Skiers cavort on the slopes, while Austria is trying to get the corona virus under control with tough lockdown measures.
Those responsible justify themselves.
Austria
has been in the third Corona * lockdown since December 26th.
Although many shops and cultural institutions had to close again, the
ski areas
remain
open.
With the best weather at the weekend, that generated a huge crowd - and a lot of
criticism
.
This
news ticker
is updated regularly.
Update December 29th, 9.45 a.m.:
Despite the strange pictures of the past few days, the managing director of the
Bergbahnen
Beteiligungsgesellschaft von
Niederösterreich,
Markus Redl, is
satisfied with the opening of the
ski areas
at Christmas
to
ORF
: The security measures would work well.
Even the long queues in front of the
lifts
on
Semmering
, which had caused a stir in the social networks, were only caused by a "chain of unfortunate circumstances" and the measures have now been tightened, according to Redl.
Coronavirus in Austria: New Year's Eve as a touchstone for ski areas - Interior Minister warns
He also emphasized that most
skiers
behave in a very disciplined manner anyway and that there is
no tolerance
for violations of the
corona measures
.
No tolerance at all does not mean, at least in Lower Austria, that violations lead to a report, but only mean that the lift ticket is lost.
Nationwide, however, the
New Year's Eve
weekend
in particular will
prove to be a touchstone.
Should there be increased violations of the applicable regulations, the government would probably have to
react
with further
tightening
.
“It
is not without reason that there are strict regulations
for operating
ski lifts
,” Interior Minister Karl Nehammer (ÖVP) told the
Krone Zeitung
.
"However, if individual lift operators do not adhere to the rules and were not properly prepared, it cannot be without consequences."
Austria in lockdown: ski areas jam-packed - gastronomy and retail start revolt against control plan
Update from December 28th, 9:12 pm:
"It
hit
like a bomb", the news was that restaurants and
retailers
in Austria are
supposed
to control self-
tests
, says gastro department chairman
Mario Pulker of
the APA.
In Austria, the lockdown ends on January 17th only for people who can present a
negative corona test
.
In any case, it lasts a week longer for refusers.
From mid-January this means specifically: Anyone who has a negative test may enter shops and restaurants.
Who does not stay outside.
But who does the
checks in front of the shops
?
Interior Minister Karl Nehammer now wants to pass this task on to the companies.
But they stand across.
“We will not control.
That is not possible for us, ”said Pulker clearly.
And retailers don't want to worry about the corona tests either.
“The
health authority
must remain responsible for health inspections”, demands trade association boss Will, “neither for the trade nor for the employees is a further additional burden reasonable.
We therefore appeal to the federal government to adhere to the already promised process ”.
Gastro chairman Pulker complained about the impending "paper mess" and urged the population to get vaccinated.
"We will not survive this open-close situation for much longer," he longed for normalcy to return.
“We are waiting for
the new regulation
.
Then we will know more about this too ”, he still wants to sit out the dispute over the free test controls.
Austria in corona lockdown: crazy world - ski areas jam packed
First report from December 28th, 4:17 p.m .:
Vienna - Lockdown and open ski slopes: How does that fit together?
In
Corona times,
very little,
but it is possible
in
Austria
.
Long queues at the ski lifts, traffic jams, everything close together.
And the German neighboring country is fighting against the continued high corona numbers.
Austria currently has a
7-day incidence
of 152.8 - the value is only slightly lower than currently in Germany.
But even the
third lockdown
, which
has been in effect since Saturday,
does not seem to bother the skiers.
Many shops will remain closed until January 17th, hairdressers and other service providers, cultural and leisure facilities closed.
But: ski lifts on.
Corona in Austria: Ski areas at the weekend as "Ischgl 2"
Videos in social networks and in Austrian media show overcrowded ski areas.
"Ischgl 2" could
be read
on Twitter
.
In some places, parking spaces are said to have been occupied in the morning.
ORF journalist
Armin Wolf also
made a statement on Twitter.
To a picture full of waiting ski enthusiasts between fences, he wrote on Sunday: “But you are not allowed to visit your grandparents since yesterday and until January 18th ...” A few regions like the Bodental in Carinthia were already closed on Sunday after the rush on Saturday .
But since yesterday and until January 18th you are not allowed to visit your grandparents (unless you have to look after them) and you are not allowed to take your spouse with you to visit your parents.
https://t.co/3vQ7r63Ytq
- Armin Wolf (@ArminWolf) December 27, 2020
The state of Upper Austria also believes that
such
crowds
should not be repeated during the corona pandemic.
In the local ski areas Hinterstoder, Wurzeralm and Kasberg there was a particularly big rush on Sunday when the weather was nice.
The
security concepts
are now being adapted, announced the State Economic and Tourism Councilor Markus Achleitner (ÖVP).
The parking spaces are to be limited, the security staff increased and the regulated queuing areas enlarged, it said.
Corona in Austria: Appeal to personal responsibility - adapted security concepts
“In terms of
personal responsibility
, I also appeal to the skiers to come to the ski areas as far as possible from noon, because many guests are on their way home from the morning and you can get to the
slopes
so comfortably and without traffic jams
“, Achleitner continues.
On Sunday around 3,000 guests were in the Hinterstoder ski area at 12 p.m., but a third left by 12.30 p.m.
+
Day trippers go skiing on the Kasberg in Austria.
© Wolfgang Spitzbart / APA / dpa
So far,
FFP2 masks
as mouth and nose protection have been prescribed for all skiers over 14 years of age
on the gondolas and lifts
.
The mountain railways sometimes only carry half as many guests as they can to keep distance rules.
Tickets should be booked online.
Corona in Austria: Chancellor Kurz under fire
Chancellor
Sebastian Kurz *
justified the opening of the ski slopes before the big rush in an interview with the broadcaster ORF with
democratic decision-making processes
.
Many federal states have fought to ensure that outdoor sports should also be possible during the lockdown.
Under a tweet from December 18, in which Kurz explains the lockdown rules and writes “Don't meet anyone after December 26!”, Ridicule is gathering in view of the pictures from the ski areas.
“After December 26th, don't meet anyone - go skiing!
- or? ”it says about.
The
opening of the ski areas
is practically only valid for Austrians.
Entrants must be in quarantine for several days.
Hotels are closed due to the lockdown.
(cibo / dpa) * Merkur.de is part of the Ippen digital network.
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