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Sunday, December 27, 2020
Hurry despite blocking
Austrians run to the slopes
The third lockdown of the year has been in effect in Austria since Saturday. However, many ski areas are so overcrowded that access roads are closed. Meanwhile, the vaccination campaign is also starting in Austria.
In the sunlight, there were sometimes so many traffic jams in the Austrian ski areas at the weekend that some blocked access. The Bodental in Carinthia, which offers winter hiking and cross-country skiing, remained closed this Sunday after Saturday’s rush, as did the toboggan meadows in Semmering about 100 kilometers southwest of Vienna.
The Hinterstoder, Wurzeralm and Kasberg ski areas in Upper Austria were full by noon, cars were turned away at the entrance to the valley. On Saturday, a large crowd had to break up in Damüls, Vorarlberg, about 70 kilometers south of Lindau, on Lake Constance.
Despite the lockdown that has been in place since Saturday, many ski areas are open in Austria, but practically only for residents. There is a 10-day quarantine requirement for those arriving from abroad, which discourages most tourists. Additionally, all skiers over the age of 14 must wear FFP2 masks on the gondolas, chair lifts, and in the queues in front of them. Some mountain railways only carry half of the passengers in order to comply with the distance rules. Tickets must be booked online.
The crowd in Damüls arose from the lack of snow in neighboring areas, explained Andreas Gapp, head of the Vorarlberg cable cars. “We have learned from this and will adapt our concepts as soon as possible.” Otherwise, he got a positive balance from Christmas days. “People wear the FFP2 mask, keep their distance and accept the rules of food and drink,” he said.
In Bodental and Semmering, authorities were alerted by “masses of vehicles parked on the side of the road.” Access for fire trucks or ambulances was said to be partially obstructed. In Semmering, attempts were still unsuccessful on Christmas Day to limit the number of barrier slides. Both communities have closed the driveways completely.
A car park in Grünau im Almtal. Many hikers left here for the Kasberg.
(Photo: dpa)
The Salzburg mountains are well attended, but the situation is relaxed, said the spokesman for the Salzburg cable cars, Erich Egger. They are mainly hikers. There were around 3,000 guests at the Schmittehöhe this Sunday, compared to up to 16,000 guests a day in previous years.
Police break up illegal party in Vienna
Meanwhile, the large-scale vaccination campaign against the corona virus started in Austria. “It is a historic day on December 27, 2020,” said Federal Chancellor Sebastian Kurz. It is “the beginning of the victory against the pandemic.” Health Minister Rudolf Anschober said a good four million doses of vaccines should be available by summer in the country of nearly nine million people.
The third crown lock went into effect in Austria on Saturday. On the first night, the Vienna police broke up an unauthorized party with between 40 and 50 guests. The 13 to 22-year-olds had specially rented a house, police said. Nearly two dozen of them were reported, the rest had fled. Among the guests was a 19-year-old German who is now on trial for drug possession. The party was spoiled because one of the guests had injured his head. Friends took him outside and alerted rescuers a few blocks away, but police officers who joined him saw the party.
Apart from grocery stores, pharmacies and drugstores, stores in Austria must be closed for the next three weeks. Further exceptions apply to bike banks and workshops. Houses and apartments can only be left for the whole day for good reason, but this also includes sports or walks. Allowed contacts with other households are severely restricted. When shops and cultural institutions reopen on January 18, visitors must first show a negative corona test in order to visit.
