Corona in Austria: Mask requirement comes to a standstill - mobile phone analysis shows the consequence of the measures

The restrictions in Austria are being tightened, Sebastian Kurz said. A random test is carried out to determine the exact number of infected people.

• The corona virus * spreads worldwide.
• In Austria there have been strict restrictions to contain the epidemic for two weeks.
• Chancellor Sebastian Kurz will inform about the further plan on Monday.
• Here you will find the basic facts about the corona virus and the previous corona news from Austria. You will also find current case numbers here.

Update, 8:38 p.m .: The corona crisis and the measures taken because of the pandemic are clearly affecting the Austrian economy. Unemployment has now risen to a historic high since 1946, as reported by oe24.at. The unemployed and those taking part in training together are worth 562,522 people without a job. The unemployment rate rose accordingly to 12.2 percent.

The comparison to the previous month shows that the high numbers are directly related to the Corona crisis: According to the report, there were 52.5 more unemployed at the end of March compared to the previous month.

Update, 7:38 p.m .: Austria, Poland and Israel are already accessing mobile data to be able to understand in the corona crisis how the range of motion of citizens changes in times of exit restrictions. The measure is also hotly debated in Germany.

But which lake of knowledge can be gained from it? As the ORF reports, the data that Austrian telecommunications companies submit to the crisis team in anonymized analyzes every day shows a significant decline in mobility. Compared to the data before the lockdown, urban mobility overall fell between 40 and 85 percent.

Corona in Austria: mask duty comes to a standstill - short row back

Update, 1:15 p.m .: Chancellor Sebastian Kurz and the government were supposed to make the mouthguard obligation in Austrian supermarkets effective as of Wednesday (April 1). With the new regulation, no one is allowed to go shopping without hiding mouth and nose behind a protection. Employees also have to wear face masks in supermarkets .

Supermarkets were originally supposed to provide the mouthguard at the entrance, the picture reports. Although the regulation has already been partially implemented, it will only be mandatory from next Monday (April 6). Until April 1, it was not possible to provide enough masks . Therefore, the measure was postponed to April 6, the image continues.

Corona in Austria: random test ordered - unemployment rate breaks sad record

Update, 10.09 a.m .: Unemployment in Austria has already risen sharply due to the corona crisis . According to oe24.at , the numbers in Austria have been at a historic high since 1946.

At the end of March there were 52.5 percent more people without a job compared to the same month in the previous year. Total unemployed and training participants were 562,522 (+ 193,543) people without employment, according to oe24.at.

The national unemployment rate rose by 4.7 percentage points to 12.2 percent. With the current increase, unemployment has risen again for the first time since early 2017.

Corona in Austria: Extraordinary start service - random test ordered

Update, April 1, 9:20 am: Today, Wednesday (April 1), 3,500 extraordinary community service providers will start their service. They will help with the care of older people as well as with ambulance and rescue transport to prevent staff shortages . The Austrian newspaper Der Standard reports.

In order to be able to determine the number of infected more precisely, a random test was arranged for 2000 people. By the end of the week, the aim is to estimate more precisely how many people in Austria are actually infected with the coronavirus *. Appropriate tests are also carried out on medical personnel, according to Der Standard.

Corona in Austria: number of infected people increased to over 10,000 cases

Update at 6:05 p.m .: The number of people who have been proven to be infected with the corona virus in Austria rose to more than 10,000 on Tuesday. According to the Ministry of Health, 10,038 people tested positive for the virus (as of 5:00 p.m.).

With 1,390 cases of infection, Vienna is still the city most affected by the coronavirus.

Corona in Austria: In short, the duty to wear a face mask weakens somewhat - security checks in front of supermarkets

Update at 3:00 p.m .: The announced mask requirement comes in a somewhat weakened form in Austria . The "covering of the nose and mouth" is mandatory, but "a scarf or scarf " may also be used for this, as reported by oe24.at. “Of course it would be best to take one of the masks offered at the supermarket branches. But if customers don't want this, or if there are no longer any protective masks available in a branch, then a scarf that covers the nose and mouth is sufficient, ”says the Chancellor's Office .

Compliance with this measure is also checked. Security should be positioned at the supermarket entrances and ensure compliance with the rules. "The security staff will make sure that everything is going correctly. If there are still conflicts, the police have to intervene, ”the Chancellery is quoted as saying.

