In Austria, the corona numbers are still high, but easing takes effect.
However, the conditions are strict.
Chancellor Sebastian Kurz's move was promptly followed by criticism.
The news ticker.
Coronavirus pandemic in Austria:
The
corona numbers
remain high at the beginning of February.
In Austria, a visit to the hairdresser is possible from Monday (February 8th).
But the hurdles are too overdone for some
(update from February 3, 10:01 a.m.)
.
The special alpine police unit is also involved in the control
(see update from February 2, 9.50 a.m.).
This
news ticker
has ended.
You can find the continuation from February 3rd here.
Update from February 3,
10:01 a.m.: Hairdressers are allowed to unlock again from Monday (February 8) in Austria.
However, strict corona rules apply to an appointment.
Customers may only be served with a negative corona test (not older than 48 hours).
In addition, there is an FFP2 mask requirement (penalty should be increased to 90 euros).
There should also be police checks at the hairdresser's.
Corona in Austria: Police also come to the hairdresser
The criticism of the new rules followed promptly.
On Facebook, users vent their anger.
"Well, I don't give a damn about the hairdresser," writes one.
"At the hairdresser you need a test, in the ski gondola it goes without - na super" is another Facebook entry as the news portal
oe24.at
reported.
Corona in Austria: Church services possible again from Sunday
Update from February 3, 9.49 a.m
.: Tourism, sport and culture remain tight in Austria.
The government will not discuss further opening steps until February 15.
Services will be allowed again from February 7th, reports the Austrian Standard.at.
Then, however, under increased protective measures: FFP2 masks are mandatory, a two-meter distance and disinfectant must be available.
Singing in church is still forbidden.
The services should be kept short and the number of seats should be limited.
Corona easing in Austria: fine will be increased significantly
Update from February 2, 3:27 p.m
.: Austria adjusted its corona rules on Tuesday.
In addition to the already known changes in terms of stricter border controls, compulsory testing for commuters and the new special unit alpine police (see previous update), the amount of the fine for violations of the Corona requirements will be adjusted from now on.
Instead of the previous 25 or 50 euros, a violation of the mask requirement now costs 90 euros.
For comparison: In neighboring Bavaria, up to 250 euros are due if you are caught without mouth and nose protection.
Here, however, it makes a difference whether no face covering is worn at all or only inadequate, i.e. not the FFP-2 masks that have been mandatory for a few weeks (in public transport and retail).
The Austrian police will now control compliance with the mask requirement just as strictly as the quarantine regulations, said Interior Minister Karl Nehammer at a press conference.
As the ÖVP politician explained, since the tightening of the measures on December 19, 2020, almost three million police border controls have been carried out and more than 200,000 people have been quarantined at home.
In Austria, 1154 new corona infections were added within one day.
The Alpine republic currently has 10,087 active cases, 487 fewer than the day before.
A total of 7,847 people died as a result of Covid-19, and 69 more deaths occurred within 24 hours (
source: Austrian Ministry of Health, as of February 2, 8 a.m.
).
Corona: Austria relaxes surprisingly, relies on a special unit and has massive requirements on the border
Update from February 2, 9.50 a.m.:
How are the new
corona
rules interpreted in Austria
?
Interior Minister Karl Nehammer (ÖVP) will
speak
in
Vienna
at the
moment
.
And he speaks very clearly at a press conference.
With a view to breaking rules in the ski areas, Nehammer announces: “There is a special unit: the Alpine Police.
If you don't follow the rules, you'll get the report. ”Recently, both an alleged lax interpretation of the
Covid-19 measures
and ski party tourists from Scandinavia and Great Britain had caused trouble.
Furthermore, there should be the expected
tightened border controls
- and not least affect
commuters from Germany
.
For example from the Chiemgau to the Salzburger Land, from the Allgäu to Vorarlberg, or from Lower Bavaria to the Austrian Innviertel.
For example, commuters will
be required to submit
a seven-day-old
negative corona test
and register.
And always when they want to enter.
Only travelers who fall under the exception rules do not have to show a negative test.
Basically, according to Nehammer: "Everyone who enters must show a negative test and then also in quarantine"
+
Corona crisis on the street: health checks between Germany and Austria.
