Corona virus in Austria: Kurz largely stops air traffic and appeals to all residents

Austria is also not spared from the corona virus. Areas are completely quarantined. The government around Sebastian Kurz has announced further drastic measures and fines.

• Austria is expanding its measures in the fight against the novel coronavirus Sars-CoV-2 *.
• The first person died in Austria as a result of a coronavirus infection .
• The government has announced its response to the Sars-CoV-2 epidemic .

Update from March 15, 2020, 10:29 p.m .:

Austria will also largely stop air traffic. This was announced by Chancellor Sebastian Kurz on Sunday evening in the "ZiB2" program of Austrian television. He appealed to all Austrians abroad to make their way home or to contact the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to be brought home. Once that was shot down, all flights to corona-hazardous areas would be stopped, Kurz said.

Austria is implementing much harder measures than other European countries, Kurz said. The hope is that the contagion curve will flatten out in the coming week.

Update from March 15, 2020, 8:46 pm: In Austria, people wanted to react to the crisis just as much as in Italy. There, people in Siena and Milan sang from the balcony, as tz.de reports. But in the neighboring country of Germany that was not so well received by the neighbors.

Corona virus in Austria: There is a risk of severe fines

Update of March 15, 2020, 3:30 p.m .: As of Monday, Austria is serious: Nine million residents are no longer allowed to leave their homes. Walks should remain allowed. However, only alone or with the people you live with in the apartment together, said Chancellor Sebastian Kurz on Sunday. Sports fields, playgrounds and "other public places of encounter" are closed, also restaurants (see below)

The police are already checking on the streets. From Monday, fines can be up to € 2,000, for example if groups do not break up. The Austrian Krone Zeitung reports that there is a fine of up to 3600 euros if you do not oppose the ban on entering playgrounds, for example.

Germany closes borders with Austria

Update from March 15, 3:09 p.m .: According to information from Munich's Merkur * and photo , Chancellor Angela Merkel, Bavaria's Prime Minister Markus Söder, Federal Interior Minister Seehofer, Baden-Württemberg's Prime Minister Winfried Kretschmann and Saarland's Prime Minister Tobias Hans have agreed to close the borders for the time being . From Monday (March 16) at eight o'clock, the borders with France, Austria and Switzerland are to be closed. Border neighbor Bavaria also decided on further drastic measures in the Free State on Sunday, reports Merkur.de *.

Corona virus in Austria: exit restrictions imposed - meetings of more than five people prohibited

Update from March 15, 12.45 p.m .: The measures ordered by Sebastian Kurz expand more drastically than initially assumed. Accordingly, it should be prohibited across the country to meet more than five people at a time. In addition, everyone who has completed community service in the past five years should be mobilized.

Corona virus in Austria: Sebastian Kurz with drastic measures

Update of March 15, 11:54 am: According to the APA news agency, the government in Austria has ordered "exit restrictions " for the whole country. At first this word was explicitly avoided - now it seemed to the Austrians to be appropriate. Chancellor Sebastian Kurz was quoted by the agency on Sunday as saying that there are only three reasons for leaving the house for the first time: work that cannot be postponed, urgent errands such as buying groceries and the need to help other people.

As Sebastian Kurz told the APA news agency, police checks are scheduled to begin on Sunday. They would send larger groups home, which could be found in public places for no reason. Ovb-online * also reports on the measures.

Corona virus in Austria: short with drastic consequences

Update from March 15, 10:32 p.m .: All restaurants, shops and bars in Austria are to be closed from Monday, now the Austrian government is taking action again. As Sebastian Kurz explains on Sunday, meetings are now completely prohibited . Austria thus temporarily abolishes freedom of assembly. The freedom of movement of citizens should also be restricted until further notice.

This means that sports fields , playgrounds and other places of public encounter are completely closed .

There are only three reasons to leave the house: to get to work, to do the necessary shopping and to help others. Kurz did not speak of a curfew. The measures will be based on a special law that Parliament wanted to pass on Sunday.

The corona virus has a firm grip on Germany, and the number of infected people is increasing rapidly. Now people in a club became infected.

Corona crisis in Austria: the number of infected people in the Tyrol risk area is increasing rapidly - Kurz is taking action

Update from March 14, 8:54 p.m .: The popular winter sports resort of Heiligenblut am Großglockner in Carinthia has also been in quarantine since Saturday morning. Foreign guests were allowed to leave. Local and Austrian guests were asked to stay in their quarters and houses and to stay calm.

