LH deputy Christine Haberlander (ÖVP) continues to demand nationwide instead of federal state measures against the spread of corona, increased border controls, rules for booster vaccinations and the high incidence decree of the Ministry of Health that hospital capacities are taken into account. For the September 26 elections, the country is working on instructions for the election commissions.
In the discussion initiated by Vienna’s City Councilor for Health Peter Hacker (SPÖ) about bans on entry for unvaccinated people in leisure and sports facilities such as cinemas, theaters or mini golf courses and also restaurants, Haberlander remained in a press conference on Friday in Linz that corresponding regulations had to be made nationwide. She also advocates stricter border controls because returnees make up a significant proportion of those infected. They are also waiting for clear rules for booster vaccinations. She had previously requested a “reminder SMS”.
Most hospital patients are not vaccinated
With regard to the measures to prevent the spread of the virus, Haberlander referred to the federal high incidence decree, which has been in force since May. This stipulates that from a 7-day incidence of more than 300 per 100,000 inhabitants on seven consecutive days, with certain exceptions such as transit or free travel for working people, only with valid 3G proof may be made. In Upper Austria it was 86.8 on Friday. The decree should be amended in such a way that the development of the occupancy figures in the hospitals is also taken into account. On Friday 50 people were in Upper Austria. Treated hospitals – the majority of the unvaccinated – ten days earlier there were only half as many.
Because exit controls according to the decree “may honestly be possible in some districts” in the coming weeks in view of the increase in infections – we’re talking about Wels, Eferding, Gmunden and Kirchdorf – Upper Austria is already preparing for it: the district administrative authorities, the state police headquarters, the armed forces and the Red Cross are making arrangements for this together.
Vaccination: Survey on Motives
At the same time, the federal state is taking its own steps with immediate effect: information packages to raise awareness among the population of the still high risk of infection, especially at events, and to comply with all rules, as well as wearing additional “dampening measures” such as masks. Carmen Breitwieser from the state’s crisis team sees a need for this among young people who attend three festivals with 1,000 participants each in one evening. In addition, more vaccination calls and recommendations are planned to be tested before larger meetings. A survey is currently being conducted on the motives for people to get vaccinated or not.