© IMAGO / Oryk HAIST
Coronavirus pandemic: Austria goes into lockdown light
Update from February 2, 6:16 a.m
.: It was not an easy decision.
But the pressure of big business and citizens:
Austria
opens after
six weeks lockdown from February 8
back
all transactions
.
Stricter precautionary measures apply
(see also updates from February 1st).
"
Wearing FFP2 masks is mandatory,
" said Chancellor Sebastian Kurz.
Also, fewer customers are allowed.
Even
hairdressers
may work again.
However, a
negative corona test is
required
for an appointment with the body-hugging services
.
It must not be older than 48 hours.
Employees also have to be tested regularly.
Many
hairdressers
are already fully booked, report the Austrian media.
No wonder: in Austria the companies have been closed since December 24th.
Even the barber of Chancellor short, the next few weeks, has no date is more free, reported the news portal
oe24.at
.
"We are the next five weeks really fully booked and fully," says Josef Winkler
oe24.at
.
In the next three weeks, his shop only closed on Sundays and opened two hours longer every day.
However, he did not want to reveal whether Chancellor Kurz already had an appointment.
The Chancellor has not been with him since December, he stressed.
The
schools
are switching back to face-to-face teaching, sometimes in a shift system and with corona tests.
Coronavirus pandemic in Austria: three different phases for Covid-19 vaccinations
Update from February 1, 7.30 p.m.:
The
vaccination schedule
is being adjusted because the National Vaccination Board
does not recommend the
Astrazeneca
serum
for people aged 65 and over.
Thus, this is given primarily to the 18 to 64 year olds.
In this
context
,
oe24
calculates
that the newly approved vaccine is approved for 5,664,816 Austrians, the vaccine from
Biontech and Pfizer
- suitable for everyone aged 16 and over - for 7,531,239 citizens and the serum from
Moderna
- this is about everyone 18 years - for 7,358,443 people in the Alpine republic.
The government plans with
three different phases
, with the first divided into two sections.
Here, too, the particularly endangered population groups will initially be able to enjoy the Pieks.
+
Austria's Federal Chancellor Sebastian Kurz (ÖVP).
© Tobias Steinmaurer / imago-images
Coronavirus pandemic in Austria: Briefly announces easing - next summit on February 15
Update from February 1, 6:20 p.m.:
As early as February
15,
advice
would be given about
possible further easing
.
However, Kurz also warned that it could also be a question of
tightening
if the numbers do not develop as hoped.
So in a way it is now in the hands of the citizens
how much freedom
they will be given in the coming weeks.
Accordingly, the Kurz government is also passing responsibility for this to the population.
This is the end of the Chancellor's appearance.
Update from February 1, 6:17 p.m.:
The penalties for violations are to be tightened, because in these cases the fellow citizens would ultimately also be endangered.
In addition to
mask grouches and refusal to distance themselves,
Kurz also names
people who spit at others.
In addition, the border controls would be tightened, especially with a view to the
mutations
.
The
exit
restrictions
between 8 p.m. and 6 a.m. also
remain in force
.
Update from February 1, 6.15 p.m.:
In the future, up to
four people from two households
will be able to
meet again, according to Kurz, it is about adults.
That means: every household can again
receive
two people as guests
.
The Chancellor emphasizes, however, that the imperative to avoid contacts as far as possible continues to apply.
Update February 1, 18:12:
Opening may also
retail
and
museums
and
zoos
.
For the former, there is an FFP2 mask requirement, which means that 20 meters of space must be created for each customer instead of ten.
Even
body-related services
are offered again, but here customers have a more than 48 hours old
test
show.
So the Austrians can get their hair done again.
Update from February 1, 6:10 p.m.:
Kurz speaks now.
There will be a sophisticated
test concept for opening schools
.
There will be
classroom teaching alternately
.
Half of the students would be taught on-site on Monday and Tuesday, the other half on Wednesday and Thursday.
Update from February 1, 5:50 p.m.:
Even before the eagerly awaited press conference begins, the first details seep through.
According to the
oe24,
the
schools
should
reopen
from February 8th, the same applies to the
retail trade
and probably also the
hairdressers
.
