The number of infections will soon rise again in Austria, he said on Sunday evening (local time) in New York. “The virus will not go away, it will stay. It will keep us busy for years,” said Kurz. He also announced that he had received his second dose of Astrazeneca a few days ago.
“For everyone who is vaccinated, the pandemic is over. For everyone who is not vaccinated, the virus is a massive problem,” warned the Chancellor in an interview with Austrian journalists. An increase in the number of infections, like recently in southern Europe or the Netherlands, “will also take place here,” he said. After one and a half years of experience with the coronavirus, you know: “This pandemic comes in waves.”
In comparison to the earlier waves, there is now the vaccination as a “game changer”, said Kurz. This also protects against all previous variants, including the Delta variant. He himself asked “every day” whether there was a mutation that was not covered by the vaccination, he said.
Kurz recently emphasized personal responsibility in dealing with the pandemic. Now he made it clear that the federal government has an interest in as many vaccinated people as possible in Austria. They are trying to “create a very low-threshold offer” with the federal states, for example to reach people who want to be vaccinated without registering. Cooperation with associations such as the volunteer fire brigade are also planned.
Kurz does not seem to think of financial incentives for vaccinations. “So far we have been betting on vaccinating those who want it,” replied the Chancellor to a corresponding question from the APA. If the number of infections rises again, he assumes that the vaccination offer will also be accepted by those people who had previously hoped that the virus would “disappear”.
Video: Federal Chancellor Kurz (ÖVP) declares the coronavirus to be a medical problem for the individual and no longer for society. Personal responsibility is now required.
Concept for starting school
Kurz also emphasized that the turquoise-green government had “a clear commitment to face-to-face teaching” in autumn. Education Minister Heinz Faßmann (ÖVP) has already “worked out a good concept that will be presented in detail in August”. The Chancellor indicated that this concept could be based on testing.
Kurz also countered criticism that the opening steps were going too far. “We have a stronger safety net than other countries,” he said, referring to the high test intensity and the 3G rule. In addition, everyone has the opportunity to go beyond the applicable regulations and protect themselves. “I am double vaccinated and still get tested,” said the Chancellor. According to the Federal Chancellery, the 34-year-old received the second dose of the Astrazeneca vaccine a few days ago. He got the first injection at the beginning of June.
Kurz also expressed his skepticism when asked about possible new border closings. “The virus doesn’t stop at borders,” he said. “Certain border measures” made sense, “but nobody could stop the virus,” he said, referring to the fact that the Delta variant, for example, had spread across Europe despite entry restrictions. At the same time, Kurz called for a “clear view of the essentials” in the pandemic. “We always wanted to prevent the hospitals from being overwhelmed, and that must continue to be the goal,” he said.
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