“Action sharp”: 2G checks in stores will start on Tuesday

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The 2G controls in stores will start on Tuesday.

Interior Minister Gerhard Karner (ÖVP) announced an intensification of Covid controls by the police at a press conference in Vienna on Monday. The “Aktion Scharf” should be at the same time an “action fairness” to the overwhelming part of the population who adhere to the Corona protection measures.

For the “strengthened control pressure” are to provide readiness units as well as policemen and policewomen in civilian clothes. For the trade there will be recommendations for action, “how controls can be implemented safely”. Because the employees there are challenged accordingly, said Karner, for example in recognizing falsification of documents or in dealing with “customers who do not want to cooperate”.

Focus on controls not only in retail
The focus of the controls from Tuesday is to be in the catering trade, trade and tourist hotspots. The Director General of Public Security, Franz Ruf, also announced controls on operators regarding their obligation to control customers. In each district there will be dedicated patrols exclusively for monitoring compliance. There are nearly 30,000 officers, and they will all “operate in their respective areas of responsibility,” Ruf said. In addition, police officers will act as role models and in the future “wear an FFP2 mask while on patrol,” Ruf said.

FFP2 mask requirement
As of Tuesday, FFP2 masks will also be mandatory outdoors if the minimum distance of two meters is not maintained. The police also want to control this, for example in pedestrian zones, bus stops or waiting lines, Ruf announced.

Numerous police checks
According to the Interior Minister, police officers have carried out more than 1.6 million checks since November 16, 2021. 12,000 violations were punished in the process. Since December 20, there have been 1.3 million checks at the borders and 5,100 entry prohibitions.

According to Karner, the police see themselves “as partners of the companies.” Instructions are to be provided to the 81,000 commercial enterprises on how to carry out checks, including video tutorials, announced Manuel Scherscher, deputy director of the Federal Criminal Police Office. For example, it will be explained how to deal with people who refuse to cooperate in the controls or, in the worst case, become aggressive. On Tuesday, the police will also sit down with business and trade representatives for this purpose.

Köstinger on consistent 2G controls in tourism
The consistent 2G controls in tourism would be among the most important measures to ensure the highest possible security for guests and employees. This was said by Tourism Minister Elisabeth Köstinger in a reaction to the announcement of “Aktion Scharf”. The majority of businesses carry this out in an exemplary manner. The increased controls are important to uncover black sheep. Köstinger stressed that companies lose their entitlement to aid in the event of violations.

Lockdown for the unvaccinated is now being controlled
Since the fourth Corona wave, only vaccinated or recovered persons (2G) have been allowed to shop in non-food stores; unvaccinated persons are still subject to a lockdown, and are only allowed to buy everyday products in supermarkets, tobacconists, pharmacies or drugstore chains. What is new now is the obligation for the retail sector to carry out checks. Businesses that do not comply can also be blocked.