On the other hand, a
decision has not yet
been made regarding other body-friendly services such as
nail salons
.
Museums and libraries
could also reopen under strict FFP2 mask requirements and with a limited number of visitors.
The
restaurants will
probably remain closed
.
These
easing come
as a
bit of a surprise
, since the actual target of
700 new infections per day
has so far been clearly missed and will probably not be achieved in the first week of February either.
This time the statistics spit out 1,100 new infections within 24 hours.
Coronavirus pandemic in Austria: Stricter controls planned at the German border
Update from February 1, 4.40 p.m.: Austria
is
increasingly
shielding itself from the
coronavirus pandemic
for fear of
mutations
.
After there have been strict
border controls
for
weeks
because of the
Covid 19 variants
to Slovakia and the Czech Republic,
more stringent controls are
now also to be carried out on the
German-Austrian border between Bregenz and Lindau
.
That reports the
Swabian
from Upper Swabia.
Accordingly, Vorarlberg's Security Councilor Christian Gantner expressly does not want to
let in
any more shopping and tank tourists from the other side of
Lake Constance
.
At Hörbranz there is a border crossing directly on the lake, and not far is the border crossing at the
Pfänder tunnel
, where the German
A96
motorway joins the Austrian A14 (Rheintal Autobahn).
This is a particularly popular route with tourists who
want to go
to the ski areas of
Vorarlberg
and
Tyrol
or further south towards Italy.
As the
ORF reported
on Friday (January 29), the Austrian police carried out 130,000 border controls between that day and December 19 because of Covid-19 and refused entry around 6,570 times.
+
Border controls in the Corona crisis: the A96 between Vorarlberg, Lake Constance and Westallgäu, here on the German side.
© IMAGO / Nordphoto
Update from February 1st, 4.30 p.m.:
And we have just received an update from
Vienna
.
The press conference with
Federal Chancellor Sebastian Kurz (ÖVP)
on the planned
easing and opening in Austria will be
postponed from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m.
There is obviously a lot of struggle in the Danube metropolis.
Coronavirus pandemic in Austria: trade, schools and hairdressers could reopen soon
Update from February 1, 4:05 p.m.:
The first results from the
Federal Chancellery at Ballhausplatz in Vienna
seep through.
According to
oe24.at
, it is expected that trade and hairdressers in
Austria will
be able to reopen
from February 8th
.
In addition, face-to-face teaching is to be returned to schools.
However, the
easing
is not yet
fixed,
especially about the possible restart of the hairdressers should be argued properly.
Coronavirus pandemic in Austria: Tough negotiations about easing in schools and retail
Update from February 1, 3:45 p.m
.: Between
Vienna
, Eisenstadt, St. Pölten, Graz, Klagenfurt am Wörthersee,
Linz, Salzburg
, Innsbruck and Bregenz, there is mainly digital wrestling in these minutes about possible
easing of the corona pandemic
in
Austria
.
Chancellor Sebastian Kurz (ÖVP) consults with the country chiefs between Burgenland and Vorarlberg.
Pamela Rendi-Wagner, opposition politician and doctor, has
warned
against excessive
relaxation
in the Alpine republic
in this situation
.
"To open now is the wrong way," said the SPÖ boss.
Rendi-Wagner warned, especially with a view to the
mutations
that were circulating
and, in their opinion, the low
vaccination rate
.
Coronavirus pandemic in Austria: 57 new deaths related to Covid-19
Update from February 1, 1:46 p.m.:
From Sunday to Monday,
1124 new corona cases
were reported
in Austria
.
There were also
57 new deaths
related to the
coronavirus
.
The original
lockdown goal of
the government around Chancellor
Sebastian Kurz
was to reduce the number of new infections every day to below 700.
You couldn't do that.
Nevertheless, the first steps towards opening will begin on February 8th.
Most of the new
corona cases
were in
Vienna
.
The number of
new infections
in all federal states at a glance.
Vienna
: 252
Lower Austria
: 222
Upper Austria
: 157
Styria
: 140
Salzburg
: 113
Tyrol
: 95
Carinthia
: 78
Vorarlberg
: 42
Burgenland
: 25
Corona in Austria: Shortly today with lockdown easing?
