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In view of the increasing number of infections, Austria is tightening its crown measures. Starting next Tuesday, the country is expected to go from a partial blockade to a total blockade. The restrictions should initially apply until December 6. Chancellor Sebastian Kurz (ÖVP) has now commented on the new restrictions. “Even if no one wants a second lockdown, the second lockdown is the only means by which we know reliably that it will work,” he said.
“I know these measures are very radical,” Kurz said. However, they are necessary to avoid overloading the healthcare system. Currently, authorities cannot track 77 percent of new infections.
“My urgent request for the next few weeks is: Don’t know anyone! Any social contact is too much ”, the Chancellor appealed to the population. The next few weeks will be “very difficult for us,” he said. “The more consistently we adhere to this blockade, the more effective it will be.”
The current night curfews will be extended to all day starting next Tuesday with a few exceptions. All stores that are not essential for daily needs must be closed. Supermarkets, for example, are excluded from this. Leaving a private living space is only allowed for overriding reasons such as basic needs, work, helping family members, for example, and for outdoor recreation.
Schools that are still open for younger age groups should also close and switch to distance education, and most kindergartens will have to close. In addition, contact bans should apply. The goal is to be able to reopen schools and trade on December 7. The exit rules must be approved again every ten days by the main committee of Parliament.
The number of infections is increasing out of control
Much of public life in Austria is already stagnant. The so-called partial lockdown has been in effect since November 3. The gastronomy, tourism, culture and leisure facilities are mostly closed. Additionally, 8 pm-6am departure restrictions have so far been in place, allowing people to only leave their “own private living space” for basic needs and for outdoor recreation.
The number of infections had risen almost uncontrollably since the introduction of the previous rules. The average number of new infections in the last seven days was 554.2 cases per 100,000 inhabitants in Austria on Friday, but regionally up to 850.
On Friday, 3,922 Covid 19 patients were in hospital, 567 of them in intensive care beds, an increasingly critical value for the Austrian healthcare system. Intensive care units are already reaching their limits in the countries of Vorarlberg and Upper Austria, which are currently the most affected.
