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A waiter in Vienna prepares tables with a mask
Photo: Roland Schlager / dpa
The omicron variant of the coronavirus is spreading massively across Europe.
Austria is now reacting with new restrictions and shorter quarantine periods.
In the future, an FFP2 mask will have to be worn outdoors if a two-meter distance cannot be maintained, announced Federal Chancellor Karl Nehammer in Vienna. This applies, for example, to pedestrian zones and queues. In addition, retailers and restaurants are obliged to carry out controls so that the 2G rule - i.e. admission only for vaccinated and convalescent - is complied with.
In order not to endanger the infrastructure, contact persons of infected people can in future be freed from quarantine after the fifth day.
With daily tests and wearing an FFP2 mask, employees in the critical infrastructure should also be able to continue working as contact persons.
The situation is very serious, said Nehammer.
With a joint effort, however, a new lockdown can be prevented.
According to the information, the so-called green passport as proof of vaccination will only be valid for six months from February.
New debate about mandatory vaccination
The number of new infections is skyrocketing in Austria.
According to the authorities on Thursday, 8,853 people were infected with the virus within 24 hours.
Taking into account the number of inhabitants, that would be around 80,000 cases extrapolated to Germany.
Meanwhile, the debate about mandatory vaccination in Austria continues.
Legally, the plan is now on shaky feet due to the Omikron variant, said constitutional lawyer Heinz Mayer on Thursday the news agency dpa.
The variant is also more contagious for vaccinated people and they could spread the virus as well.
"If the vaccination does not adequately protect the health system, then compulsory vaccination is not permitted."
Instead of introducing the mandatory vaccination on February 1, it could be more appropriate by law to give the health minister the opportunity to order such a step at any time, said Mayer.
From the government's point of view, vaccination remains the decisive and extremely effective antidote to slow down the spread of the coronavirus.
He is therefore sticking to the plan of compulsory vaccination, said Nehammer.
With this step, the Austrian government wants to push the more than one million people without vaccination to inject.
Substantial fines of up to 3600 euros are provided for violations.
With the exception of the right-wing FPÖ, all parliamentary parties have approved the project.
Around 70 percent of Austrians are currently vaccinated.
Recently, however, the willingness to vaccinate has decreased significantly.
mrc / dpa