First report from February 1st:
Vienna -
Austria has been
in a tough
corona lockdown
since December 26th
.
The government around Chancellor
Sebastian Kurz
(FPÖ) wants to consult with experts, state governors and the opposition on Monday (February 1) about possible
easing
from February 8th.
The schedule for the decision day on the
lockdown *
loosening
in
Austria
:
from 10 a.m .: Consultation of the federal government with experts
from 11.30 a.m .: video conference between the federal government and the opposition
from 1 p.m .: meeting of the federal government with the governors
from 4 p.m .: Presentation of the results at a press conference with Chancellor Kurz and government representatives
+
Austria's Federal Chancellor Sebastian Kurz (ÖVP).
© Tobias Steinmaurer / imago-images
Corona in Austria: Numbers speak against easing - SPÖ boss sees "uncontrollable risk"
The current
Corona *
numbers
actually speak against
easing
the lockdown in
Austria
.
The government wanted to come to a maximum of 700 new infections per day, but currently it is about double.
In addition, due to
delivery problems
at AstraZeneca, there are delays in the
corona vaccinations *
.
The recommendation to only give the vaccine to the 18 to 64 age group makes things even more difficult.
The spread of the
corona mutations *
in Austria is causing additional concerns.
SPÖ leader
Pamela Rendi-Wagner
expressed skepticism on Sunday about possible
easing of
the
Corona *
measures
and warned of a third wave of infections.
“We have to prevent a
third wave
with an even more infectious virus.
This is not a purely virological approach, but vital - in health, economic and political terms. "
The question of
opening
is a question of
risk
.
“This risk is not an abstract one, it is brutally real.
Measurable in terms of the number of infected, sick and dead people.
The government's goal was around 700 infections a day, up from 1,400 yesterday. The numbers are too high.
Loosening up now means
exposing
the population to an
uncontrollable risk
, ”warned Rendi-Wagner urgently.
+
Party leader of the SPÖ: Pamela Rendi-Wagner.
© Georg Hochmuth / dpa
Corona lockdown in Austria: Schools and retailers are likely to open from February 8th
Kurz
announced last Friday that they wanted to "open everything that can be opened somehow".
Nevertheless, one does not want to act irresponsibly.
On Sunday evening, according to
oe24.at
, Kurz
already
conferred
with Vice Chancellor
Werner Kogler
(Greens), Health Minister
Rudolf Anschober
(Greens) and Education Minister
Heinz Faßmann
.
Accordingly,
schools
and
retailers are to
open
from February 8th
under tightened security measures
.
The pupils of the elementary schools and lower grades should
return to face-to-face classes
in
shifts
.
According to
oe24.at
, Education Minister
Faßmann
would have liked to open the upper
levels
as well - but that remains questionable.
Museums, galleries and libraries should also be allowed to open again.
Corona lockdown in Austria: "Body-hugging" services controversial - gastronomy will probably continue to grow
The opening of
“close-to-the-body” services
, such as hairdressers or nail salons, on the other hand, is still
controversial
.
The
gastronomy
should
remain closed
and
should be allowed to open
in
March
at the earliest
.
According to media reports, stricter
entry rules
and more
border controls are to be
introduced
to slow
the spread of
virus mutations *
.
Landing bans are being planned for planes from countries where the mutation is widespread - in addition to Great Britain, for example Spain or Portugal.
Corona in Austria: call for easing is getting louder - protests in Vienna
Most recently, the pressure on Chancellor
Kurz's
government
had increased.
Several
governors
spoke out in favor of
easing the
situation
over the weekend
.
Arguments against the "camp fever" and the like were put forward.
Despite a ban, around 5000 people gathered
in
Vienna
on Sunday
to demonstrate
against the government's
Corona *
measures
.
+
Last Sunday there were protests against the government's corona measures in Vienna.
© Georg Hochmuth / dpa
The protesters also included corona deniers, conspiracy theorists and right-wing extremists.
According to the
police
, some people have been arrested and there have been
around 850 reports
, partly on suspicion of resistance to state authority and violations of the
corona rules
.
(ph) * Merkur.de is part of the Ippen-Digital editorial network
List of rubric lists: © IMAGO / Viennareport