Chancellor Sebastian Kurz has asked all Austrians who have been in the now isolated areas in Tyrol and Carinthia since February 28 to quarantine themselves. There was probably a hotspot, especially in the ski resort of Ischgl (Tyrol) . As reported by kronen.at , an anesthetist at the Salzburg University Hospital tested positive for Covid-19. According to the tabloid, the doctor was said to have been on a skiing holiday in Ischgl.

Corona virus in Austria: ski resorts in Tyrol under quarantine

Update of March 14, 11:19 p.m .: According to the authorities, a further 34 people in Tyrol have tested positive for the Sars-CoV-2 virus since Friday evening, including 21 with connections to the Paznaun Valley with the tourist towns of Ischgl and Galtür and St. Anton .

Update from March 14, 9.29 a.m .: The situation of coronavirus infections in Austria is getting worse . Tyrol has now been declared a risk area by the German Robert Koch Institute. The Austrian federal state was on the RKI website on international risk areas such as Iran, the province of Hubei in China, or South Tyrol in Italy. Federal Health Minister Jens Spahn (CDU) advises against trips to Italy, Austria or Switzerland for about 14 days. If you have been in Italy, Switzerland or Austria within the last 14 days: Avoid unnecessary contacts and stay at home for 2 weeks - regardless of whether you have symptoms or not, "Spahn wrote on Friday evening on Twitter.

If you have been in #Italy, #Switzerland or #Austria within the last 14 days: Avoid unnecessary contacts and stay at home for 2 weeks - regardless of whether you have symptoms or not. pic.twitter.com/dUGSR2EhGR

Update from March 13, 5:15 p.m .: The rapid spread of the novel corona virus * brings an unusual security measure to Vienna. Due to the high increase in infections, an exhibition hall in the capital has been converted into a huge care center. Around 880 beds in separate bunks will probably be available there from next Tuesday, as a spokesman for the Vienna Medical Crisis Unit confirmed on Friday.

The provisional hospital room is intended for people who have mild symptoms, do not need to go to the hospital, but are difficult to take care of themselves at home. In the center there should be " food and basic medical care ", said the spokesman Andreas Huber. Mayor Michael Ludwig called the center a mere precaution . You want to show that you are well prepared as a city. In Vienna around 75 people tested positive for the virus by Friday.

Corona virus in Austria: Retail is reduced to a minimum - air traffic restricted

Update, 2.45 p.m .: Now more precise details on the measures planned in Austria are known. Retailers are expected to pause from Monday (March 16), except in grocery stores, pharmacies, petrol stations and kiosks. Restaurants, cafés and bars may then only remain open until 3 p.m.

Air traffic was also restricted. Flight connections to France, Spain and Switzerland have been suspended. The government also ordered two towns in the state of Tyrol to be sealed off due to the worldwide epidemic.

Coronavirus in Austria: First death reported - Two areas completely quarantined

Update of March 13, 2:20 p.m .: Austria's Chancellor Sebastian Kurz has now announced drastic steps to prevent the spread of the corona virus . Many stores in the country are slated to close temporarily next week. Grocery stores and pharmacies should, however, be allowed to remain open.

Austria also places two quarantined areas : the Paznaun Valley and the municipality of St. Anton am Arlberg.

Corona virus in Austria: First death - ski areas in Tyrol close prematurely

Update at 10.48 p.m .: Due to the worldwide spread of the new corona virus , Austria has announced the closure of all ski areas in the state of Tyrol . The ski resorts remained closed from Sunday evening, the federal authorities announced on Thursday. The decision was not an easy one. The authorities had "responsibility for all Tyroleans and everyone in Tyrol".

Update at 2:04 pm: Even before the first corona death was reported in Austria on Thursday morning, Austrian Chancellor Sebastian Kurz tightened the measures in the fight against the virus. As of next week, all schools across the country will remain closed , reports n-tv.de . Many theaters and museums are also already closed. There is also a debate in Germany about whether corona vacations would make sense nationwide.

Coronavirus in Austria: First death - hospital visits to Vienna prohibited

Update at 11.17 a.m .: The first coronavirus death occurred in Austria on Thursday night. As the German press agency reports, citing the medical crisis team in Vienna, it is a 69-year-old returnee to Italy with previous illnesses. He died in the night at the Kaiser Franz Josef Hospital in the Austrian capital Vienna.

