With the fourth lockdown, Austria is trying to get the corona pandemic under control. What are the Austrian government’s plans for its announced end?
Vienna – In the Corona crisis, the German-speaking neighboring countries are closely monitoring each other. The Austrian media did not miss the mark of 100,000 corona deaths in Germany. German politicians, on the other hand, are hesitant to consider a general compulsory vaccination * against the virus. Austria wants to be the first EU country to introduce this from February 1st.
Other European countries such as Italy *, France * and Greece * have already made vaccination compulsory, but only for certain professional groups. There, the incidence of the corona pandemic * is currently not as high as in Austria (current value: around 1100). Here the vaccination should apply to the general population. With exceptions, probably for people for whom this is not possible for medical reasons. The government wants to consult with experts about the minimum age.
Corona lockdown in Austria: Allegedly a step-by-step plan for easing
The number of patients in Austrian intensive care units has roughly doubled since the beginning of the month. Exit restrictions have therefore been in effect in Austria since November 22nd. Many shops and leisure facilities are closed. The rules are due to expire on December 12th.
The street protests against the new measures are violent *. According to a report, Austria’s Chancellor Alexander Schallenberg (ÖVP) and his Health Minister Wolfgang Mückstein (Greens) already have a step-by-step plan for the upcoming easing. The Austrian portal oe24.at wants to find out. The editorial team does not refer to any resolution papers or similar that are available to them.
Corona easing in Austria: shops and schools probably first
According to the report, schools should be the first to switch back to “normal operation”. The prerequisite, however, is that they switch to e-learning. The government has left it up to parents whether or not to send their children to school. According to initial figures from the Ministry of Education, 70 percent of the children and adolescents were sitting in the classroom with an FFP2 mask at the start of the lockdown. According to the ministry, no online lessons are planned for those who stayed at home, but weekly task packages.
Even shops – keyword Christmas business – should therefore open again from December 13th. However, only for those vaccinated against Corona. That would be “level one”.
The tourism industry is worried about the winter season. Their lobby and the ÖVP want to open hotels, ski huts or Christmas markets at the latest after Christmas and “actually before that”, they say. It is conceivable that hostels only accept people who have been vaccinated three times, i.e. people who have already received a booster *.
Wait until vaccination is compulsory? Night life in Austria in lockdown
After this level two, level three would apply much later, according to oe24.at : The night gastronomy and major events are supposed to remain closed until the mandatory vaccination from February 1, 2022. Afterwards, only vaccinated people should initially have access. Theaters and operas could open earlier if “2G Plus” applies there, ie admission only for vaccinated and convalescent people who also have a current negative PCR test.
In its report, the portal points out that the easing can vary from region to region. In general, all easing throughout Austria depended on the corona situation in December in the hospitals there. (frs) * Merkur.de is an offer from IPPEN.MEDIA.
