Health Minister Wolfgang Mückstein (Greens) emphasized that after a festival organized for Austrians in Zrce, he had no influence on the conditions of events in Croatia. “What we heard were good safety standards, but I cannot say whether they have been adhered to in every case.” The number of infections known to date in this context rose to over 300 by Friday noon.
More than 300 festival visitors who have returned to Austria have so far been verifiably infected with Corona, confirmed Katharina Reich, Director General for Public Health, in the Ö1 lunch journal, the recently increased number of cases. She hopes that there won’t be more clusters of this size in the future, but the health authorities are armed and well prepared.
“I have absolutely nothing against parties and the boys deserve it after 16 months of the pandemic. I think that is also very important, but under maximum safety conditions, tested or, much better, double vaccinated,” Mückstein emphasized at a press conference in Vienna. On the question of whether festivals could not have taken place in Austria this summer under strict precautions, the minister said that although the federal government made the rules that apply to events everywhere in Austria, the district authorities would look at the security concepts required for 500 or more participants. assess and decide about it. That is a good thing and cannot be judged from Vienna.
No comprehensive tests planned
The cancellation of the local Frequency Festival, which had recently been criticized again in the cultural and concert organizer industry with reference to the many cases brought in from Croatia, was described by Reich on ORF radio as “naturally clever” because the risk of such Big events know. The fact that people “won’t let themselves be stopped” – and then go to events abroad – is another matter. But everyone should be aware of “what to expect at such festivals”.
In this context, Reich appealed, “if it has to be”, to only participate fully vaccinated. Anyone who deals with members of Covid risk groups should arrange for a PCR test immediately after returning to self-quarantine, recommends the section head.
Mückstein does not consider comprehensive PCR tests for travelers at all land borders to be effective “at this point in time”. On the subject of checks on returning travelers, Reich basically said that checks should be carried out because a corona infection could be passed on despite vaccination. The current plan that from Tuesday returnees from the “risk countries” Netherlands, Spain and Cyprus must present a negative PCR test upon arrival at Austrian airports or have it carried out immediately if they are not or only half vaccinated, she described as sufficient. That would be enough if it was a “normal trip where you did not expose yourself to special risks”.
Cluster grows
The number of infected returnees from the Croatian party beach Zrce continued to rise in Styria: After an initial 22 corona infections, there were 83 cases on Friday, 29 of them in the city of Graz. According to a broadcast by the State of Styria, a total of 1,070 Styrians attended the “Austria goes Zrce” festival on the island of Pag last weekend. Health Councilor Juliane Bogner-Strauss (ÖVP) asks all returnees to take a PCR test. In Upper Austria, 67 cases in connection with the Zrce Festival were known by Thursday evening.
“I can absolutely understand that after so many months of doing without, the young generation in particular is longing for freedom. But this regained freedom must not be at the expense of security. That is why I especially ask all those returning to the festival in Zrce to offer the free ones PCR tests, which are available throughout Styria, can be used. This not only protects yourself, but also your fellow human beings, “said the regional councilor in a broadcast on Friday. In addition, she appeals to take advantage of the low-threshold offers of the corona vaccination.
A renewed increase in corona cases in connection with the beach party lasting several days was also registered in Lower Austria on Friday. After 50 on Thursday, according to information from the office of Health Councilor Ulrike Königsberger-Ludwig (SPÖ), 58 were now counted. According to the Coronavirus coordination staff, the cluster in Burgenland now comprises 15 cases. The day before, nine infections had been reported in the context.
Video: While participants report lax controls, the organizer knows back the criticism.
