For meetings in a larger circle, Christmas Eve and Christmas Day remain the exceptions, on New Year’s Eve the current contact restrictions apply. The federal states will also have the option of partially introducing a mask requirement outdoors as well. In addition, this will be mandatory in the workplace if the distance can not be maintained.
Vice Chancellor Werner Kogler (Green Party) and Chancellor Sebastian Kurz (Austrian People’s Party) gave a Press Conference on the current Corona development on Friday evening after a video conference with the provincial governors.
Vienna – After meetings with ten people are allowed on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, the current rule of six adults and six children from a maximum of two households will apply again from December 26. This is also the plan for New Year’s Eve celebrations, Chancellor Sebastian Kurz (ÖVP) said in a press statement on Friday evening. Nighttime curfew restrictions from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. also remain in effect. However, these will not apply on New Year’s Eve.
“Especially in the private sector, the contagion is high,” Kurz emphasized. “The virus doesn’t stop at the holidays.” The level of contagion is still too high, he said. “The pandemic is far from over,” Kurz said. In January, February and March, there would still be “hard times” ahead for Austrians.
The Chancellor announced the second tranche of mass tests for January. In the provinces this will take place from January 8 to 10, in Vienna even until January 17. Occupational groups close to the body will have to be tested every two weeks from January 8, including teachers and educators. The groups would now be defined by the government together with the social partners.
“The situation is tense and will remain tense,” warned Vice Chancellor Werner Kogler (Greens), referring to the approaching flu season. “And we don’t even know yet how that will turn out this year.” Kogler appealed to the population: “We will hold out, we want to hold out and holding out now also means sticking together.”
Possibility for mandatory masks outdoors comes
“The countries naturally support the measures presented today. However, individual details still need to be clarified and agreed,” said Salzburg’s governor Wilfried Haslauer (ÖVP), currently chairman of the conference of state governors, after the meeting.
The provinces will now have the option of introducing a partial mask requirement outdoors as well. For example, in the case of large gatherings of people outdoors. In addition, mouth-nose protection will become mandatory in the workplace, wherever the distance cannot be maintained.
-hp, from the press conference pf the federal gvernment held on 11 December, with reports from APA, picture: pixabay.com
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