The corona protection measures are largely withdrawn. The mask requirement, which is currently still in force in essential trade and public transport, will be suspended for three months from June 1st, but will remain in place in hospitals and homes. In addition, the obligation to vaccinate remains suspended over the summer. It only remains in vulnerable settings such as hospitals and old people’s and nursing homes. Health Minister Johannes Rauch (Greens) and Constitutional Minister Karoline Edtstadler (ÖVP) announced this in a press conference.
“breathing space” until autumn
Rauch and Edtstadler justified the limitation of three months by saying that the end of the pandemic was not yet there. The pandemic is only giving us a “breathing space”. One has to assume that the mask could become necessary again in the fall. Until then, you should wear an FFP2 mask on your own responsibility in larger gatherings if the distances cannot be maintained. “We have to get out of crisis mode and learn to live with the pandemic,” said the minister.
They also spoke to all the state health councilors, said Rauch. He assumes that the mask-off will be nationwide, but how the countries do it is up to them, he “cannot rule over it”. Mouth and nose protection, for example in public transport, would be discussed in isolated cases.
Pharmacies no longer need to implement the mask requirement during the suspension phase if it is only about sales. If there are also medical services such as corona tests, there is an FFP2 obligation, as in medical practices, explained a Rauch spokesman when asked by APA. Of course, the entrepreneurs themselves can be stricter, i.e. always apply a mask requirement. The federal states could also make stricter regulations here than the federal government provides as a minimum requirement. But everything has been agreed with the countries, the spokesman emphasized.
Vaccination remains suspended
Social and Health Minister Johannes Rauch (Greens) and Chancellery Minister Karoline Edtstadler (ÖVP) explain the new rules on masks and vaccinations.
– © apa / Roland Schlager
The obligation to vaccinate remains suspended over the summer. Edtstadler explained that the vaccination requirement is a serious encroachment on fundamental rights and is therefore only permissible if it is proportionate. However, the Commission came to the conclusion that this proportionality did not currently exist. The situation is currently different than when the law was passed. Therefore, “focusing” would not be justified at the moment.
Nevertheless, people should be vaccinated, dei vaccination offers the best protection. “And we don’t know what the virus is up to.”
Everything is being prepared logistically to be able to offer booster vaccinations from the end of August or beginning of September – very “basically via general practitioners and in companies” – even if a fourth vaccination is currently only recommended by the National Vaccination Committee for over 80-year-olds, so smoke. The experts assumed that this would be necessary in the autumn. Then you would be well prepared for the winter. “If we don’t need them, all the better.”
Last round of testing in schools next week
The compulsory PCR tests will no longer apply in schools from June. Should cases arise in a class, antigen testing can still be performed. This step is in line with the other steps taken by the federal government, emphasized Education Minister Martin Polaschek (ÖVP) to the APA. “Today the last measure in the school can be lifted”.
Since Easter, PCR testing has only been mandatory at schools once a week. Recently there has been a slight decline in the number of infections – around 1,350 tests were carried out in the previous week. In the coming week, the school PCR tests will still take place regularly, but not in the week after Pentecost.
Further action in Vienna open
For the time being, the question of how Vienna will proceed – which has often taken a more cautious path in the past – is still open. According to his own statements, Vienna Mayor Michael Ludwig has commissioned City Councilor for Health Peter Hacker (both SPÖ) to convene the crisis team. This is to evaluate the situation. The decision should then be announced “promptly”, as a spokesman for the APA explained.
The GPA union was pleased with the suspension of the mask requirement: “Of course, the mask requirement is a question of consideration. In view of the falling numbers, an end to the mask can be justified,” says GPA boss Barbara Teiber. But: “We know that retail is not a driver of the pandemic. In view of schools without measures and maskless concerts and sporting events with thousands of visitors, it was high time that the mask ended in retail too.”
For WKÖ President Harald Mahrer, it is now important to make preparations for autumn quickly in order to create planning for the companies and to avoid new Covid restrictions.
supermarkets pleased
The two supermarket giants Spar (Spar, Interspar) and Rewe (Billa, Billa plus, Adeg, Suterlüty) naturally welcomed the decision on APA inquiries in principle. “We welcome the decision that the mask requirement in the food trade will be suspended on June 1, 2022 and that uniform rules will apply to the entire industry,” said Rewe.
One is “incredibly happy and relieved” that the employees can “take a deep breath again”, according to a Spar spokeswoman. The fact that this may only be a temporary break “must be accepted in the interests of public health”. Both chains emphasized that they have always supported the Corona measures and will continue to do so.
The discounters Lidl and Hofer also welcomed today’s announcement. According to Hofer, employees would be relieved after two years of wearing masks and customers would be relaxed. One was heard, according to Lidl, the elimination of the mask requirement was urgent.
opposition dissatisfied
The opposition is dissatisfied with the government’s announcements about Corona. Neos pandemic spokesman Gerald Loacker called on the government to create a legal basis so that trained pharmacists can also vaccinate, as the Chamber of Pharmacists has been demanding for some time, but the Medical Association vehemently rejects.
SPÖ health spokesman Philip Kucher misses a clear government plan for the fall. People’s safety “is being put at risk again,” Kucher criticized in a broadcast: “The government is stumbling along in its corona chaos management and is acting on the principle of hope.”
As expected, the criticism from FPÖ chairman Herbert Kickl was even sharper, accusing the government of having “lost any connection to reality”. Instead of the motto “the mask is coming back” issued by the government, the FPÖ leader believes it should be: “The government has to go.” (apa)
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