Corona exit: Austria now wants to relax masks, curfews and the like
Created: 2022-02-14Updated: 2022-02-14 2:03 PM
By: Bedrettin Bölükbasi
Austria's government Chancellor Karl Nehammer (ÖVP) speaks at a press conference on the current corona situation in Austria.
© Tobias Steinmaurer/imago
In Austria, several corona rules such as the obligation to wear masks and curfews are to be relaxed.
Compulsory vaccinations could soon change.
Vienna/Munich - In the wake of the corona pandemic, Austria was considered one of the strictest countries in Europe.
As part of the tough course, compulsory vaccination was introduced a few days ago.
But despite the high number of infections with the omicron mutation, there is now a change in Austrian corona policy.
The country is heading towards a corona exit with far-reaching easing.
The government even brought up a possible end to compulsory vaccination.
The reason for the decision to relax is apparently the situation in the hospitals.
Despite the high number of infections in some places, there is no overload in Austria.
The prospect of opening up has been discussed in the country for weeks.
Some loosening had already been decided.
Corona loosening in Austria: 3G in gastro and lifting of the curfew - no masks for students
On Wednesday
(February 16)
, the Austrian government now wants to decide on further major easing in an opening summit.
Concrete plans have already emerged, as
OE24
reported.
Accordingly,
the 3G rule in gastronomy should apply again from Saturday
(February 19) .
Unvaccinated people should also have the opportunity to go to restaurants to be tested.
The easing also affects the curfew.
So far, there has been a night curfew from midnight.
Previously this was moved from 10pm to midnight.
According to
OE24
, the curfew should now fall in order to fill night gastronomy with life again.
The wave of easing in Austria will also make itself felt in schools.
On February 21, the mask requirement for all students in the square will be lifted, as Minister of Education Martin Polaschek announced.
However, the mask requirement in the school building and for teachers will continue to apply.
In addition, the rule for testing three times a week is to be retained.
"We have to proceed with a sense of proportion," explained Polaschek, explaining this with the intensive exchange between students and students and teachers.
If the epidemiological situation eases further, further easing will be carried out, the minister assured.
Corona vaccination obligation in Austria: Chancellor Nehammer signals a possible end to the regulation
Amid the many easing plans in Austria, Chancellor Karl Nehammer also opened the door to a possible end to the country's recently introduced compulsory vaccination.
“A commission of lawyers and doctors is constantly reassessing whether vaccination is still the legal means.
Of course, compulsory vaccination is an intensive intervention.
We have to proceed with caution here," he told the
Kronen Zeitung
.
On the other hand, it is important "to bring people back their freedoms".
The law on compulsory vaccination is constantly being evaluated, according to Nehammer.
When asked whether it would fall soon, the chancellor replied: "If the experts judge it that way and propose it to the government, then yes.
The purpose of this law was never to take coercive measures, but to find the right answer at the right time for the respective danger of the virus."
(bb)
