In Austria, easing of the corona lockdown comes into force.
But there is trouble because of the spread of coronavirus mutations in Tyrol.
The news ticker on the pandemic in the Alpine republic.
Coronavirus in Austria
: From Monday (February 8th) massive
lockdown *
releases will come
into force.
The South African
corona mutation * has
broken out
in
Tyrol
, which is why a dispute with
Bavaria is
pending.
(
see update from February 7th, 9:30 p.m.
)
This
news ticker on the corona pandemic in Austria
is updated regularly.
Update from February 7th, 9:30 p.m.:
A violent
corona dispute is
looming
between
Bavaria
and
Austria
because of the situation in Tyrol.
In the whole of the Alpine republic, far-reaching easing of the Covid-19 restrictions should come into force on Monday, while the
mutations of the corona virus
continue to spread
in the western state
.
CSU General Secretary Markus Blume told
Münchner Merkur
*: "If the Czech Republic and
Tyrol are
mutation areas, then you have to determine this and seal off the borders." (
See update from February 7th, 5:53 pm
).
He called the
easing in Austria
“irresponsible”.
The
Bild am Sonntag also
explained to Blume: “The greatest danger does not come from the hairdresser, but from the border.
That is why we need more controls by the federal police at all external borders.
We also need stricter controls at airports.
Anyone who does not adhere to the entry and transport restrictions must consistently expect fines. "
The numbers of concern: As the Austrian news portal
oe24.at
writes,
293 cases of the South Africa mutation B.1.351 were detected
in Tyrol
by Sunday evening
.
Coronavirus pandemic: "People in Austria are tired of it"
Update from February 7th, 9 p.m
.: Will
Tyrol,
with its around 1.8 million inhabitants, actually be isolated?
Federal Health Minister Rudolf "Rudi" Anschober (The Greens)
had
not ruled out
a
hard lockdown
for a single federal state in
Austria
because the corona mutations between Reutte, Kufstein and Kitzbühel cannot be contained.
People in Austria are fed up with hearing the same mantras every day.
Christoph Walser, President of the Austrian Chamber of Commerce
But there is also sharp criticism of a possible
foreclosure
including an exit ban for citizens.
“People in
Austria
are fed up with hearing the same mantras every day.
The economy whistles from the last hole.
Anything but a step-by-step opening up for Tyrol is crazy, ”said Christoph Walser, President of the Chamber of Commerce according to the
Tyrolean daily newspaper.
If infections caused by mutations were "already six to eight weeks ago, scare tactics are irresponsible".
Coronavirus pandemic in Austria: will Tyrol be sealed off due to mutations?
Update from February 7th, 8.30 p.m
.: Will
Tyrol
really be sealed off
in the
coronavirus pandemic
?
Because
corona mutations
continue to spread
in the federal state between
Germany
and Italy
, federal and state representatives in
Austria
are
arguing
about how strict the containment measures should be interpreted around Innsbruck.
As the
Kronen Zeitung
reported on Sunday evening, individual districts with a high incidence of mutants are actually to be temporarily sealed off.
In addition, it would say that Tyroleans are no longer allowed to leave their state for the time being.
So far there have been no confirmations.
There
is obviously a tough fight
between the federal government in the federal capital
Vienna
and the provincial capital Innsbruck.
Coronavirus pandemic: There is a crunch between Bavaria and Austria
Update from February 7, 5:53 p.m.:
There is a
crunch
between
Austria
and
Bavaria
when it comes to
corona policy
.
Chancellor Sebastian Kurz will
open shops again from Monday, while
a virus mutation is spreading,
especially in
Tyrol
.
Austria will now “massively” tighten the border controls to the Free State, as Austria's Interior Minister Karl Nehammer (ÖVP) announced (see update from February 7th, 3:49 pm).
People in Bavaria are concerned.
CSU General Secretary Markus Blume told
Münchner Merkur
*: "Now we need to act quickly - if the mutant has spread to us, it is too late".
