Like many other countries, Austria is in lockdown.
New measures are being prescribed, but the focus is already on the time afterwards.
The government in
Austria
is currently expecting another
wave of corona
*
infections.
The highly contagious mutations from Great Britain and South Africa are of particular concern
(update from January 16, 7:13 p.m.)
.
At the
crisis summit
, new
lockdown
*
tightenings are
announced - in the Alpine republic there will also be an FFP2 mask requirement in future
(update from January 17, 12:45 p.m.)
.
At the same time, plans are
being pushed
for an early
easing
.
This
news ticker
is updated regularly.
Update from January 17, 5:16 p.m.:
As in Bavaria,
wearing an FFP2 mask
will soon be mandatory in Austrian public transport.
This also applies to retail in the Alpine country.
Oe24.at
now
claims
to have learned from government
circles
that Austria
is tinkering
with a
price hammer
.
Health Minister Rudolf Anschober (see below) had already announced
FFP2 masks at “cost price”
.
Now it has apparently leaked how high it will be.
An
FFP2 mask in the supermarket
currently costs
around three euros.
The Austrian federal government wants to reduce this to
one euro
.
Low-income people should
receive
the
masks for free
.
The Ministry of Health is currently clarifying how these distributions should take place, it says.
Corona in Austria: Kurz announces new lockdown measures - and at the same time plans for easing
Update from January 17th, 12.45 p.m.:
As expected, Chancellor Sebastian Kurz has announced the
extension of the lockdown
.
The new measures apply
for two weeks from January 25th
.
The minimum distance has been increased to two meters, and
FFP2 masks are
mandatory
in supermarkets, petrol station shops and public transport
.
Unlike in Germany, the latter would be offered at “cost price”, which, according to Health Minister Rudolf Anschober, is “really low”.
The plan provides for
easing from February 8th
-
assuming
a correspondingly positive
development in the number of infections
.
Then
retail, body-related services and museums should
open under strict conditions,
this does not apply
to
gastronomy and tourism
- here it should be determined in mid-February whether openings will be possible in March.
In the
schools
should at least to the imminent Break
Distance Learning
paramount be, after the self-tests are pending a week here.
Corona in Austria: Mega lockdown is looming - more distance and FFP2 mask obligation?
Update from January 17th, 8.55 a.m.:
Like Germany, Austria is heading for its so-called
mega-lockdown
.
The
Krone
newspaper explains what this means
: Just like Markus Söder, the
FFP2 mask should
become compulsory facial clothing, the appeal to
home office activities
will be tightened, schools should not reopen until February 8,
hotels will
have to also
remain closed
during the
semester break between January 30th and February 21st
, the same applies to
cable cars
in winter sports areas.
From February 8, retail, body-friendly services and museums are to reopen under tightened conditions, the minimum distance of one meter - affectionately known in Austria as the baby elephant - grow to two meters.
Meanwhile, the
Krone
sees
in the
FFP mask,
given a unit price of four euros,
"a logistical and for many Austrians financially challenging tightening"
.
Oswald Wagner, Vice Rector of the MediUni Vienna, argues in the newspaper that the special mouth and nose cover should be
made available at
cost price
.
It is said that these are out of stock in many places, and that seniors are still waiting for the free masks promised before Christmas.
Regarding the
home office
, no obligation is announced.
However, there is room
for decreeing entry bans for offices
and for
defining exceptions
only for
key
workers.
Chancellor Sebastian Kurz is
already facing headwinds due to the impending measures.
“I am expecting a
date for the first steps in opening,
” demands Chamber of Commerce boss Harald Mahrer and speculates: “It won't be March.” The head of the trade union federation, Wolfgang Katzian, is also critical: “At some point I’m slowly getting on top of it Hammer.
Because some do it like when
home office means a 'hammock'
.
They have to hack, have to keep working, work for the company.
If you think you can do
childcare, home schooling, home cooking on the side
, they live on the moon, away from reality. "
Update from January 16, 8:04 p.m.:
The government around Chancellor
Sebastian Kurz will officially announce
its decision regarding the
lockdown in Austria
only on Sunday morning.
But already on Saturday evening it leaked into the Austrian media that there will probably be an
extension
.
The alpine country could remain shut down for
another
two to three weeks
after January 25th (end of the previous lockdown), various state media report unanimously.
Shops, hotels and inns must remain closed.
Even the
schools will
not be able to open initially - contrary to what was hoped for.
As in
Bavaria
, an
FFP2 mask could
become
mandatory
in supermarkets, post offices and public transport
, as
reported by
the
courier
,
for example
.
Corona in Austria: In Vienna, every 5th new infection could soon be due to the British mutation
Update from January 16, 7:13 p.m.:
While the government in Vienna is discussing an
extension of the lockdown
, the local health authorities are reporting a worrying number.
Because they assume that the proportion of
corona infections
with the highly contagious British mutation will
skyrocket
, as
reported by
oe24.at.
The first results of a study by the Medical University of Vienna show that around
17 percent of
all cases in the capital can be traced back to the mutation.
In
83 positive PCR tests
from Vienna,
the British mutation was detected
in
14 samples
.
If these data are also extrapolated,
every fifth case
in Vienna
could soon
be
due to the mutation.
Corona in Austria: Thousands of demonstrators cavort in Vienna without distance or mask
Update from January 16, 5:26 p.m.:
As already announced,
thousands of people met for Corona demonstrations
in the capital
Vienna
on Saturday.
You want to protest against the anti-corona measures.
It was assumed in advance of up to 20,000 demonstrators, in fact there were around
10,000 people
, as reported by the public broadcaster
ORF
.