As of Thursday, 8 a.m., a total of 302 confirmed coronavirus infections were registered in Austria . The medical crisis team also announced on Thursday that visits to Viennese hospitals will be prohibited until further notice. "In order to enforce this measure, entrance controls are carried out in all houses," it said in the message. The Austrian Ministry of the Interior also confirmed to the APA news agency that all 25,000 police officers in the country are not allowed to go on vacation until the end of April.

Read also: Coronavirus - Why Germany could threaten "Italian conditions" in a short time

Chancellor Sebastian Kurz once again made it clear that there will be further steps, especially in the school system. "There will also have to be measures at school," said the head of government. The streets and squares as well as the public transport in Vienna were significantly empty than usual.

In the meantime, the fourth coronavirus death was reported in Germany on Thursday morning. It is a 67-year-old man with previous illnesses. He is also the first corona dead in Baden-Württemberg.

Video: corona virus - what does quarantine mean for those affected?

Update from March 12, 2020, 9:28 am: The corona virus is causing a stir worldwide, but it can also highlight the good in people. For example, the hashtag #Nachbarschaftschallenge goes around in Austria .

The action is designed to encourage society to help people who are particularly vulnerable to Covid-19 . This mainly includes older people and those with severe previous illnesses.

Coronavirus: Wienerin shows solidarity towards her fellow human beings

A particularly beautiful example was provided by Instagram user “@frederikaaa”, who wrote an open letter to her neighbors and offered her help. "If you are over 65 or have an immune disease or a weakened immune system, we (Fredi and Andi - door 12) would like to support you to stay healthy. We are not part of the risk group and can therefore help if necessary, ”says the Viennese.

Check out this post on Instagram

Very nice that it is so steep. We make it! Here is the Facebook text: Yesterday everything was sad in me because many of my friends are cultural workers and they are now really hard hit. But science is science and even if there are livelihoods involved, the first step is to contain a pandemic. We talked yesterday and since we have two older and single neighbors, we thought it would be nice. We have no children and at least at the weekend and in the evening there is a lot of time. If it is possible for you - like us - to help others, I think every house is happy about a Zettl. Let's call it #neighbourhoodchallenge <3

A post shared by: schla_wienerin (@frederikaaa) on Mar 11, 2020 at 5:56 p.m. PDT

If there are things to do (“Shopping and other public activities”), the two residents would be happy to help. One should only report. "Vienna is also going through a pandemic together."

Coronavirus: Instagram post from Wienerin quickly goes viral

After just 19 hours, the post collected over 1,600 likes on Instagram and inspired some other users: "Respect #multi-humanity" and "Super cool idea. Will be copied immediately ”are just two of many comments below the post.

The author of the article is happy about the positive reception of her post and wrote in the description: “Very nice that it is so steep. We make it". There's nothing to add to that.

Coronavirus in Austria: Vacationers have to walk across the border

Update of March 11, 2020, 5.15 p.m .: Travelers from Italy are feeling the measures from Austria on the border with Italy. At the Brenner, tourists had to cross the border crossing on foot. On the way back to Germany and other countries, the tourists had to confirm in writing that they were not planning to stop in Austria. The personal data of the transit travelers were recorded and the ID cards were also photographed. There were longer waiting times.

People had to walk with their luggage from the Brenner train station on the Italian side to the border crossing *, reports derstandard.at . Many therefore only wanted to continue to Germany. A coach is to take the stranded vacationers directly to Munich train station.

On its website, Deutsche Bahn points out impairments in long-distance transport to and from Italy: The EC trains Munich - Kufstein - Innsbruck - Verona therefore end or begin in Innsbruck Hbf (Austria). The ÖBB Nightjet connections Munich - Rosenheim - Salzburg - Villach - Venice / Milan / Rome end or start in Villach Hbf (Austria), it is said there.

Corona virus in Austria: start border controls

Update of March 11, 2020, 3:24 pm : The controls at the border between Austria and Italy started at 12 noon. In Carinthia, people arriving from Italy need a medical certificate *. Austrians are then allowed to enter quarantine for 14 days. In Tyrol, seamless border controls are replacing health checks, reports ORF.at. For this purpose, border management was started up specifically on the Brenner. Tourists are allowed to cross the country on their journey, but they cannot make a stop. Train traffic and air traffic to and from Italy have been completely discontinued. School closures are also being prepared, Chancellor Sebastian Kurz said on Wednesday.

