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Austria, one of the European countries that best weathered the first wave of the covid-19 pandemic, has announced tougher isolation in the face of the huge increase in new infections.
The new measures adopted by the Austrian government will take effect on Tuesday until 6 December, reports the EFE agency.
According to the chancellor of the Central European country, Sebastian Kurz, the aim of these measures is to achieve a “substantial reduction” in infections, reduce hospitalizations and “save” the Christmas holidays for families and companies.
On November 3, the government had already announced lighter isolation, which included the closure of restaurants, bars, theaters, concert halls and universities and schools for students aged 15 and over.
However, the measures, which included a night curfew, did not produce the expected effects and infections increased.
On Friday, Austria recorded a new high of new infections, with 9600 cases, adding four thousand hospitalized people, 560 of whom in intensive care.
Last week the average was seven thousand infections per day and an incidence of 550 cases per 100 thousand inhabitants, that is 11 times higher than the desired value.
The number of deaths from covid-19 exceeds 1,600, double the number two months ago.
Austria will thus extend the compulsory collection for the whole day, despite numerous exceptions.
All educational institutions will close and operate with distance learning whenever possible. Citizens who cannot telework can send their children to school.
All non-essential shops and services, such as hairdressers, must remain closed in the next three weeks, with the exception of supermarkets, pharmacies, banks and post offices.
“If we do not react massively, there is a risk that infections will continue to rise or remain at a very high level,” Kurz warned, explaining that the goal is to reopen shops and schools on 7 December.
The government has also called on all companies and employees to do so work remotely whenever possible.
For the affected companies, the state will provide considerable financial aid, with compensation up to a maximum of 80% of the turnover recorded in November last year.
Individual outdoor sports are still permitted, but federated sports and organized competitions will be suspended, with the exception of professional sports such as football.
On the other hand, Christian churches and other places of worship will remain open and religious ceremonies may be held.
The covid-19 pandemic has caused at least 1,305,039 deaths resulting from more than 53.4 million cases of the infection worldwide, according to a report by the French agency AFP.
In Europe, the highest number of deaths is recorded in the United Kingdom (51,304 deaths, over 1.3 million cases), followed by Italy (44,139 deaths, over 1.1 million cases), France (43,892 killed, approximately 1, 9 million cases) and Spain (40,769 deaths, over 1.4 million cases).
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