Austria reports corona record numbers.
The government has announced a nationwide lockdown and further protective measures to contain the pandemic.
Austria is drawing conclusions in the face of a dramatic coronavirus situation.
The country reported record numbers
(see first report)
.
On Friday morning, among others, Chancellor Alexander Schallenberg and Health Minister Wolfgang Mückenstein appeared in front of the press.
In addition to a nationwide lockdown for everyone and a general vaccination requirement, a number of other new rules will come into force
(see update from November 19, 11:33 a.m.).
Update from November 19, 11:33 a.m.:
The Austrian government has taken far-reaching corona measures.
In a press conference, Chancellor Alexander Schallenberg, Health Minister Wolfgang Mückenstein and Michael Ludwig presented the protective measures.
It will be "a lockdown like last year," said Schallenberg.
The new regulations will apply nationwide from Monday (November 22nd).
The following corona protective measures will come into effect:
Lockdown:
From Monday, a nationwide lockdown applies to unvaccinated and vaccinated people (midnight to midnight).
This measure will initially apply for 20 days, but will be evaluated after ten days.
The lockdown will end on December 12th at the latest - but only for those who have already been vaccinated.
Schools
: Face-to-face classes should continue to be offered.
It is mandatory to wear a mask in all rooms.
There is an appeal to all parents to only use the face-to-face lessons, unless otherwise possible.
As oe24.de reports, schools are supposed to ensure care and learning packages for the children.
Vaccinations:
The booster vaccination is recommended for vector
vaccines
from the fourth month.
This is also possible with mRNA vaccines from the fourth month.
The Green Pass will be shortened to seven months from February 1, 2020.
Vaccination compulsory:
Austria will introduce a compulsory vaccination for everyone from February 1, 2022.
Home office:
Where possible, employees should work from home.
Mask requirement:
In all closed rooms there is again an obligation to wear an FFP2 mask.
Gastronomy and retail
have to close on Monday.
Supermarkets, drug stores and pharmacies will remain open.
Service providers close to the body are also closed.
This also includes hairdressers.
Entry into Austria from Germany: what applies?
The entry into Austria was also readjusted.
In future, unvaccinated people at the border will have to show a PCR test.
As of Monday, rapid antigen tests will no longer be accepted.
According to the Robert Koch Institute, almost all of Austria is a high-risk area in Germany.
Situation in Austria: "Lockdown like last year" - new corona rules from Monday
Update from November 19, 11:10 am:
"It will be a lockdown like last year - also with contact restrictions in the private sector," explains Chancellor Alexander Schallenberg when asked.
“We're not reinventing the wheel,” he says, also referring to the mask requirement.
It is important to fall back on what has already been tried and tested.
The press conference is over.
Update from November 19, 10:57 a.m.:
A journalist is now talking about schools.
These should remain open.
Chancellor Schallenberg says: "There is classroom teaching." Parents are free to leave their children at home.
An appeal is made to implement this wherever possible.
Decisions about schools are always difficult.
"Unpopular measures": Corona rules announced in Austria
Update from November 19, 10.55 am:
"We are all contributing to the measures - that is important," it now says.
There will be a fifth wave, maybe also a new virus variant.
This should be avoided.
Update from November 19, 10:48 am:
Vienna's Mayor Michael Ludwig speaks of a "historic meeting" that took place. It is important not only to recognize the seriousness of the situation, but also to take "unpopular measures". The corona measures would be supported "nationwide". There should be appropriate economic measures. There are important steps that have now been taken.
Update from November 19, 10:40 a.m.:
The message of the doctors in Austria is clear.
“We have to act now.
Otherwise the system will collapse, ”says Günther Platter.
The lockdown is an "emergency stop," he emphasizes.
"We have to use the three weeks to get as many as possible vaccinated," Platter appeals.
In addition to the first and second vaccination, the third pie is "very important".
If you pull yourself together now, you can prevent a “fifth wave”.
"You could reach an agreement between the federal government and the states," said Platter with regard to the comprehensive measures.
ÖVP, SPÖ and Greens are in agreement.
