infections. “It goes down significantly every day, albeit at a slower pace, but the trend is correct,” Anschober emphasized. Names 3972 new infections in the last 24 hours (7540 three weeks ago). He still sees the “main problem” in the high number of deaths (121 in the last 24 hours). In the intensive care units, however, there has been slight relaxation for a week. His summary: “The emergency brake in hospitals has been successful.” New infections are expected to drop to 2,000 a day by December 9.
No trips abroad for Christmas
Interior Minister Karl Nehammer (ÖVP) reminds Austrians that there are still exit restrictions. Its appeal, not everyone should go shopping on the first day, because then the infection rate would grow again dramatically. When it comes to traveling, he slows down, “there will be great difficulties to come back.”
The point is that Christmas parties are not celebrated abroad and that Austrians with a migratory background do not go to their countries of origin.
The Jan 7 Plan
Federal Chancellor Kurz announced that gastronomy, culture and tourism would be unlocked as of January 7, and that will be possible with security concepts and restrictions.
Those: APA
