Austria is gradually unlocking again from May

After the “shutdown” comes the “start up”: With May 1st, exit restrictions will be loosened, and school operations should gradually start again.

The top government announced on Tuesday the further steps to “ramp up” the country after the corona “shutdown”: With 1st of May will the Exit restrictions relaxed, all shops are allowed to open. The restaurant opens in the middle of the month. Of the School operations becomes gradually start again from May 4th, Chancellor Sebastian Kurz (ÖVP) announced.

Also Masseurs, podiatrists and hairdressers may with 1st of May offer their services, whereby – as in bars and shops – mouth-face masks must be worn and the one-meter safety distance must be observed. Curfew for the Local, the from May 15th can open again is initially 11 p.m.

The easing should also the private area affect. Meetings in the “closest family or friends” should be possible again, said Federal Chancellor Kurz at a press conference on Tuesday. Exactly what the loosening contains will be presented next Tuesday.

Services from May 15th

From May 4th, preparations for the Matura and final apprenticeship exams will start in the school area May 15th should he School operations for other school levels be started up in stages. Also starting May 15th should Services be possible again.

With 1st of May should it also restart in Popular sport give. But even in the open air, sports remain Minimum distance of two meters required. Sports, where there is physical contact, can currently not be allowed, said Minister of Sport Werner Kogler on Tuesday. This applies to almost all team sports, there are exceptions for professional athletes. Indoor sports probably have to wait longer. One doesn’t want to produce “tens of thousands of mini-Ischgls” in fitness studios, says Kogler.

The big alpine clubs are confident that the Hut season will not fail. “We hope that part of the huts can open in mid-May,” says Regina Hrbek from Naturefriends. It is clear that there will be restrictions. “This is going to be a special season,” says Peter Kapelari, head of the huts department at the Alpine Club. There will be no way around special hygiene regulations.

Outdoor pools in Vienna are supposed to open

May 1st as the traditional opening date of the Outdoor pools is “not an issue” for Chancellor Kurz. However, a study is currently being carried out in the Ministry of Health to determine how high the risk of Covid19 infections in the water is. On the basis of this study, a decision will be made as to when and how outdoor pools can be opened Case apply, said Kurz.

Vienna’s mayor Michael Ludwig (SPÖ) wants to give the public access to the outdoor pools in summer despite the corona virus. If swimming is not possible for safety reasons, at least the lying areas could be used as a relaxation area. One is “in close talks” with the federal government.

Access controls to the federal gardens in Vienna are to be discontinued in the meantime. It will be announced on Thursday whether the “Wiener Wiesn Fest im Prater”, which is scheduled from September 24th to October 11th, will take place this year. Since the model was canceled in Munich, speculation has also started in Vienna as to whether the event can go as planned. The Vienna Danube Island Festival is scheduled to take place in September, was insured again on Tuesday.

Anti-Corona Club for air travel

Concerning to travel Kurz announced on Tuesday that there could be a “gradual” lifting of restrictions and border controls within the EU – for example between countries that may have similarly low infection rates. In this regard, there is contact with Germany and the Czech Republic, said the Chancellor. Such a model is also being considered in air traffic. “Like a club where you can only be there when there is no health risk,” Kurz said.

By Tuesday morning, 14,873 positive test results were available on Sars-CoV-2. The Ministry of Interior and Health put the number of those who died on or with Covid-19 at 491. 10,971 people were considered to have recovered. The number of active people fell by 7.7 percent to 3,411. 756 corona patients were in a hospital, 196 of those affected were in intensive care.

(APA / Red.)

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