Is disappointed after the government's decision to keep the restaurant closed: WKÖ boss Harald Mahrer
The gastronomy is disappointed with the result of the Corona summit. Harald Mahrer, WKÖ President, describes the output as “unsatisfactory”.
“Please wait” is the motto for all restaurateurs and hosts even after yesterday's Corona summit. As the federal government announced on Monday, pub gardens should only be allowed to open their doors in around a month, on March 27th. The indoor gastronomy has been put to a halt until further notice. So at least until April, Mr and Mrs Austrians have to go without the schnitzel at the innkeeper's.
In an initial reaction, the industry spokesmen were disappointed with the result, as they vehemently urged a quick opening in advance. The chairmen of the professional associations for the hotel and catering trade in the Austrian Chamber of Commerce (WKÖ), Susanne Kraus-Winkler and Mario Pulker, spoke of the regional opportunities for openings and the announced beginning of the pub season for Holy Week of “bright glimpses” for most businesses the government's decision would cause “frustration and disappointment”.
The close confidante of Chancellor Kurz and President of the Austrian Chamber of Commerce, Harald Mahrer, sees it similarly. “Austria's companies are not a threat. On the contrary. Their safety and prevention concepts for safe operation during the Covid pandemic are exemplary worldwide. In numerous countries, for example in Switzerland, companies without such extensive concepts have opened FFP2 masks and additional entry tests would set Austria global standards. “
It is “unsatisfactory that there is no political agreement on the full use of the full tool case in all affected industries for gradually secure openings,” Mahrer explained in a broadcast. Two thirds of the infections would take place in the private sector, argues the WKÖ with reference to the “Agency for Health and Food Safety” (AGES).
“The existing tools, namely FFP2 masks, stricter distance rules and the extensive test options, have shown that they work in retail and at the body-hugging service providers. Each individual test helps to identify asymptomatic infected people quickly and to interrupt chains of infection,” explains WKÖ -General Secretary Karlheinz Kopf, who points out that the number of public tests has been massively increased through the expansion of the test strategy with access tests so far.
In conclusion, Mahrer and Kopf state that the Austrian vaccination program must be accelerated. “Because tests and vaccinations are the key to fighting pandemics on a sustainable basis.”
