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After the traffic lights turned orange in some regions of Austria, talks between their representatives and the government took place on Wednesday. Health Minister Rudolf Anschober (Greens): “We are at a fork in the road. Either we stabilize at 650 new infections or we will soon have exponential increases to 1,500 cases per day.”
According to Anschober, celebrations with family or friends are responsible for the persistently high number of new corona infections in Austria. “I’m very worried about that.” Sporting and cultural events, on the other hand, contributed little to the increase thanks to prevention concepts. “The problem is rather private parties, where basic awareness of hygiene rules is significantly reduced.” The country is in a crucial phase, Anschober said Wednesday. “The current figures are too high for the current moment. We can still spend a lot of time outside. The moment when we move our lives completely inward again and therefore increase the risk of infection, but that is yet to come.
The forecasts differ significantly. The most positive variant predicts a daily increase of about 650 cases, the most pessimistic variants represent 1,500 new daily infections. 768 new cases were registered on Wednesday. The number of occupied hospital beds is also beginning to increase markedly, Anschober said.
Federal Army for the management of contact persons
In the future, each region should have enough staff to keep the period between a call to the Corona hotline and the result of a test as short as possible. Once symptoms have been reported, it often takes too long to inform all K1 contact persons, Anschober said, emphasizing that the military is already being used to help in the management of contact persons.
In addition to federal measures, additional regional measures are also possible.
Complaints about the health hotline
In the federal capital, complaints about the 1450 health hotline and test wait times and test results that were too long have recently increased. The city of Vienna is now planning a massive staff increase. A total of 1,000 people will be hired or temporary contracts will be extended, announced Mayor Michael Ludwig (SPÖ). A large part, that is, 500 employees, will be hired in the area of contact tracing. Contact tracing consists of tracking contact persons in Covid 19 cases. A total of 600 people will then be deployed to this area. Then they should also work on the 1450 hotline, as Ludwig announced.
In recent days and weeks, the number of calls has skyrocketed. On Tuesday, 17,978 calls were registered in Vienna. The health authority will hire 150 more employees. Its main tasks will be the preparation of notices and the attention of inquiries from institutions, organizations or associations.
Have additional rules in countries and districts
Anschober announced that states and districts should impose their own additional rules if they deem it necessary to contain the infection. As an example of additional measures, Anschober named an expansion of those areas where protection for the mouth and nose should be applied. Corresponding regulations had already been drawn up in Upper Austria and parts of Carinthia. They should now be legally protected. This requires a decision in the National Council next week, to be followed by the Federal Council. According to information from the APA, the regional chamber will postpone a special meeting at the beginning of the week following the next.
Protective clothing secured
The Council of Ministers decided on Wednesday to guarantee sufficient protective clothing for the most affected professions. Anschober: “With 30 million euros, we have made sufficient funds available to have enough protective clothing for doctors, nurses and social workers even in an acute phase like the one that awaits us.”
Austria is also negotiating with six different vaccine producers. “With this we can cope, for example, if a company does not receive market approval.” According to Anschober, 200 million euros will be made available for the purchase of vaccines for Austrians. “My dream goal is 50 percent vaccination coverage.”
“Put our words into action”
Foreign Minister Alexander Schallenberg said after the Cabinet that Austria had sent a comprehensive aid package for migrants from the burned-out Moria camp to Greece with one of the world’s largest transport planes. According to the Austrian Ministry of the Interior, on board the Antonow 124 were 400 family tents equipped with heating and lighting, each with space for five people, 2,700 inflatable mattresses with upholstery and bedding, 7,400 blankets and 2,000 hygiene kits.
Interior Minister Karl Nehammer wanted to deliver the 150 pallets himself at the Athens airport that afternoon. “We translate our words into deeds,” Austrian Foreign Minister Alexander Schallenberg said on Wednesday. While other countries were still discussing whether they should accept people in a few weeks or months, Austria would help quickly and on the spot, Schallenberg said.
Greens continue to accept refugees
As a coalition partner of the conservative ÖVP, the Greens continue to demand the admission of refugees to Austria in addition to emergency aid. “We will continue to work for this,” said Health Minister Rudolf Anschober (Greens). The Prime Minister and President of the ÖVP, Sebastian Kurz, is strictly against this step.
The Council of Ministers not only discussed possible measures, but also how health authorities are dealing with the increase in infections, how quickly tests are carried out and how tests work through the 1450 hotline.
Chancellor Sebastian Kurz (ÖVP) had made it clear in advance that the traffic lights would not act automatically. “One is the change of traffic lights, the other is decisions of the federal government.” At the last meeting on Monday night, the Corona Commission put Vienna, Innsbruck-Stadt, Kufstein, Dornbirn, Bludenz, Mödling and Neunkirchen in orange at the traffic lights in Corona. Measures at events and schools are not necessary in the opinion of the committee.
What: SN-Mack
