During the pandemic, Austria was often a harbinger of the corona developments in Germany, including when it came to school operations.
Now it should be clear what happens after the summer vacation.
Vienna - to school with or without a mask? Compulsory test or no tests? The dispute over the well-being of the youngest is controversial in Germany. The spread of the delta variant overshadows a hoped-for school start without corona restrictions. In the first federal states, a new mask requirement in the classroom has already been decided. But what about in our neighboring country? Smaller Austria has often been a harbinger of developments in Germany during the pandemic.
"We can't keep the schools closed permanently," said the Austrian Chancellor Sebastian Kurz in his sensational interview with
Bild-Zeitung
on Monday
and announced that
we would be using the
same strategy as in the third Corona wave.
That means: intensive testing and compliance with "safety standards".
Corona in Austria: New plans for school operations - four-point plan for classroom teaching
The new school year starts on September 6th in Austria.
Education Minister Heinz Faßmann (ÖVP) had actually announced a fixed plan for the first week of August.
But some details seem to have been determined in advance, as the daily newspaper
Austria
reports.
A "four-point plan" should therefore be the basis for the new school day after the summer vacation.
The four central points actually sound very familiar: vaccination, testing, air filters and masks.
In all four areas, however, should be tightened again.
Vaccination
: The
Vaccination appeal is primarily aimed at the parents of the pupils.
Tests
: An increased use of PCR tests is planned.
Whether gargling or with chopsticks will be voted on.
Air filters:
They should be "in all rooms where there is no ventilation".
However, there are many different models, according to an insider, according to
oe24
.
Masks
: There should be no
mask
requirement.
Masks are used “limited in time and region”.
Corona in Austria: mask requirement only "limited in time and region" - different from in Germany?
The incidence should decide in schools whether a mask is compulsory.
In general, however, the students will return from the summer holidays without a mask.
In Germany it could look different: Although the Corona concept for the new school year has not yet been determined in all federal states, the state government in Bavaria announced in mid-July that it would maintain the mask requirement at least in secondary schools.
Only elementary school students will be able to do without their mask for the time being.
(vs)
