The next stage of the “phase of personal responsibility” begins on June 15. The mouthguard is now gradually removed and the curfew extended.
The “phase of personal responsibility” recently propagated by the Federal Government is now continuing with new easing, which the top government announced on Friday. “Die Presse” gives an overview of the key points of the new relaxation package.
Mouth protection duty
“We can once again announce good news today”, the chancellor began his statement in the Federal Chancellery, in which he was supposed to endorse the previously announced departure from the obligation to wear a mask: From June 15, the previous mouth-nose protection obligation will be severely restricted. It will only apply in three areas in the future: in public transport, in the health sector and pharmacies, as well as in services where the minimum distance of one meter is not possible, such as the hairdresser.
However, the catering staff are still obliged to wear mouth or face protection, but the guests are not.
The mandatory face covering also falls in schools. Education Minister Heinz Faßmann (ÖVP) wants to give a separate press conference on Saturday. According to the “press” request from the Ministry, this is already conceivable before June 15. The Chancellor was visibly pleased to announce the move away from mouth protection, because it was “a cultural change for all of us”, as Sebastian Kurz emphasized. It is not possible to do without the mask entirely, but you can take it off “step by step”. Vice Chancellor Werner Kogler (Greens) pointedly forwarded as usual: “Now it’s time to put your mouthguard down, your sleeves up.”
gastronomy
The innovations for the catering industry are central to the relaxation package. The curfew will be extended at 11 p.m. from June 15 to 1 a.m. The limited number of four people per table falls completely. However, the minimum distance of one meter between the individual tables must still be observed. However, hosts can decide for themselves how large the groups are that sit together at the tables.
However, there is no concrete news for night-time catering. The government has “a great deal of awareness of the industry,” said Kurz, but no “international blueprint.” Health Minister Rudi Anschober (Greens) referred to talks he would like to hold again in two weeks with representatives of night culture. Meanwhile, hundreds of people in clubs, possibly dancing tightly, led to a situation where one could say, “the virus is happy”. But the industry is “very creative” and is already working on solutions, such as alternative forms of use. “It’s our turn,” Anschober said.
Border openings
Border controls have already been relaxed at several Austrian external borders, and the majority of neighboring countries are currently only checked at random. From June 15th, freedom of travel between Austria and Germany, Switzerland, Lichtenstein, Czech Republic, Slovakia and Hungary will then be officially reintroduced, so that when you enter Austria, there is no longer any need for self-isolation. For Italy and Slovenia, however, this does not apply until further notice. The Italian government wants to reopen the borders for EU citizens from June 3, but Austria does not want to join in for the time being.
Regionalization
The federal government wants in the future a stronger focus on the regionalization of the measures[premium] which has also been repeatedly requested by the federal states. Last week, the chairman of the state governors’ conference, the Upper Austrian governor Thoma Stelzer (ÖVP) and Carinthia’s governor Peter Kaiser (SPÖ) commented on their ideas. However, the easing now presented does not provide for regionalization for the time being, which Kaiser was disappointed with on Friday.
It is in “close dialogue” with the countries, Anschober said. But: “Complete diversity in this manageable Austria would be confusing”. The current easing package included the proposals that had come from the federal states.
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