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Federal and state governments agree on largely joint measures to stop the sharp rise in corona infections. This is a good thing. And hopefully not too late.
Let’s not act surprised. For weeks the number of corona infections has been increasing in Austria, mainly in urban areas, but also in rural areas. In the past few days, the curve has been pointing steeply upwards. It was clear that something must be done if we want to get a grip on the completely uncontrolled spread of the damn corona virus.
After a somewhat carefree summer, the pandemic has hit the country full force again, possibly in a more dangerous way than in spring, when the spread could be traced back to definable hotspots. Now there is a threat of wildfire.
Things are getting really serious again
After weeks of confusing regional measures, it is good that the federal and state governments have now agreed on a common line on how to contain the spread of the disease in areas with a high incidence of infection.
Strictly limited private celebrations, curfews in restaurants, only a maximum of ten people together in public spaces with incidence values of 50 per week and an extended mask requirement from 35. To do this, wash your hands, ventilate, keep your distance, use the Corona Warning App. All this makes sense, all this can be remembered, so all this is better than confusing, hyperlocal regulations such as time-limited mask regulations in Hamburg, which are only valid for certain streets with exact house numbers.
We are tired of it, but that doesn’t change anything
Dyed-in-the-wool Corona deniers will not be impressed by this new appeal from politicians. And cautious people have also held back from the new warning. But the many in between have grown tired. The cursed virus itself hasn’t caught them yet, but its concomitant effect is gnawing at them: attrition. One wants to meet friends. To go on vacation. To finally lead a completely normal life again. And not have to think about Corona, Corona, Corona all the time. But the virus does not care about our needs and sensitivities. If we want to stop it, we all have to become more alert again.
The second lockdown rolls
If the increase in the number of infections does not come to a halt within the next days at the latest as a result of the tightened measures, “further targeted restriction steps are unavoidable in order to further reduce public contacts,” government authorities said. This sounds like a warning, but is in fact an announcement of the inevitable. Even if a complete lockdown were to apply from tomorrow, the figures would rise even further, because the infections visible and measurable in a week’s time have already happened. We are running after the virus.
Let’s hope that the measures adopted by the government will reduce the gap again somewhat, so that we gain time until a vaccine is finally available. But let us not fool ourselves: These were not the last and not the toughest Corona decisions. It will be a long, dark winter.
— Hector Pascua, Picture: stockilyapp.com
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