Ski only for locals – Gastro remains closed – Coronavirus –

These will be decided in the Council of Ministers on Wednesday and will be presented to the public around noon. In view of the fact that the number of infections is still too high, only very small opening steps are expected. Chancellor Sebastian Kurz (ÖVP) announced a week ago that schools and retailers will open first.

The way in which face-to-face teaching will be resumed is not yet known in detail. There are discussions of masks in the classroom, shift work, and smaller groups, sometimes in outsourced classrooms outside of schools.

What is certain is that the 200,000 teachers and kindergarten teachers will be called in to take the crown quick test next weekend.

From today’s perspective, the stores will also be able to open from December 7, albeit with restrictions on the number of people in the stores. There are hardly any alternatives here to unlock, otherwise the domestic trade would lose the entire Christmas business, because online shopping is largely intercepted by the American giants.

And the “Department Store Austria” presented on Monday by Economy Minister Margarete Schramböck (ÖVP) after half a year of development does not help here, because online sales are not even offered through this platform.

Food and culture businesses, on the other hand, will likely remain closed. Only in January will the tourist offer gradually increase again, there will be different dates for this, a step-by-step plan is being developed.

The same should also apply to amateur sports, where gyms and swimming pools, for example, are closed. Hair salons, cosmetic studios, and massage parlors are also likely to remain closed after closure.

Skiing as such should be possible, at least for people who live near winter sports resorts. The cable cars will open, the “Standard” reported on Tuesday. “Not immediately, but towards Christmas,” reports the “press.” In the given circumstances, your offer is only directed to “locals”.

The government is also planning new travel restrictions. An ordinance on the obligation to quarantine should be in preparation, APA officials are cited overnight by the “Standard.”

Those returning from Covid countries must be quarantined for ten days. After five days, you should be able to test yourself for free. This affects travelers arriving in Austria from countries with a 7-day incidence of more than 100, which would currently be all neighboring countries. The measure should take effect before Christmas and be valid until January 10.

Chancellor Sebastian Kurz (ÖVP) told reporters on Tuesday that initial steps will have to be carried out “carefully”.

Kurz has announced once again that the massive tests will be repeated. “Massive tests, of course, are repeated,” Kurz emphasized. “In theory, it would be perfect to test the entire population two or three times.” This could “kill the virus”. However, this is where the limits of availability and logistics are reached. In this sense, you have to do what is practically feasible.

According to Kurz, repeated testing of particularly affected groups and regions is planned, but also repeated testing of entire federal states.

As the federal government is discussing the next opening steps on Tuesday, LH Günther Platter (ÖVP) from Tirol has expressed surprise at the debate on the dangers of winter sports. It would be pretended “as if winter sports were the virus.” If the number of infections allows, he came out in favor of opening the ski areas despite travel warnings from neighboring countries.

Platter was pleased that the cable car industry also wants to open up for locals if guests from abroad are not yet arriving. The tourism industry needs decisions for the “necessary planning security,” he told the federal government at a news conference after the government meeting.

Next weekend’s massive test won’t remove travel warnings. You shouldn’t have “wishful thinking,” Platter clarified. After all, the current seven-day incidence is 411.