An APA cameraman reported that
hooligans had also molested media representatives
, the
ORF
continued.
Counter-demonstrators are also on the streets in Vienna.
A group of such activists is said to have tried to block the train of anti-corona demonstrators.
The
police
had to keep the two groups apart.
Meanwhile, discussions on extending the lockdown are still ongoing.
+
In Vienna, thousands of people protest close together and without masks.
© Georg Hochmuth / APA / dpa
Corona in Austria: Hard lockdwon will probably be extended
Update from January 16, 3:15 p.m.:
In order
to advertise
compliance with the
distance
rules
during the
corona pandemic
, there is a charming measure of length in Austria: the
baby elephant
.
Because the length of an elephant's shoot should be exactly
one meter
, i.e. the previous Austrian recommendation for a
minimum distance
.
But the signs in Vienna are currently pointing to
lockdown extension
.
At the crisis summit in Vienna, the government is advising on tightening the
corona
measures and this also has consequences for the little four-legged friend.
The
baby elephant
is expected to become a slightly more mature
elephant
- the distance should be extended to two meters.
According to
information from the
oe24
, an
FFP2
mask requirement
should also be
mandatory
in retail - including in
supermarkets, banks, post offices
and
pharmacies.
+
In the fight against the corona virus, Austria is currently keeping a baby elephant at a distance.
© imago images / photosteinmaurer.com
Further
tightening is also
being discussed.
On Saturday morning, Med University expert Oswald Wagner even spoke out in favor of a
home office obligation
.
Most of the debate, however, is still about
schools and trade.
"At the moment it doesn't look like the government will open anything here on January 25th," says the Austrian federal states.
According to the current status, an
extension of the lockdown
is expected
, probably by two to three weeks.
Corona in Austria: will an even harder lockdown follow?
Up to 20,000 citizens expected at the demo on Saturday
Update from January 16, 11:59 a.m
.: While the Chancellery is
negotiating the
tightening of lockdowns
and the future of
schools, retail, gastronomy
and
culture
, the streets of Vienna will be tight.
Numerous
demonstrations
have been registered for Saturday in the Austrian capital.
At
2 p.m.
, up to
20,000 participants are
expected
for the “Corona and economic destruction” demo
.
A counter-demonstration has also been registered.
It runs under the title “No stage for conspiracy ideologues”.
There are also numerous smaller side
demonstrations
, such as the “For a Free Austria” demo, an art rally in connection with the Corona measures and a bicycle demo.
Some demonstrations indicated multiple starting points.
The
Vienna police
issued a precautionary
ban
on the provisional
parliament building
and are preparing for five rallies according to their own statements.
#News about the #assemblies: The displayed star marches were canceled by the organizers today & the meeting notices withdrawn.
Thus, five rallies, including a counter rally, are expected to take place today with reference to the corona measures
- POLICE VIENNA (@LPDWien) January 16, 2021
Corona in Austria: Concern about coronavirus mutation - crisis summit to tighten lockdowns
First report from January 16:
Vienna - You just don't want to come to an agreement in neighboring Austria.
Actually, a
relaxation
and thus an
opening of the business
here is imminent.
But especially the
virus mutation B 1.1.7.
ensures worried faces in Vienna.
With the increased risk of infection with this form of the
coronavirus
,
Chancellor Sebastian Kurz
and
Minister of Health
Rudolf Anschober
fear
a new, drastic wave of infections.
The number of infections is currently falling slightly.
state |
Burgenland |
Carinthia |
Lower Austria |
Upper Austria |
Salzburg |
Styria |
Tyrol |
Vienna |
Voralberg |
7 day incidence |
106.6 |
189 |
134.4 |
132.2 |
256.8 |
129.4 |
108.6 |
122.4 |
106.5 |
Deaths |
193 |
581 |
1.005 |
1,367 |
385 |
1,486 |
516 |
1,284 |
236 |
1,533 new infections
were reported
across
Austria
on Saturday
.
Source: Austria.
Ministry of Health
Corona: Crisis summit to extend the lockdown: Austria is haggling over openings
In order to
strive for
tightening
instead of
easing
the
coronavirus
*
measures
, a crisis summit is to find new solutions.
But the negotiations are dragging on.
Further negotiations and
consultations are
scheduled for
the entire
Saturday
.
While
Kurz
and Anschober are
arguing
for a further closure,
according to the
oe24
, the
federal
states are
particularly fighting to
open shops and schools
.
According to oe24
from government
circles, the
summit should aim at
a “carrot-and-stick package” and thus a compromise.
The
carrot
is expected to
go
to
trade and schools
.
According to the forecasts, they could
slowly start up operations again
from
January 25th
.
For schools this would mean working
shifts
.
Students would take
turns
going to school
only
part of the week
.
The shops also sense relief: "When the schools open, the trade will probably also open in a reduced form," a negotiating insider told the Austrian news portal.
There is talk of an
FFP2 mask requirement in all shops
, comparable to that in
Bavaria
.
Corona in Austria: will culture, gastronomy and hotels be closed until Easter?
The whip, on the other hand, will likely go to
culture, gastronomy and hotels
.
A
closure until Easter is being
discussed here.
However, nothing has been decided yet.
On Sunday,
Sebastian Kurz
wants to
consult with the President of the Chamber of Commerce Harald Mahrer and the President of the Austrian Trade Union Federation (ÖGB) Wolfgang Katzian in the Chancellery.
The haggling over the
corona lockdown
in
Austria
will drag on until Sunday.
(vs) *
Merkur.de is part of the nationwide Ippen-Digital editors network