Austria stops train traffic from Italy

Update of March 11, 2020, 10.30 a.m .: Austria is now taking more drastic measures against the corona virus. In view of the still controversial situation in Italy, Austria stops passenger trains to and from Italy across the Austrian border. This reports n-tv.de. "We follow the instructions of the authorities," said a spokesman for the Austrian Federal Railways. Freight transport is not affected by this. As the last train for the time being, a Eurocity from Italy crossed the border in the direction of Innsbruck and Munich in the morning.

Coronavirus in Austria - controls on the border with Italy should start on Wednesday

The controls on car traffic on the border with Italy announced in the fight against the corona virus should begin on Wednesday. In the morning, the "elaborate preparations were underway, " said police spokesman Stefan Eder of the German Press Agency. “Structural measures” are required for the controls, including the need to remove guardrails. In addition, it should be clarified where the vehicles are headed to and how exactly expected traffic jams are handled. He did not give an exact start time for the controls.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), almost 10,150 people in Italy have been shown to be infected with the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus. In Austria, this number currently amounts to 206 cases (as of March 11, 2020, 10 a.m.).

Coronavirus: Austria uses emergency plan - no more entries from Italy

First report from March 10, 2020

Vienna - Austria wants to largely stop entry from Italy in the fight against the new corona virus. Exceptions are only possible with a medical certificate , Chancellor Sebastian Kurz announced on Tuesday in Vienna. The primary goal is to prevent the exchange and thus "introduce the disease into our society" , Kurz said with regard to the situation in Italy. As ORF.at reports, the homecoming should be organized by Austrians - however, they have to be isolated for two weeks, Kurz said. A travel warning has been in force for all of Italy since early Tuesday. All direct flights from Austria to Milan and Bologna have been suspended since Monday.

The transit of tourists from Germany, for example, should remain possible, provided that they did not stop in Austria. Among other things, the fuel gauge can be checked before entering the country. Germany is also trying to prevent or at least slow down the spread of the coronavirus *.

Corona virus: control on the burner.

© dpa / Matthias Balk

Coronavirus in Austria - Events with 100 or more participants affected

In order to curb the spread of the corona virus, events in Austria have to be canceled: outdoor events with over 500 participants and indoor events such as concerts and theater with over 100 participants are affected. Football games should take place without an audience.

Coronavirus: Universities in Austria closed

Courses at the University of Innsbruck will initially be suspended. The state of Tyrol has been tight since Tuesday, the state of Tyrol announced in a press release. It was switched to distance learning, it said. In Vienna, too, teaching and teaching, including university operations in hospitals, should be massively reduced, reports OFR.at.

According to Kurz, schools and kindergartens will remain open for the time being. However, further measures are not excluded.

In Austria, 157 coronavirus cases have been officially confirmed (as of March 10, 8 a.m.); 5062 tests for SARS-CoV-2 have been carried out so far.

• Lower Austria (39)
• Vienna (43)
• Styria (17)
• Tyrol (27)
• Upper Austria (13)
• Salzburg (10)
• Burgenland (4)
• Vorarlberg (3)
• Carinthia (1).

"We still have this small number of cases, but it's about reducing the spread or the pace of spread," said Kurz. For a few weeks it was now necessary to reduce social life.

We now need cohesion, but also distance in everyday life. Everyone can do their part. In this way we take care of those who are particularly in need of protection. # COVID2019 #coronavirus pic.twitter.com/2sbRj9QOEj

The first suspected coronavirus cases in Austria occurred in Innsbruck. Austria had previously responded to two Germans with drastic measures after suspected coronavirus. Trains from Italy on the way to Munich were stopped at the Brenner. Train traffic was paralyzed for hours, as Merkur.de * reports.

But not only those responsible in Austria react with far-reaching measures. US President Donald Trump has also already issued travel bans and has now announced measures to dampen the economic consequences. But Wall Street stockbrokers distrust him. Similar to Turkey - the first infected person has now been confirmed there. However, critics do not want to believe the government's figures.

With the spread of the corona virus, more and more people are trying to protect themselves from viruses, but they mostly overlook the largest virus trap. A clairvoyant is said to have hinted at the Corona crisis in the past century.

Read more about the coronavirus development in Freistatt in the ticker on Merkur.de *.

Meanwhile, Germany's Chancellor Angela Merkel made an appeal to the population - this is clear.

ml / dpa

* Merkur.de is part of the nationwide Ippen-Digital editors network.

List of rubric lists: © picture alliance / dpa / Herbert P. Oczeret