Chancellor Kurz continues to anticipate “massive restrictions”

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Federal Chancellor Sebastian Kurz (ÖVP) dampens expectations of an early relaxation of the corona measures after the current lockdown. “We will have to live with further massive restrictions after December 7,” he told the “Kleine Zeitung”. In any case, there would be no “hasty opening steps”. The goal is to take “cautious opening steps” in the retail sector and for schools from December 7. However, this would depend on the number of infections, Kurz said.

The higher the numbers are, “the more difficult it will be to set opening steps,” says Kurz. “Everyone must be aware that we still have weeks and months to live with certain restrictions,” said the Chancellor.

A third lockdown must be prevented as far as possible, he said. The antigen mass tests planned for December could be “a great opportunity”. With these tests, the occurrence of infection can be localized and new infections prevented, he argued.

In the debate about a pre-Christmas closure of the ski resorts due to the Corona pandemic, Kurz announced the presentation of the government plans on this topic for Wednesday. However, the debate had to be conducted in a “more differentiated” manner. For one thing, the ski slopes are currently closed and – “as sorry as he is” – the sports and leisure facilities will not be part of the first opening step.

Nevertheless, the government wants to make more sports possible again “in the foreseeable future”, especially if they are held outdoors and as individual sports. On the other hand, the question of tourism must be viewed separately, Kurz said: “What is clear is that après-ski will not be back for a year at the earliest.

Asked about the high numbers of infections and illnesses in the second wave and whether government measures had not come too late, Kurz said: “As you know, I was in favor of imposing the lockdown earlier and harder. However, there had been resistance from some parties and state governors who argued that the population would not support the measures. He also took a run-up around the autumn vacations, where there was still a lot of resistance, said Kurz: “During the lockdown light, I already wanted to close the schools. At that time, there was no majority for this”.