Emergency operation is to become normal operation again: Austria gradually and gently eases its measures in the fight against the spread of the new corona virus. Shortly afterwards two other German neighboring countries follow suit.
Vienna / Copenhagen (dpa) - Austria's Chancellor Sebastian Kurz (ÖVP) and three of his ministers only took off their mouthguards for the press conference.
Behind protective walls made of plexiglass, they announced to the Austrians a multi-part message shaped by confidence, pride and concern: after Easter, the Alpine Republic will gently begin the long road from the Corona crisis back to normal - but pull the emergency brake at any time if that happens Virus spreads again. A few hours later, Denmark also announced a plan to gently ease its measures.
In Germany, Chancellor Angela Merkel (CDU) recently emphasized in her video podcast that it was not yet possible to name a deadline for the measures to end. On Monday, she thanked the citizens of the Federal Republic for largely complying with the requirements to contain the corona virus. "I would like to thank you for this understanding that exists, because the vast majority of people abide by the rules," she said.
In Austria, after the opening of small shops as well as DIY and garden centers on April 14th, all shops, shopping centers and hairdressers will reopen. "We have weathered the crisis better than most other countries," Kurz said. Now Vienna also wants to set an example when the economy picks up.
At the same time, the top of the government made it clear that the Austrians would have to continue to adhere to the strict conditions at the required distance - the exit restrictions were extended until the end of April, the schools remain closed until mid-May. Hotels and restaurants can only expect to open again from mid-May. Events should not take place until the end of June. The Nova Rock Festival has now been canceled with more than 200,000 visitors. Wearing a mouthguard is also mandatory in public transport.
Earlier than in Germany, for example, public life in the entire Alpine Republic was switched to emergency operation in mid-March, and the exit restrictions had been put in place. The reward: Nowhere in Europe has the number of newly infected people dropped so drastically, said Health Minister Rudolf Anschober (Greens). "The first act of strength on our way was successful." In Austria, more people with the coronavirus are getting healthy every day than with the lung disease Covid-19.
Last but not least, Easter week worries with the usual family celebrations and meetings of friends. Don't even think about it, warned the top government. "Stay together with the people you live with," said Kurz.
Very similar signals came from Copenhagen in the evening: After the situation in Germany's northern neighboring country has stabilized, Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen wants to enter "the first careful phase of opening" after Easter, as she said at a press conference. For the Danes, this means: In a first step, nurseries, kindergartens and lower grades zero to five will be reopened by schools on April 15.
This benefits parents, who would get more peace of mind in the home office, said Frederiksen. Other measures - such as the closure of the borders with Germany, Sweden and Norway, as well as that of restaurants - extended them in one breath by another four weeks until May 10th. And she made it clear that her compatriots should be prepared for the fact that they would have to live with restrictions for months because of the corona pandemic. This affects, among other things, the largest music festival in Northern Europe: Because major events remain banned in Denmark until August, the festival in Roskilde is canceled.
This means that two neighboring countries in Germany, both north and south, are taking a cautious but long way back to normal. And not only that: the Czech Republic also eases its restrictive corona measures somewhat. The minority cabinet made up of populist ANO and social democrats decided on Monday in Prague that the practice of sports such as tennis or golf would be allowed again. The first stores that were closed in the fight against the pandemic, including hobby and hardware stores, are also allowed to open. At the same time, hygiene rules for retailers are being tightened.
