Austria orders three-week lockdown to rein in surging coronavirus cases

[rooster59]

Austria orders three-week lockdown to rein in surging coronavirus cases

 

People with protective masks walk down a shopping street during the second lockdown as the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak continues in Vienna, Austria, November 13, 2020. REUTERS/Lisi Niesner

 

VIENNA (Reuters) - Austria on Saturday ordered a three-week lockdown in a last-ditch effort to bring surging coronavirus cases under control and relieve the stress on the health service in time for retailers to reopen in the run-up to Christmas.

 

The country had so far used a lighter touch in dealing with the second wave of cases than it did with the first outbreak, which it brought under control with a lockdown in the spring.

 

A nighttime curfew is in place from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. this month but shops are open; cafes, bars and restaurants are limited to take-away service; theatres and museums are closed.

 

Those measures have failed to stop infections from accelerating and Austria now has one of Europe's highest infection rates.

Daily new cases hit a record of 9,586 on Friday, nine times higher than at the peak of the first wave.

 

The conservative-led government had called a lockdown a last resort, but it was left with no alternative to prevent hospitals from being overwhelmed. The new lockdown is due to start on Tuesday and end on Monday, Dec. 7.

 

"The next close to three weeks, two-and-a-half weeks, will be a very difficult time for us," Chancellor Sebastian Kurz told a news conference.

 

The current nighttime curfew will become an all-day requirement to stay at home, with only some exceptions such as for shopping or exercise. Working from home should happen wherever possible, Kurz said, confirming details earlier reported by Reuters.

 

Non-essential shops will close, as will service providers such as hairdressers. Secondary schools have already switched to distance learning; primary schools and kindergartens will now follow suit but still provide childcare for those who need it.

 

"Our declared aim is for compulsory schools and shops to be the very first to reopen on Dec. 7 immediately after the lockdown," Kurz said, adding: "The more thoroughly we implement this lockdown the shorter the time we will need it for."

 

(Reporting by Francois Murphy; Editing by Mark Potter and Christina Fincher)

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2020-11-15

 

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[daveAustin]

Sucks. Happens to all. Someone bound to mention how remote places like NZ and junta-Thailand are doing so well but.

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43 minutes ago, daveAustin said:

Sucks. Happens to all. Someone bound to mention how remote places like NZ and junta-Thailand are doing so well but.

Thailand remote? Because it's far from wherever you think the center of the world is? Thailand shares borders with Burma, Cambodia and Laos. Unlike NZ or Australia, it's not an island.

[Letseng]

This EU free movement policy makes the situation difficult to control. They ought to shut borders again. Holiday season during summer, greed for money by tourism business killed Austria's success with 1st wave.

[Oldie]

Poor people. But they can apply for a TR visa and come to Thailand. Austria is not blocked.

[Letseng]

On 11/16/2020 at 2:48 AM, Oldie said:

Poor people. But they can apply for a TR visa and come to Thailand. Austria is not blocked.

You can't apply for a visa. Just checked. However, this lockdown doesn't impact my daily life. Can still go across the border to Germany for a haircut. Takes me 15 mins. All shops for daily needs are open incl. wine shops, patisserie etc., fresh markets are open. No hardship here.

[Oldie]

7 hours ago, Letseng said:

You can't apply for a visa. Just checked. However, this lockdown doesn't impact my daily life. Can still go across the border to Germany for a haircut. Takes me 15 mins. All shops for daily needs are open incl. wine shops, patisserie etc., fresh markets are open. No hardship here.

Where did you get this information from? Just checked again and you can get a TR visa (60 + 30 days). 

 

I wouldn't do it. You need to sit in the plane with mask all the time. Then you have to go into quarantine for 2 weeks and even much longer if tested positive. And you pay for all this. I would rather enjoy the cheap and good beer and food in Austria. Here the beer is a nightmare for me and for imported western food I pay a fortune.

 

Thailand has lost its charm long time ago. Nowadays it is more something for cheap mass tourism and as always for the (remaining) booze and sex tourists Thailand seems to love so much. In the meantime there are better countries offering more quality. So enjoy the beautiful Austria. Here is just another hot day with bad air quality.