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After Health Minister Rudolf Anschober (Greens), Federal Chancellor Sebastian Kurz (ÖVP) also announced on Friday afternoon that, in addition to state-specific measures, there would be further nationwide tightening of the fight against the corona virus. On Monday a video conference between the federal government and the states will take place. Its purpose is “to discuss the next steps together and take the right measures at federal and state level,” Kurz told the APA.
The reason for the federal and state video conference on Monday is the increasing number of infections in Austria. Chancellor Kurz, Vice Chancellor Werner Kogler (Greens), Health Minister Rudolf Anschober (Greens), Minister of the Interior Karl Nehammer (ÖVP) and the provincial governors will discuss the current infection situation and further measures. “The situation is worsening throughout Europe, and the number of affected federal states in Austria is also increasing, with a rise in new infections,” Kurz reminded in a written statement.
“The video conference with the representatives of the federal states is intended to enable us to discuss the next steps together and take the right measures at federal and state level,” Kurz told the public that the situation is set to become even more acute. When asked, the Chancellor’s Office did not yet have an answer to the question of what these measures would be – the talks were still ongoing, they said. After the video conference on Monday, a press conference with the presentation of new measures can probably be expected.
It is more than likely that the so-called face shields will be banned and only “real” nose-mouth masks will be allowed to be used in future.
In any case, Kurz emphasized that only by reducing social contacts, can the increase in infection rates be stopped. The more infections, the greater the challenge for the healthcare system, but also the threat to jobs and burdens on companies, warned the Chancellor. “We are seeing in other European countries in particular that above a certain level of infection, contact tracing no longer works, leading to further increases in numbers and lockdown-like conditions. We want to prevent this in Austria,” Kurz assured.
How Austria manages to cope with or fend off the second wave now depends on the coming weeks and the discipline of everyone. Especially the leisure time behavior is of crucial importance, since in the private sector currently most new infections are registered, Kurz warned. “Even if the virus does not affect you personally, rising infection numbers can still affect people in the family, circle of friends or in the work environment due to a poorer economic development. Therefore, determination, unity and solidarity are now needed throughout the country,” Chancellor Kurz said.
— Hector Pascua, Source: kurier.at. Picture: stockilyapp.com