He sharply criticized the
easing in Austria
and the Czech Republic.
With the “irresponsible opening policy” one endangers the successes in Germany.
Blume continues: "If the Czech Republic and Tyrol are mutation areas, then you have to determine this and seal off the borders".
Bavaria's Interior Minister Joachim Herrmann does not want to go that far.
Nevertheless, he emphasized to the
Münchner Merkur
that
Bavaria will
also
expand its veil manhunt among cross-border commuters, cross-border commuters and return travelers.
Bavaria's border police will also be reinforced by additional units of the riot police.
"The corona situation is still very precarious, especially with a view to the highly contagious corona mutations," emphasized Herrmann.
"Therefore, we have to monitor compliance with the strict
Corona entry
rules
very closely
, especially at the borders with the Czech Republic and Austria as well as at the airports."
Corona mutation: Austria tightened border controls
Update from February 7th, 3:49 p.m.:
Austria
wants to
massively tighten
border controls to Germany
and other neighboring countries from Monday
out of concern about the spread of the
coronavirus
.
The interior ministry announced on Sunday that all unnecessary trips in the pandemic should be prevented.
"The border controls serve as a breakwater for chains of infection, which are becoming more and more dangerous due to new virus mutations," said Interior Minister Karl Nehammer.
Nehammer had a positive conversation on the subject with his German counterpart Horst Seehofer (CSU).
The network of controls at the borders should now be significantly denser.
Austria has already controlled the borders with Hungary, Slovenia, the Czech Republic and Slovakia.
The random checks carried out so far at the other borders are now to be significantly intensified.
Conversely, CSU General Secretary Markus Blume is also pushing for stricter controls on the borders with Austria and the Czech Republic.
With regard to the neighboring countries, Blume passed a harsh judgment.
The two countries bordering Germany “with their irresponsible opening policy would jeopardize our successes in Germany”, said Blume literally.
"The greatest danger does not come from the hairdresser, but from the border," the Secretary General was quoted as saying.
If, for example, a corona mutation is detected in the neighboring Austrian state of Tyrol, action must be taken, for example with controls at the external borders.
The first cases of highly infectious corona mutations had already become known in Bavaria.
"That is why we need more controls by the federal police at all external borders," said Blume.
Austria's neighbor Italy: South Tyrol threatens a catastrophic corona situation after a special route
Update from February 7th, 8:53 am:
The alarm bells are ringing in South Tyrol!
For a long time it was believed that the
special route that had been taken would be
reasonably good for them.
While strict corona measures have long been enforced throughout Austria or Germany, bars, restaurants and shops in South Tyrol
remained open.
This special way was made possible by a state law that the South Tyrolean parliament passed last May.
At that time, the aim was to be able to decide to relax more quickly.
But that's over now, because the
Corona reality
now seems to have arrived in South Tyrol.
Most recently, 747 new infections were reported within 24 hours.
Extrapolated to neighboring Austria, that would be around 12,000 new corona cases.
South Tyrol is threatened by a real
corona catastrophe, as they say.
According to
oe24.at
, strict rules will apply there from next week.
You are only allowed to leave your home in an extreme emergency, and retail will be shut down.
Shops for everyday goods are excluded.
Restaurants and bars also have to close now.
In production and craft businesses, you can continue to work, provided that the employees are regularly tested.
Corona in Austria: Schools are to be reopened from Monday
A completely different picture emerges in neighboring Austria.
As reported by oe24.at,
all schools
in
Vienna and Lower Austria
should be
reopened
from Monday
.
There should be a compulsory test for the students.
Conversely, this means that those who cannot be tested are not allowed to go to school, but have to be supervised by other untested students.
Furthermore, full operation is to be resumed in elementary schools.
In other schools there will initially only be shift work.
According to oe24.at, around
280,000 students are
expected
on Monday
.
Over six million rapid tests are said to have already been delivered to schools.
But the first problems are already emerging.
In order for the students to be tested regularly, a
declaration of consent from their parents is
required
.