Update from March 31 at 10 a.m .: Chancellor Sebastian Kurz tightened the restrictions in Austria again on Monday. The new regulations are designed to slow the spread of the coronavirus. So far, the infection rate is still too high. This is also reflected in the figures from Johns Hopkins University. Accordingly, the number of infected is 9,634 . 108 people have died as a result of the disease.

Corona in Austria: police have to stop sick nurse in Tyrol

Update at 9.40 p.m .: An unusual incident in Tyrol makes one listen: A nurse is said to have continued to work in an old people's home in the Kufstein district, although she had apparently previously tested positive for the corona virus . The ruthless behavior was anonymously reported to the police on the evening of March 29, officials said. During the subsequent inspection, the 31-year-old Austrian was actually found on site.

The lady is said to have initially opposed the police officers and also became abusive. In the end, however, she is said to have gone to a locked room in the old people's home. She was then placed in quarantine at home. The police filed a complaint. Accordingly, there is suspicion of the danger to people from communicable diseases .

Corona virus in Austria: More than 300 Germans brought from crisis regions

Update 4:41 pm: In an unusual return campaign , the German embassy in Vienna enabled more than 300 Germans to travel home from Austrian quarantine areas on Monday.

People, mostly active in the tourism industry on the Arlberg or in the Paznaun valley, have been staying there since March 13 because the communities have been quarantined. As the measures were extended until April 13, the embassy campaigned for the Austrian government to leave the country early. "We are grateful to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Health that together we were able to quickly create the opportunity for a controlled departure that is in line with Austrian and German regulations," said German Ambassador to Austria, Ralf Beste.

After a medical check, the people were led to the Scharnitz / Mittenwald border crossing, half in private cars and half in the buses provided.

11:54 am: Upon request, Kurz speaks again about the exit plan from the emergency measures . Kurz is working on a team to advise on how to end the emergency operation, but: "You can only do that if the numbers show that". The faster you manage to push the replication factor towards zero, the faster you can reduce the measures. If you are ready, you will open the shops first. Schools and universities would surely follow later, the Austrian chancellor said.

Video: The latest figures for Corona in Austria

He also announced spot checks on people who work in healthcare, for example. This is how they want to prevent these people from becoming "super spreaders", "super spreaders", Kurz said.

11.37 a.m .: After Chancellor Sebastian Kurz , Minister of Health Rudolf Anschober steps up to the microphone. He explains how risk groups (older people and people with previous illnesses) can be better protected. In addition to wearing the masks and other measures related to home office, the tourist use of hotels is now being discontinued .

Coronavirus in Austria: Briefly about mask requirement - "It's a marathon"

11:25 am: “I am aware that many want to hear the end of the restrictions. But the truth is: it is a marathon and it is not our job to say what you want to hear, ”Sebastian Kurz begins the press conference. In the past few days, the government has consulted experts about the measures: “The reality is very simple: the measures are the right ones and they also work. But we have to significantly reduce the spread, ”said Kurz. The replication factor must ultimately drop below one in order to get the virus under control. No health system in the world can "cope" with a spread that is too rapid, says Kurz.

I promised to deal with the situation transparently & emphasize: the situation is & remains serious. The numbers speak a clear language. It will take time for the measures to take effect. Please stick to the guidelines & do not believe attempts to appease!

Corona in Austria: Briefly announces new "tightened measure"

“It looks so calm and tranquil in Austria. Many cannot imagine what will happen to us in a few weeks. It is the calm before the storm, ” continues the Austrian chancellor. A look at Italy shows what is yet to come to Austria.

Therefore, one has to comply with the previous measures. In addition to the previous measures, there are several new steps in Austria:

• Increased protection for particularly vulnerable groups
• Ensure consistent compliance with the measures
• " We will rely on wearing masks, " said Kurz

He was aware that masks for "our culture are something alien". "It is not part of our culture and it will be a major change," but it is important to further reduce the spread. "It would be a mistake for such masks to protect you," Kurz continues, but you can protect other people because airborne transmission is no longer so easy. "It is an additional tightening measure," summarizes the Chancellor. The government has advised with the large supermarket chains. These will take over the distribution as soon as there are enough masks. The mask requirement will then probably apply from Wednesday. However, it is not certain whether there will be enough masks by then. As soon as the masks are available, wearing them in the markets is mandatory.

