In an interview, Federal Chancellor Sebastian Kurz explains the easing of the corona lockdown in Austria and calls for a European vaccination certificate.
The news ticker.
Austria's Federal Chancellor Sebastian Kurz (ÖVP) explained the easing of the corona lockdown in an interview
(see first report)
.
Kurz calls for a European vaccination certificate and gives hope for a return to normal in summer
(see first report)
.
Representatives of the catering and hotel industry are calling for a step-by-step plan for openings from March 15
(see update from February 25, 3:10 p.m.)
.
This news ticker on the corona pandemic in Austria is updated regularly.
Update from February 25, 4:50 p.m.:
Austria's Chancellor Sebastian Kurz underlined his request for a corona vaccination pass on Thursday.
"If there is no European solution, then we have to implement this project nationally," he said immediately before the EU summit.
In this case, agreements with other countries would be sought.
A digital green passport for those who have been vaccinated, tested and recovered would be the right step towards regaining a large part of normalcy, said Kurz.
"The goal of this is that we don't want to remain in permanent lockdown (...) We want people to be able to enjoy and experience events, gastronomy, culture, sports and much more again."
Kurz named Israel as a model for such a solution.
There, people who can prove a corona vaccination are allowed to visit fitness studios again, for example.
He expects at least an obligation from the EU to develop such a solution, said Kurz.
This must then be implemented in spring.
The Austrian Chancellor also expressed his demands for a European vaccination certificate in the
Merkur
interview.
+
Austria's Chancellor Sebastian Kurz takes part in the EU summit on the corona pandemic via video.
© Helmut Fohringer / dpa
Corona in Austria: Gastronomy and hotels demand openings
Update from February 25th, 3:10 p.m.:
Before Chancellor Sebastian Kurz's government
consulted
next Monday on how to proceed in the corona pandemic, the Austrian Chamber of Commerce (WKÖ) held an “opening summit” on Thursday.
The sectors that had to remain closed so far, such as the catering and hotel industry, presented their concepts.
Current corona tests, distance and mask requirement should be a prerequisite for openings.
The participants are now demanding a clear step-by-step plan from the government for the first opening steps, preferably from March 15.
Tourism Minister Elisabeth Köstinger (ÖVP) stated in a message: "For me, entry tests are a basic requirement to enable further opening steps as soon as the infection process allows it".
Without entry tests, further openings are "illusory," she said.
The number of new infections continues to rise in Austria.
After more than 2000 new corona cases were reported on Wednesday for the first time in over a month, there were 2391 confirmed new infections on Thursday.
In addition, 23 new deaths related to Covid-19 were reported.
Corona in Austria: "Lockdown lost its effect after six weeks"
First report from February 25th:
Vienna - the originally set lockdown target of fewer than 700 new corona infections daily was not achieved in Austria.
In Tyrol one continues to struggle with the spread of the South African corona mutation.
On Wednesday (February 24), more than 2000 new corona cases were reported in the Alpine republic for the first time in over a month.
According to the AGES dashboard, the 7-day incidence was 139.1 - in Germany, according to the RKI, the value on Thursday morning was 61.7, less than half as high.
Nevertheless, the government around Chancellor Sebastian Kurz (ÖVP) * relaxed the tough lockdown more than two weeks ago.
Trade, schools and body-friendly service providers have been open in Austria since February 8th.
The neighboring country relies heavily on corona tests *.
In an interview with
Bild Live
, Kurz explained that his country carries out more than 2.5 million tests a week - that corresponds to around a quarter of the population.
“This is of course not a panacea.
The virus exists anyway.
It is also growing, but we manage to slow down growth and take the opening steps carefully, ”said the Austrian Chancellor.
Before the easing, in addition to the corona case numbers *, the objective situation in the population was also looked at, Kurz said.
"And the objective situation in Austria was quite simply that after six weeks the lockdown had lost its effect." People had followed the rules less and less.
"Of course, a lockdown where no one participates makes little sense," Kurz clarified.
Corona in Austria: Kurz understands frustration - "Everyone's already enough"
The Chancellor said he understood the frustration among the population.
“Everyone's already enough.
Everyone finally wants to go back to their normal life. ”In Austria, one was at a point where the lockdown * had lost its strength.
Therefore, it made no sense to "extend the measures immeasurably", said Kurz.
Almost three weeks after the easing, the number of corona infections * increased, but not explosively but within the expected range, the 34-year-old said.
However, a new lockdown cannot be ruled out.
"We are experiencing that this pandemic runs in waves," explained Kurz.
The third wave is currently rolling towards Austria and Europe.
The decisive question is how high and how quickly the number of infections increases.
"I can only say that a lockdown makes sense if people join in."
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Austria's Chancellor Sebastian Kurz explains the easing of the corona lockdown.
(Archive image)
© Georges Schneider / imago-images
Corona strategies in Austria and Germany "very similar" - short with praise for Spahn
The strategies in the fight against the corona pandemic * are "very similar" in Austria and Germany, said Kurz.
"We try to bring the numbers down as far as possible with lockdowns and then keep the infection rate stable or low as well as possible and for as long as possible after an opening."
He is in constant contact with Jens Spahn (CDU).
"Of course, he has extreme expertise and in this respect I always benefit greatly from consulting and exchanging ideas with him on the pandemic," Kurz praised the German health minister.
Corona in Austria: Kurz calls for a European vaccination pass - return to normal in summer
In an interview with
Bild Live
, the Austrian Chancellor also spoke out in
favor of a European vaccination certificate.
“I am committed to bringing together a green passport across Europe, similar to what there is in Israel.
Preferably digitally on the mobile phone, where everyone has all the freedom we appreciate so much, ”said Kurz.
He called for "full freedom" for corona vaccinated people *, but also for those who have just recovered and those who tested negative.
A return to freedom of travel in Europe is possible through an EU vaccination certificate.
"I'm personally very optimistic about the summer," said Kurz with hope.
The vaccination coverage will be high.
"We will be able to return to normal and I am already looking forward to many people from Germany", said the Chancellor of the Alpine Republic.
(ph) * Merkur.de is part of the Ippen-Digital editorial network
List of rubric lists: © photonews.at/Georges Schneider via www.imago-images.de
