In Austria, further easing of the corona restrictions beyond the steps already planned are in the offing. According to its own statements, the government wants to meet with the prime ministers of the federal states next Wednesday for corresponding consultations. “We have always said that we will only maintain restrictions for as long as is absolutely necessary,” said Chancellor Karl Nehammer (ÖVP) on Friday. The number of infections is still high, but the load on the normal and intensive care units has been stable for weeks. Industry representatives are pushing for the curfew to end at midnight and for further easing, for example in fitness studios and the wellness areas of hotels.
End for 2G in retail
This Saturday, among other things, the 2G rule will fall in all shops and in the museums. After 13 long weekends, just in time for Valentine’s Day (February 14), an “inglorious chapter in Austrian retail history” said the managing director of the trade association, Rainer Will. The industry, which was hit by the pandemic, is hoping for additional sales of around 200 million euros per week. So far, it is planned for February 19 that the 3G rule will apply in the catering trade again. This means that those who only tested negative would have access to the bars again. The exception is Vienna, which intends to stick to the 2G obligation in the catering trade.
With around 2,500 cases per 100,000 inhabitants, Austria has a seven-day incidence that is almost twice as high as Germany. (dpa)