Corona in Austria: Lockdown decided - mandatory vaccination comes in 2022
Update from November 19, 10:34 a.m.:
The lockdown will end after 20 days for vaccinated people. This will not apply to unvaccinated people. Restrictions should continue to apply to this group. "We need a higher vaccination rate," Mückenstein clarifies once again. The only way out of the pandemic is vaccination. The general compulsory vaccination should help. Regarding the third vaccination, Mückenstein says: "The third dose is recommended after four months." The Green Pass is only valid for 7 months. “Get the third dose,” he appeals, “only together can we find our way out of the pandemic.
Update from November 19, 10:27 am:
"The fourth wave
hit
us in full," says Health Minister Mückenstein. He calls the decision a "breakwater lockdown". “Nobody wants a lockdown”, nobody wants this means. However, it is the most reliable tool to break the coronavirus wave. "We will bring the numbers down, we will relieve the staff in the intensive care units, we will be able to save human lives," said Mückenstein. Exit restrictions apply from Monday, November 22nd. Home office should be made possible wherever possible. An FFP2 mask is mandatory indoors.
Update from November 19, 10:25 am:
"From Monday for a maximum of 20 days there will be a nationwide lockdown," Schallenberg announced the next hammer. This should be evaluated after ten days. The lockdown for vaccinated persons will end on December 12th at the latest. “None of us willingly take steps that restrict freedom. We have to decide on these measures and we all support them. It hurts enormously that we have to take such measures, ”Schallenberg is clear. “I ask all of you for your help. Take these measures with you. So that Christmas is secured for the vaccinated and protected, ”he appeals.
Update from November 19, 10:20 am:
"Despite months of persuasion, we have not succeeded in convincing enough people to get vaccinated," said Chancellor Schallenberg.
The lockdown for the unvaccinated has increased the vaccination rate - but not enough.
Now you have to "look reality in the eye," says Schallenberg.
There are too many political forces who oppose the vaccination - that is "irresponsible".
“We made a very difficult decision.
To initiate a nationwide compulsory vaccination for the decision. "This will apply from February 1, 2022. The vaccination quota is the only way to get out of the" vicious circle ".
Austria decides lockdown and compulsory vaccination for EVERYONE - Chancellor Schallenberg speaks on PK
Update from November 19, 10.12 a.m.:
The press conference in Austria should begin in a few minutes.
Update from November 19, 9.55 a.m.:
The corona situation in Austria is dramatic.
The number of infections continues to rise, the hospitals are reaching their limit.
The Austrian government around Chancellor Alexander Schallenberg and Health Minister Wolfgang Mückenstein have therefore apparently decided to take drastic steps.
As the Austrian media unanimously report, there should be a nationwide lockdown and a compulsory vaccination for all.
The planned press conference was postponed to 10.15 a.m.
First report from November 19:
Vienna - The coronavirus numbers have been rising sharply in Germany for weeks, but Austria is also struggling with an increasingly dramatic situation.
On Friday, the government and federal states in Austria apparently want to discuss tightening the measures.
In the run-up, calls for a new nationwide lockdown were made.
As has already been leaked: it is precisely this nationwide lockdown that is now apparently actually supposed to be decided.
Austria is going down!
Nationwide lockdown probably decided - Chancellor wants to ask vaccinated people for "solidarity"
On Thursday, the federal states of Upper Austria and Salzburg announced that they would single-handedly impose a lockdown if they failed to reach an agreement. But as the Austrian newspaper Krone now reports, the nationwide lockdown should come into force for everyone from Monday. This will then apply for ten days, and schools will then also close again. As the paper further reports, the lockdown should be able to be extended once for a further ten days. However, this maximum does not apply to unvaccinated people, they could remain in lockdown even after the 20 days.
As the Krone further reports, the government is to announce the nationwide lockdown in a press conference in the morning.
Federal Chancellor Alexander Schallenberg should therefore want to ask all people vaccinated against the coronavirus for "solidarity".
As the Krone reports, there should also be a general compulsory vaccination.
This could come into force from January 2022.
However, this information has not yet been confirmed.
Only on Thursday were absolute record numbers reported in Austria.
According to official information, 15,145 people were infected with the corona virus within 24 hours.
This has exceeded the threshold of one million confirmed infections since the start of the pandemic in the country with around 8.9 million inhabitants.
