Starting next Friday new rules for meetings will apply. The government appeals to adhere to them so that Austria will be spared an even tougher pace.
What rules apply to meetings?
Indoors only six people are allowed to meet, outdoors only twelve. This includes all meetings that do not take place within one’s own four walls and have no assigned seats.
Every group that meets, no matter for what purpose, is bound by the six-person rule indoors and the twelve-person rule outdoors. The big exception is the workplace, but home office applies if possible. Further exceptions are funerals and visits to masses. The upcoming Halloween parties on the other hand will probably not be able to take place in the usual manner.
What about meetings in apartments?
The police are not allowed to control apartments, so the limitation of the number of people in apartments cannot be enforced. But the chancellor makes it clear that he expects voluntary compliance with this rule. Those who take advantage of the fact that the police are not allowed to enter private apartments would contribute to more infections and thus to even stricter measures, Kurz says.
What’s new at events?
Events with more than six or twelve people are only allowed to take place with assigned seats, and they must now be reported to the health authorities. Masks will be mandatory at all indoor and outdoor events. However, there is no general obligation to wear masks in public areas.
Food and drinks will be prohibited at events, except for all-day further education and training.
The maximum number of officially approved events is reduced to 1,000 indoor, 1,500 outdoor.
Does the six-person rule also apply to restaurants?
Yes. Only six people aged 18 or older are allowed at a table. Previously ten people were allowed. In addition, consumption in front of the restaurant will be prohibited after curfew. Restaurants with more than 50 seats must have a mandatory prevention concept in the future. Up to now, this applied to restaurants with more than 200 seats.
How are senior citizens protected?
In all general areas in a nursing home there is an obligation to wear mouth and nose protection. New residents have to be tested, visitors have to undergo health checks, pre-registration and compulsory masks. Obligatory tests apply to nurses entering from abroad.
Regional tightening
The announcement of the new measures was preceded by a video conference between the Federal Government and the federal states. It was agreed that the federal states would intensify the measures regionally wherever there is an increase in infection.
What exactly should the federal states do?
The states can impose further restrictions on events – up to and including banning events altogether. The closing hours can be brought forward regionally, a nationwide advance is not possible. The states can impose bans on parties in public areas: Alcohol bans, bans on the sale of alcohol after curfew and the wearing of masks in busy outdoor areas.
Thinning out the presence in schools and universities or even distance learning remains a national matter. The states can tighten the rules in old people’s homes, impose bans on entering retail or catering establishments and impose quarantine measures for communities and districts.
— Hector Pascua, with reports from kurier.at. Picture: stockilyapp.com
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