Only fully vaccinated in discos or bars: For autumn, the federal government is again thinking of tightening up night gastronomy. “In areas with a particularly high risk of infection” and if the number of infections continues to rise, a “1G rule” is “conceivable and possibly necessary,” said Chancellor Sebastian Kurz (VP) and Health Minister Wolfgang Mückstein (Greens) at the weekend.
A visit to the night gastronomy would then only be possible for completely vaccinated people or those who have recovered with a “refreshment stitch”. Whereby “night gastronomy” is now defined as “business premises of the hospitality industry in which an increased mix and interaction of customers is to be expected”. According to the ordinance, this particularly includes discos, clubs and dance halls.
The background is that apparently young people should be more motivated to vaccinate. Kurz and Mückstein spoke of a “risk-based” approach: “In night-time catering we have the situation that many unvaccinated people meet vaccinated people. Therefore, there is a particular risk of so-called super-spreader events. These must be prevented as far as possible.” Current prognoses showed that the vaccination rate would have to be increased in order to avoid overloading the health system.
- Video: 1-G rule possible for night gastronomy
The rate of vaccination decreases
The Ministry of Health expelled 5,117,900 people with full vaccination protection on Sunday, around 57.3 percent of the Austrian population. The vaccination rate continued to decrease: In the past week, an average of 20,000 vaccinations per day were administered nationwide. The majority were secondary immunizations. The call for a “1G rule” came last week from Vienna City Councilor for Health Peter Hacker (SP). Afterwards, SP boss Pamela Rendi-Wagner demanded that access to nighttime restaurants, festivals and sporting events only be allowed for those who were completely vaccinated.
Opposition came on Sunday from the SP Mayor of Linz, Klaus Luger, who said he was “still dissatisfied with the way the federal government is proceeding”: there is a risk of “dangerous solo efforts and massive injustice” if the 3G rule is abandoned. Tyrolean governor Günther Platter (VP), currently chairman of the governor’s conference, sees the 1G rule as “quite a variant”. His main concern is to convince the 20 percent or so who are undecided or vaccine skeptics.
A decision on how to proceed in Hacker’s hometown Vienna will be made on Tuesday. Vienna recently enacted regulations that are stricter than in the rest of the republic, such as mouth and nose protection in all shops. (desire)
