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The new travel rules for Austria will apply from Friday; there will be additional controls. “Today” has the overview.
Austria is now imposing stricter measures in Tyrol in the fight against the spread of corona mutations. With the exception of East Tyrol, it will only be possible to leave the federal state for ten days with a negative corona test starting next Friday, Federal Chancellor Sebastian Kurz (ÖVP) said at a press conference on Tuesday. The outbreak of the South African variant is currently the largest known case of this type in the EU. If such a mutation spreads quickly and forcefully, it would cost many lives again, Kurz said. “And the path to normalcy will be delayed again for months.”
In recent days, the state had vehemently opposed special treatment in Austria. On Monday, the Vienna federal government issued a travel advisory for the state. However, this only has an attractive character. Now continued sharpening.
Test of strength between federal and state
According to the Tirol Ministry of Health, the South African mutation, which is considered more contagious, has so far been detected in about 300 cases. The number of active cases is 129. So far, the country has assumed lower numbers.
Travel from Tyrol will only be possible with a mandatory crown test that is no longer than 48 hours. The measures apply from Friday and are limited to ten days. “The 7-day incidence in Tyrol is currently below the Austrian value,” Kurz explained. Tirol is also in a better position than other federal states. Exceptions only apply to East Tyrol and children.
This means that Austrians are controlled when they travel within Austria. Until now, only those who wanted to enter the country had been checked. And there are still open questions. For example, how we deal with travelers in transit who only transport goods through Tyrol. Or people who want to travel to Vorarlberg from the rest of Austria. Private vacations are not yet allowed; there is a ban on accommodation.
Fight for power
The procedure in Tyrol has become a test of strength between the federal government and the state in recent days. In the state, an alliance of politicians and businesses had spoken out against additional measures. Rather, the package of measures launched by the state was sufficient, argued the head of state, Günther Platter (ÖVP). These include the call for mass tests, even stronger protection for seniors and nursing homes, and a crown test obligation for skiers who want to use cable cars.
At the beginning of the week, after a six-week closure, all Austrian shops and hairdressers, schools and museums were reopened. The number of new infections each day was recently around 1200. The seven-day incidence in Austria is currently 104.
