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Will a mandatory use of mask still be introduced again?
Vienna. At present, compulsory masks are only required in public places and health care facilities. However, parallel to the massive relaxation, the number of cases continues to rise. Experts have been warning for days: “There is a dangerous crisis fatigue, and this leads to a carelessness in dealing with corona”, says the hygienist Hans-Peter Hutter of MedUni Vienna. He pleads for voluntary use of the mask, for example in supermarkets, shops, DIY stores: “In the 21st century, it must be possible for people to follow few rules,” he says.
“When numbers start to rise again, we need to make masks compulsory.”
His colleague, the virologist Monika Redlberger-Fritz, says: “Just because the obligation to wear masks has been abolished does not mean that you are not allowed to wear masks. I would still recommend it, especially at peak times. Then it makes a lot of sense.” “If the case load keeps rising, make make make-up duty makes sense again.”
The virologist hopes that Austria will be spared a second wave. She also hopes to detect infection chains as quickly as possible.
Free masks.
SPÖ leader Pamela Rendi-Wagner also demands this: “We cannot afford another shutdown, even from a purely economic point of view”, she says. But more and faster tests are needed. She now wants to offer free masks in front of supermarkets again.
Thomas Szekeres, President of the Medical Association, is also worried: “If the voluntary approach still doesn’t work, we will have to consider measures to make masks mandatory again. Despite rising case numbers, the government is not yet planning to tighten measures against the pandemic throughout Austria.
First shopping mall wants masks for customers
In the Linz shopping mall Passage, manager Monika Sandberger has once again put up posters with mask recommendations: “In Linz the corona numbers are rising. There is no obligation to wear a mask, but there is a recommendation. Nobody should feel uncomfortable to wear a mask again. But I notice that more people are wearing masks.” The Apple store on Kärntner Strasse in Vienna is making masks mandatory again.
- Hector Pascua, with reports from oe24.at
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