Austria hammer: Briefly about further measures

11 clock:

Sebastian Kurz, Vice Chancellor Werner Kogler, Minister of Health Rudolf Anschober and Minister of the Interior Karl Nehammer from Austria are now going to the press and provide information on how to deal with the Corona crisis. According to data from

oe24

the number of infections is no longer increasing as much. There are, however, more severe courses of the disease in Austria. Currently, 9125 people in Austria are infected - 108 people died as a result of the corona virus.

The demand for respiratory masks is currently increasing enormously worldwide. US buyers are increasingly trying to outbid European masks.

Corona virus in Austria: Measures tightened and for a long time

Update of March 30, 10:40 a.m . : Austrian Chancellor Sebastian Kurz and other government representatives will provide information on how to proceed in the corona crisis from eleven o'clock. But the first details have already been leaked in advance. oe24 reports that there will be no easing of the measures even after Easter Monday . The restrictions in public life would apply for at least another month. The measures could even be tightened, according to an insider.

Thanks to all Austrians for supporting the measures and making a contribution so that we can save lives. The more we stick to the measures now, the sooner we will have overcome this difficult situation. # COVID19

Corona crisis: timetable for exit from measures revealed

In Austria, a mask requirement will apply in supermarkets in the future. You can only go shopping with breathing protection. These are to be distributed in front of the shops. Accordingly, some stores may reopen in late April or early May. The portal gives examples of hardware stores. Service providers such as hairdressers are not to follow until mid-May. However, a minimum distance should be maintained here. At the same time, offices should also be allowed to open again. The other measures:

• The catering trade may reopen the report after the end of May. However, provisionally for the day.
• Large events should only be allowed again in the middle of summer.
• Schools and universities only open again in autumn
• Travel operations will only slowly reopen from July onwards with restrictions. Borders and airports should remain closed until the end of June.

The general exit restrictions * in Austria should remain in place until early May. Then they should be loosened piece by piece according to a step plan. For risk groups and the elderly, this means that the restrictions are likely to apply until autumn.

Prime Minister Markus informs in Bavaria

Söder on Monday also on how to deal with the corona crisis. * Currently, the demand for respirators is increasing enormously worldwide. US buyers are increasingly trying to outbid European masks.

Coronavirus in Austria: Brief information on how to proceed

First report from March 30th:

Vienna - Public life in Austria has been largely at a standstill for two weeks. In the course of the Corona crisis, extensive measures to contain the virus were taken. This affects not only social life, but also the economy.

Austria takes stock on Monday: Have the measures been successful? How long will the lockdown continue in the Alpine Republic?

Corona virus in Austria: Brief information on the current state of affairs

The government advised Chancellor Sebastian Kurz throughout the weekend with leading virologists * and experts. Chancellor Sebastian Kurz , Vice Chancellor Werner Kogler , Minister of Health Rudolf Anschober and Minister of the Interior Karl Nehammer will speak to the press on Monday at eleven and present the results of the deliberations.

The crisis team negotiated the current figures and the development of the corona crisis in Austria at the weekend. The decisive factor when advising on a possible end to the measures is how much the virus continues to spread. The biggest fear of opening the current restrictions is in conditions like in Italy, where doctors had to decide who is treated. *

Just finished videoconference of the #EuropeanCouncil today. It is crucial that we show determination by adopting strict measures and cooperate closely within the #EU to contain the spread of # COVID-19.

On Saturday there was a first glimmer of hope : For the first time, the increase in new infections remained below the ten percent mark and was 8.06 percent, as reported by oe24 . There was good news again on Sunday: There was an increase of 6.3 percent compared to the previous day.

Corona in Austria: Are the restrictions still in place?

However, this does not mean that government measures will be withdrawn. At least that is unlikely. According to Rudolf Anschober, the rate should stabilize at around five percent before the measures are reduced.

According to oe24, there were three talks about opening the restrictions at least partially - depending on how the crisis developed. April 14th, April 20th and April 27th.

According to the Johns Hopkins University, 8,788 people in Austria are currently infected with the novel corona virus. 86 died from the consequences of the disease. 479 people have recovered.

Meanwhile, the United States is increasingly becoming the new epicenter of the pandemic. * In Europe, Italy * and Spain are worst affected. *

rjs

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

List of rubric lists: © picture alliance / dpa / Roland Schlager