Provincial Governor Johanna Mikl-Leitner (ÖVP) announced on Wednesday that, after Vienna, Lower Austria will also extend the “Easter lockdown” to contain the corona crisis until April 11. A little later, Burgenland also announced that the lockdown in the province will be extended.
“While a nationwide strategy remains outstanding – and the extension of the test strategy failed in parliament,” the situation in parts of the eastern region is “critical,” Mikl-Leitner said. Therefore, Lower Austria will “in solidarity with Vienna” extend the agreed measures until April 11.
Lower Austria hopes for falling coronavirus numbers soon
Despite the burden on health care, the Ministry of Health does not succeed in developing a comprehensible approach for all provinces, Mikl-Leitner explained. This is to be taken note of.
Burgenland also extends until April 11
Following in the footsteps of Vienna and Lower Austria, Burgenland also announced Wednesday evening that it would extend its lockdown beyond Easter until April 11. This was agreed in a recent conference call between Burgenland Governor Hans Peter Doskozil (SPÖ) and his Lower Austrian counterpart Johanna Mikl-Leitner (ÖVP), a statement said. Doskozil continues to push for a federal-state meeting for a unified strategy.
The protective measures in force from Maundy Thursday in the fight against the Corona pandemic will be maintained until April 11. “I have been urging since the first joint agreements in the eastern region that we continue to proceed as uniformly as possible and avoid an unjustified patchwork,” said the governor. The population and the economy need clarity and the ability to plan.
Doskozil continues to advocate a swift meeting of the federal and state governments to discuss a unified strategy. “The federal government and especially the chancellor must not shift responsibility to the federal states alone,” the governor said.
Kurz and Anschober welcome extension
Chancellor Sebastian Kurz (ÖVP) and Health Minister Rudolf Anschober (Greens) welcome the announced extension of the lockdown in eastern Austria.
Kurz welcomed the “joint approach” of the three countries. They had agreed on a regional approach in the fight against the pandemic, Kurz said. This approach has proven successful and will be continued, he said. “The three provinces are currently the most affected, so the step taken by the three provincial governors to jointly extend the lockdown is right and necessary,” the chancellor said. In the other provinces, the situation is “stable” with regard to intensive capacities, he added.
Anschober also called the extension an “important step” to address the “serious situation” in intensive care units. “Now is the very last time, the very last chance for an emergency stop,” Anschober warned. He added that the Easter break must be consistently observed, and measures such as minimum distance, FFP2 masks and testing must be consistently implemented in the coming days.
- sources: APA and vienna.at/pixabay.com
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