It was only on Thursday that the federal government announced that it would ease the mask requirement. Where “3G” (access only for vaccinated, tested, convalescent) applies, the mask requirement also applies indoors from July 1st. From July 22nd, mouth and nose protection should only be worn in public transport and shops for daily needs, FFP2 masks only in hospitals and nursing homes. In oe24.tv, Federal Chancellor Sebastian Kurz (ÖVP) announced an end to the mask requirement in trade and public transport.
Mouth and nose protection will definitely be worn in retail and public transport until July 22nd. If the situation continues to develop well, there will be further relief here as well. “If possible, we will reduce there too.” Unlike in Asia, the mask is not part of the culture in European countries. “The mask should not become permanent”, Kurz is quoted in the Sunday edition of the daily newspaper “Austria”.
Kurz rejects criticism that Austria is repeating the mistakes of last summer with its opening course and that the numbers will rise again in autumn. The pandemic takes place in waves with seasonal highs, the rising numbers in autumn have nothing to do with people’s social behavior in July. In addition, two thirds of the population will probably be vaccinated by the end of summer, which means that Austria is “very well prepared for the next wave”.
The significantly more contagious delta variant, which initially appeared on a large scale in India and which has recently led to a significant increase in the number of infections in numerous countries, must be carefully monitored. “But there is absolutely no need to panic,” said Kurz. According to the newspaper in an interview with oe24.tv, Health Minister Wolfgang Mückstein (Greens) expects individual hotspots of the new variant, “but the spread will probably be relatively slow”. The increase will definitely come, so you have to “vaccinate, vaccinate, vaccinate”.
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