One more week of strict lockdown – and then everything is fine again? Of course not by a long shot. That’s why the question of how life will continue after the strict lockdown, the end of which has been announced for next Sunday, is becoming more and more exciting. It is true that the rules will not be decided until the ministerial meeting next Wednesday. Until then, there will still be discussions, but some things are already emerging.
“Kronen Zeitung” published possible lockdown relaxations starting December 7, 2020. . Let’s take a look at the individual areas:
Trade: From today’s perspective, stores will be allowed to open from 7 December onwards – with restrictions on the number of people in the stores. Why not wait a little longer to open them? Quite simply because it is feared that if the stores open about a week later, customers will crowd in even closer in the then even fewer shopping days remaining until Christmas. Or, at the same time, many more Austrians will switch to the mostly international online providers when buying their Christmas presents.
Schools: Teaching possibly with masks in the classroom, in smaller groups, sometimes in outsourced rooms outside the schools. One of the major challenges for resuming “normal” school operations: How do you replace those teachers who test positive in the teacher mass tests next weekend?
Body-related services: Hairdressers and beauticians are unlikely to open at the first loosening step.
Culture: opera, theater, cabaret, museum, Christmas exhibition or Advent singing? Certainly not from 7 December!
Skiing: The secret government plan before Christmas: Lifts open for the locals – but huts remain closed. Absolutely taboo remains above all the Après-Ski! One hears in connection with skiing that it would be strange if the population of Sölden, for example, were to be locked up in the Ötztal valley – and not allowed to go up to their mountains to do sports. Just as the Viennese or Lower Austrians hike in the Vienna Woods or the Upper Austrians and Carinthians walk around their lakes.
Gastronomy/Hotel industry: So while skiing might be possible to a certain extent during the Christmas vacations, the situation for the gastronomy looks bleaker.
Contacts: … and in the smallest circle! Because you can only celebrate with your closest relatives. The currently valid restrictions on starting and above all on contacts should remain largely intact!
Depending on how we manage this “mid-lockdown”, we will then continue – hopefully “softer” and not harder again! One thing is clear: The path will be a slower one. And a long one!
- hp, Source: krone.at. picture: pixabay.com
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