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After a further spike in new infections to a record level and a warning from the Crown Commission, the Austrian government is planning a much more drastic approach than before. He wants to significantly tighten the previous crown rules and is apparently planning a complete lockdown. Stores and schools would then close for three weeks and 24-hour exit restrictions would be imposed.
According to various media reports on the draft government decree, exit restrictions that were previously in place at night will be extended to the entire day with a few exceptions. According to the draft, all stores that are not essential for daily needs would be closed. Schools that are still open for younger age groups should also close and switch to distance education, most of them will probably also close kindergartens. A stricter ban on contact will now be added so that only the closest circles can meet.
From Tuesday to December 6, according to the draft, the previous partial lock should change to a full lock. The so-called partial blockade has been in force in Austria since November 3. The gastronomy, tourism, culture and leisure facilities are mostly closed. Commerce, service providers and schools, with the exception of high school, remained open, “for the time being,” as Kurz had emphasized at the time. 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 continues to rise uncontrollably
The federal government around Chancellor Sebastian Kurz (ÖVP) and Vice Chancellor Werner Kogler (Greens) wants to announce the new approach this Saturday afternoon. It is following the strict lockdown of spring, when for the first time in Austria there was a total stalemate in public life, including exit rules due to the pandemic.
The number of infections had risen almost uncontrollably since the introduction of the previous rules. The government’s Crown Commission recommends additional measures to prevent the collapse of the healthcare system.
The average number of new infections in the last seven days was 554.2 cases per 100,000 inhabitants across Austria on Friday, but regionally as high as 850. On Friday, 3,922 Covid-19 patients were hospitalized, 567 of them in nursing beds. intensive care, an increasingly critical situation 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. Vorarlberg hospitals said on Friday that they would focus only on emergency medicine and the care of Covid 19 patients, a selection of patients could not be ruled out in the coming days. Of the 63 intensive care beds, 46 are occupied, 35 of them with Covid 19 patients. Even clinics in other parts of Austria are not now postponing necessary or urgent operations.
The now planned exit rules and the exceptions to them will be more strictly defined in accordance with the reports on the new regulations. After that, only contacts between household members, life partners, close relatives, and important caregivers are allowed. You can only leave your own home to meet basic needs, such as shopping, visiting the doctor or practicing religion. You should also be able to leave your own apartment in a professional manner, as well as for sports or walks, important appointments with the authorities or the courts.
