The federal government and state representatives discussed the corona situation together by video conference on Friday evening – in view of the increasing number of infections. Chancellor Alexander Schallenberg (VP) had previously announced that it was “about the next steps” and warned of a “pandemic for the unvaccinated without need”.
The first details leaked out late in the evening. Accordingly, the current three-stage plan is to be expanded by two additional stages. Level four would then be provided with a 25 percent utilization of the intensive care beds. Access to restaurants, hotels, events and hospital visits should only be possible with 2G proof for vaccinated and convalescent people. From level 5, which should come at 30 percent occupancy (from 600 intensive care beds), there should be a lockdown for unvaccinated people. Because at the latest when the intensive care units are used at 33 percent, it becomes critical. There weren’t any details yesterday. However, it is likely to be the exit restrictions that generally applied in earlier high phases of the pandemic.
- ZIB 2: Virologist Norbert Nowotny explains the importance of the vaccination rate for possible opening steps.
Austria is currently in level 1 with 224 occupied intensive care beds, the next level follows from 300. Then 2G (vaccinated or recovered) is planned in the night catering and at large events without a fixed seat. From level 3 onwards, antigen tests lose their validity. Access to restaurants, for example, is then only available to vaccinated, convalescent and PCR-tested people.
“Too many hesitants and procrastinators”
“We don’t see the pandemic in the rear-view mirror yet,” said Schallenberg. “Although we have enough vaccine.” The intensive care units should not be overloaded, “because we have too many procrastinators and hesitants,” said the Chancellor. Because most intensive care patients are unprotected or not vaccinated. But “we still have everything in our hands to prevent that.” Schallenberg appealed “to everyone to get vaccinated.” The Chancellor also made it clear that “there will be no lockdown for those who are protected or vaccinated.”
“Our primary goal is to continue to increase the vaccination rate in Austria in order to get through the autumn and winter as safely and safely”, said Health Minister Wolfgang Mückstein (Greens). The jointly agreed step-by-step plan and the measures anchored in it are “an important basis for this.”
