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Nearly 400 confirmed and suspected cases of South African mutations (PAR) have been identified in the region, says virologist Andreas Bergthaler of the Vienna Medical University. Thus, Tyrol is becoming the new epicenter in Europe for the new strain of COVID-19 against which the vaccine may become ineffective.
Last year, the Ischgl ski resort in the Tyrol region was one of the first major outbreaks of the fast-spreading coronavirus in Europe, affecting thousands of people in various countries, from Germany to Iceland to Norway.
“Every effort should be made to prevent the spread of these mutations to other regions,” Austrian Chancellor Sebastian Kurz said in a statement. “The federal government urges not to travel to Tyrol.”
The warning was circulated at a time when, after a month of quarantine, Austrians were able to enjoy the reopening of stores across the country, schools opened in the eastern part of the country on Monday, and educational establishments in the western part opened. next week. .
Virologists in the Tyrol region have been urging authorities since last week to consider introducing quarantine in the region.
To control the virus, local officials on Monday announced a nine-point plan that says one of the measures is to inform the public about the dangers of new mutations. The ski slopes may remain open for use, but skiers will need to test before using the chair lifts and gondolas.
© Imago / Scanpix
So far, no one has been able to explain how the virus strain has reached the area known as the winter sports center, specifically the Ciler Valley, popular with tourists.
Ski lifts in Austria have been in operation since December 24, but hotels remain closed and only accommodate business travelers, and restaurants can only offer takeout.
When the national government was consulted on how to stop the spread of the variety, the Tyrolean municipality rejected the idea of introducing quarantine throughout the area. Both municipal and government leaders are representatives of the Conservative People’s Party.
Austria announced Tuesday that people wishing to leave the Tyrol region will have to test negative for COVID-19 starting Friday amid concerns about an outbreak of a PAR coronavirus strain.
“The coronavirus outbreak in PAR detected in PAR is the largest of its kind in the EU,” Austrian Chancellor Sebastian Kurz said at a press conference.
A total of 293 cases of a highly contagious new coronavirus strain have been confirmed in the region, and another 100 cases are suspected, he said.
Most of these cases were recorded in Schwac County, where a massive testing program is currently underway.
Requirement to leave Tyrol no earlier than 48 hours in advance. The response to the COVID-19 test will be valid for 10 days, Kurz said.
“We must do everything we can to stop or at least slow the spread of the new strain of coronavirus,” he said.
Interior Minister Karl Nehammer said failure to comply with the order could result in a fine of up to 1,450 euros.
Kurz argued that the latest strain of coronavirus poses huge challenges for the government because vaccines currently vaccinated in humans are less effective against this strain of coronavirus.
Politicians in the Bavarian state north of Tyrol criticized the southern neighbor over the weekend, according to The Guardian. According to them, acting like there, the South African strain will have a hard time controlling the named coronavirus strain.
Mark Blume, general secretary of the Christian Social Union (CSU), which heads Bavaria, has proposed closing the borders with Tyrol and the Czech Republic if there are only indications that the spread of the mutated virus in those countries threatens Germany and weakens its efforts to cope with the pandemic.
“Urgent action is needed now,” Blume said. “When the mutated virus starts to spread here, it is too late.”
Bavarian Interior Minister Joachim Herrmann told Münchner Merkur newspaper that he was in favor of much stricter border controls with Austria. The border with the Czech Republic, he said, must also be closely monitored.
The quarantine rules introduced in Bavaria are among the strictest in Germany. Things like shopping or skiing in neighboring countries are off-limits to locals.
Austria has relaxed the conditions of the third quarantine and allowed doors to open in schools, shops, hair salons and museums from Monday, despite concerns about the level of infections and the spread of new strains of coronavirus, reports AP.
Institutions can open under strict security requirements. People who want to visit the salon will need to show a negative test performed no earlier than 48 hours, and stores will need to wear respirators.
Restaurants and hotels remain closed. Authorities say they will not open yet this month.
In Austria, the quarantine is effective from December 26. Although the government has said that Austria needs to get as close as possible to 50 new cases per 100,000 in seven days. population, this figure is much higher in the country and currently stands at 108.
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