What opens, what remains closed? How it continues on December 7 – Coronavirus –

Health Minister Anschober declined to comment on the details of the possible easing. Like the Ministry of Education, it referred to the Council of Ministers on Wednesday. Before decisions are made, the government still wants to wait for the development of the number of infections and in hospitals.

Federal Chancellor Sebastian Kurz (ÖVP) already indicated in an interview at the weekend that postponing the first easing steps for a few days cannot be completely ruled out.

The objective is to carry out “careful opening procedures” in shops and schools as of December 7. However, this depends on the number of infections. The taller they are, “the more difficult it will be to take the first steps,” Kurz had explained. And furthermore: “We will have to live with more massive restrictions after December 7.”

In any case, it is clear that in a first step only schools and shops should be reopened, but here too safety regulations must be expected. It is assumed that, as in spring, stores can only accommodate a certain number of customers, depending on their size. Many also indicate that for the moment only compulsory schools will be opened for face-to-face teaching.

Education Minister Heinz Faßmann (ÖVP) has already made it clear that schools will not function normally after they open. Faßmann more recently called for all schools to open on December 7, but at the same time announced that school operations would be initially different, for example with the mandatory mask also in class, the possibility of autonomous shift work, start and finish Staggered from school or move to other Building. More recently, there was also an extension of distance learning to the upper grades or its general conversion to shift work.

National trading companies are preparing to open stores next week after a two-week Corona hiatus. The Federal Trade Division of the Austrian Chamber of Commerce (WKÖ) has produced a catalog of measures for “safe unlocking” together with companies and the director of the “Event Security Management Competence Center” of the Red Cross of Vienna, Georg Geczek.

Catalog content ranges from “Deploying systems in front of stores” to hygiene precautions in stores and “straightening search tables” to the checkout process. “Austrian commerce is taking comprehensive measures to ensure that purchases in Austria are and remain safe after the lockdown ends,” WKÖ commercial chairman Rainer Trefelik said in a broadcast on Monday. In order to equalize customer flows after the end of the lockdown, Trefelik again demanded that Click & Collect for retailers “be possible immediately” and an extension of business hours before Christmas.

According to the corresponding press report, the catering should not be opened in the first relaxation step.

It is not yet known when hair salons, cosmetic and tattoo studios or gyms will reopen. However, it is more likely that they will not be allowed to unlock on January 7.

Events of any kind will likely remain banned after December 7.

It is still open how the curfews will continue. A solution like the “lock light” is not unlikely, which means massive restrictions only at night.

And sports and leisure facilities will probably not be part of the first initial step. This week will also announce how things will continue with the ski resorts. Western federal states, in particular, are insisting on opening ski areas before Christmas.

On Wednesday, at the Council of Ministers, the government is expected to announce the additional timetable for the opening steps. Traders are currently expecting a lockdown for their industry on December 7. Economy Minister Margarete Schramböck (ÖVP) and WKÖ President Harald Mahrer declined to confirm the opening of the business ventures on December 7 on Monday, referring to the significant development of the new corona infection figures.