The government apparently does not let itself be deterred from easing considerations even by the steadily rising corona numbers. From government circles the APA was informed that a regionally different approach is being considered. Accordingly, there could be easing in Vorarlberg, which would then become a kind of test area in view of the comparatively low incidences. In any case, the decision on how to proceed will be made today.
Image: APA (Anschober)
Initially, the government will meet a group of experts alone, including the virologist Dorothee von Laer, the epidemiologist Eva Schernhammer and the Vice Rector of the Medical University of Vienna Oswald Wagner. Then the opposition parties are switched on via video. Finally, there will be a conference with the state governors, some of whom will arrive personally. The further procedure will then be made public.
From the government it is said of the APA that the experts are also in favor of a regionally adapted approach. Of course, most of the medical advisors had recently warned against further easing. The traffic light commission had even suggested that opening steps should be withdrawn if there is an incidence of 200 per 100,000 inhabitants.
This is almost reached in Lower Austria at 196.2. Vienna, which was consistently below 100 in lockdown times, is also approaching the 200 market with large strides (currently 186.6). Why the infection rate is growing so rapidly in the east is the subject of different considerations. On the one hand, the more infectious British variant is said to have spread earlier, on the other hand, schools in Vienna and Lower Austria opened a week earlier, which could also have a greater effect.
The mark is only below 100 in two federal states, just under in Tyrol despite the presumably more vaccine-resistant South Africa variant that is rampant there, and more clearly in Vorarlberg. The 72.8 / 100,000 noted on Sunday are of course an increase again. A few days ago the value in Vorarlberg was still close to the desired level of 50.
The problem for the government is that the pressure to open has increased in the past few days. Several governors wanted to see the gastronomy open as early as the middle of the month. To this end, sports clubs are pushing for young people to be allowed back into training, as they will be tested in school anyway – with the not particularly reliable nose drill tests, of course. Of course, the cultural institutions also want to open, and tourism still has a hint of hope for a small Easter business.
Recently it was often heard that at least dates could be promised. Now one should have turned on a regional course. How far one goes here will probably only become apparent during the consultations with the governors themselves. Whether a field test in the west is enough for opening supporters like the Burgenland regional chief Hans Peter Doskozil (SPÖ) is one of the more interesting questions raised by the group.
