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After a further rise in new infections to a record high and a warning from the Crown Commission, the Austrian government is planning a much more drastic approach than before. He wants to significantly tighten the previous rules of the crown and is apparently planning a complete blockade. Shops and schools would close for three weeks and exit restrictions would be imposed 24 hours a day.
According to several media reports on the draft government decree, the exit restrictions previously applied during the night should be extended to the whole day with a few exceptions. According to the draft, all shops that are not essential for daily needs would be closed. Even schools that are still open for the younger age groups should close and switch to distance learning, most of them will probably also close kindergartens. A stricter contact ban must now be added so that only the closest circles can meet.
From Tuesday to December 6, according to the draft, the previous partial block is expected to turn into a full block. A so-called partial blockade has been in place in Austria since 3 November. Gastronomy, tourism, culture and leisure facilities are mostly closed. Commerce, service providers and schools, with the exception of high school, remained open – “for the time being,” as Kurz pointed out at the time. Additionally, exit restrictions have been enforced so far from 8pm to 6am, allowing people to leave their “private living space” only for basic needs or to relax outdoors.
The number of infections continues to increase unchecked
The federal government around Chancellor Sebastian Kurz (ÖVP) and Vice Chancellor Werner Kogler (Verdi) wants to announce the new approach this Saturday afternoon. You’re following the strict lockdown in the spring, when for the first time in Austria there was a complete shutdown of public life, including exit rules due to the pandemic.
The number of infections has increased almost uncontrollably since the introduction of the previous rules. The government’s Crown Commission recommends further measures to prevent the collapse of the health system.
The average of new infections over the past seven days was 554.2 cases per 100,000 population across Austria on Friday, but up to 850 regionally. On Friday, 3922 patients with Covid-19 were in hospital, 567 of them in intensive care beds – an increasingly critical situation Value for the Austrian health system.
Intensive care units are already reaching their limits in the countries of Vorarlberg and Upper Austria, which are currently the most affected. Vorarlberg hospitals said Friday that they will only focus on emergency medicine and the care of Covid 19 patients, a triage – patient selection – in the coming days cannot be ruled out. Out of 63 beds in intensive care, 46 are occupied, 35 of which with Covid 19 patients. Even clinics in other parts of Austria do not postpone necessary or urgent operations.
The now planned exit rules and related exceptions need to be more rigorously defined according to the reports on the new regulation. Subsequently, contacts are only allowed between family members, life partners, close relatives, and important caregivers. You can leave your living area only to cover essential needs, such as shopping, visiting the doctor or practicing religion. You should also be able to leave your apartment professionally, as well as for sports or walks, important appointments with authorities or the courts.
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