But many have no printer or no internet at home, as reported by oe24.at.
Therefore, there is a risk of coordination chaos in the first days of school opening, as students are sent to care without a declaration of consent.
There they sit in the room with other students who have also not yet been tested and could therefore become infected.
Corona mutation broke out in Tyrol - Nevertheless, there will be massive lockdown relaxations in Austria from Monday
First report from February 6, 2021:
Vienna - a maximum of 700 new corona infections per day - that was the original lockdown goal of the Austrian government around Chancellor Sebastian Kurz (ÖVP).
This target value could not be achieved due to the tough Corona * measures in Austria.
On Saturday (February 6), the authorities reported 1,333 new corona cases and 21 deaths - again well above the target value.
Corona in Austria: Massive lockdown easing from Monday - despite mutation outbreak in Tyrol
Nevertheless, last Monday (February 1), Chancellor Kurz announced massive easing of the Corona * measures in the Federal Chancellery in Vienna.
After the continued high number of infections, this step came as a surprise to many.
"Loosening up now means exposing the population to an uncontrollable risk," said SPÖ leader Pamela Rendi-Wagner, for example, before the government's decision.
She was skeptical of the easing and warned of a possible third wave caused by the spread of the virus mutations.
+
Austria's Chancellor Sebastian Kurz announced lockdown easing last Monday.
© Helmut Fohringer / dpa
The South African corona mutation has now broken out in Tyrol.
“We have a huge problem with this variant.
There is a sharp rise.
But I don't see any political action here in Tyrol.
I'm waiting for the second Ischgl, ”the virologist Dorothee von Laer told the
courier
.
She requested a quarantine for the entire state.
There was also criticism from Germany.
RKI boss Lothar Wieler said at the federal press conference on Friday (February 5th): "That could have been avoided if thousands hadn't gone skiing."
Corona in Austria: Anschober announces "Balance Day" in Tyrol for Sunday
The government in Vienna called the situation “acute and serious” last Thursday.
Health Minister Rudolf Anschober (Greens) announced that Sunday would be “the day of the balance sheet”.
At a press conference on Friday he spoke of an “Action Plan for Tyrol”.
In close coordination with the Tyrolean governor Günther Platter (ÖVP), a plan has been developed "which is being implemented at full speed to limit the mutations," said Anschober.
The opposition Social Democrats (SPÖ) called on the government to "finally take action".
Watching those responsible in Tyrol "bury your head in the sand" will otherwise end again in a catastrophe, "warned SPÖ health expert Philip Kucher.
He referred to the Corona * outbreak in the Ischgl ski area around a year ago.
Corona in Austria: Mutation outbreak and openings - "That doesn't go together"
“On the one hand, there are rumors of a glass fall over Tyrol, of quarantine for an entire federal state.
On the other hand, and this is not a rumor, but a fact, we will unlock large parts of society again on Monday.
That doesn't fit together, ”said Gabriele Scherndl, criticizing
the current situation in Austria
in a comment in the Viennese newspaper
Der Standard
.
From Monday (February 8th), primary school pupils will be able to attend classroom lessons again, lower and upper grades will switch to shift work.
In addition, trade is allowed to reopen - albeit under stricter conditions, such as an FFP2 mask requirement.
Museums, galleries, and zoos are reopening under the same conditions as retail.
+
Retail in downtown Vienna can reopen on Monday (February 8th).
(Archive image)
© Georges Schneider / imago-images
Body-hugging services are also allowed again from Monday - this means that visiting the hairdresser in Austria is possible again.
However, only with a negative corona test * that is not older than 48 hours.
Only the catering sector remains in lockdown.
Scherndl describes the loosening as a mistake.
"The situation is too fragile, the mutations too unpredictable, vaccination coverage is far too far away to be able to think of any relief at the moment," she warns.
"We have a problem.
And we don't solve that by loosening the rules. ”
(Ph) * Merkur.de is part of the Ippen-Digital editorial network
List of rubric lists: © via www.imago-images.de