There is still a bustling crowd in idyllic Salzburg at the foot of the Austrian Alps. People rush around the narrow streets to shop before the shops close on Monday.
– In principle, we have an exam on Monday, but we do not know if we can go to university or not, says Carolina Rutz.
Carolina is from Madrid, but is studying law and economics in Salzburg. She says that she has not received any information from the university yet.
For Carolina, the shutdown came as a surprise. For a long time the infection rates were low, but then it increased very quickly.
– We are anxious and do not know if we will be infected or not. Nor whether the shutdown lasts for ten or 20 days. Or if it will be like in March 2020, for a much longer period.
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LOCKED LOVE: On the bridge where we meet Carolina and Maria, there are hundreds of padlocks that couples have hung up. Photo: Santiago Vergara / TV 2
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STUDENT CITY: Salzburg has many young inhabitants due to the universities in the city. The footbridge with all the padlocks crosses the river, which divides the city. Photo: Santiago Vergara / TV 2
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INFECTION: In the state of Salzburg, infection rates have exploded recently. Photo: Santiago Vergara / TV 2
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BAD TIME: People are rushing around Salzburg for the last purchases before the country closes down. Photo: Santiago Vergara / TV 2
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Fear the infection in the neighboring country
Carolina is visited by her friend Maria, also from Madrid. She is studying administration and language in Munich. In Germany, too, infection rates are rising rapidly and Chancellor Angela Merkel has called the situation highly dramatic.
– I am anxious that they will close in Munich as well, but hope that it will not be necessary, she says.
Both young women have been vaccinated and hope that as many others as possible will also be vaccinated.
In the home country of Spain, the situation is more normal. The country is one of the countries in Europe with the highest proportion of vaccinated. In contrast to Austria where only around 65 percent are vaccinated.
– The difference is that it was very tough for us at the beginning of the pandemic. People realized that they had to get vaccinated, says Maria.
Salzburg is already fully decorated for Christmas. There may be little time for Christmas shopping this year. The closure can last until December 12, although a new assessment of the corona situation will be made in ten days.
Smells like chestnuts
Salzburg is a city with many young people. There are three universities in the city, which have around 160,000 inhabitants. Padlocks hang close together on the footbridge over the river Salzach. The locks are hung up by couples in love.
At the end of the bridge, Andreas Lindenthaler (46) shakes chestnuts and sells them in a paper shop. It smells good.
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TOO LATE: Chestnut seller Andreas Lindenthaler thinks the government is introducing a vaccine obligation far too late. Photo: Santiago Vergara / TV 2
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ODOR: The roasting of the chestnuts spreads a good smell around Salzburg city. Photo: Santiago Vergara / TV 2
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CHESTNESS: From Monday onwards, there will probably be far less sales of chestnuts when the closure of the city and country starts. Photo: Santiago Vergara / TV 2
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HARDLY AFFECTED: The state of Salzburg is one of the hardest hit areas of the corona in Austria. Photo: Santiago Vergara / TV 2
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LAST INQUIRIES: Many people use the day to make the last purchases before closing. Photo: Santiago Vergara / TV 2
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Andreas supports the introduction of mandatory testing from 1 February 2022. Austria will be the first country in Europe to introduce a vaccine requirement for the Covid-19 virus. He says that there is a lot of uncertainty now, before the stoning.
– People have already become anxious. In my opinion, vaccination should have been introduced much earlier.
– Why?
– To get our lives back, he says and laughs a little.
Most will be closed when the country enters its fourth lockdown on Monday. Shops, sports and other athletics activities will be closed. People should work from home office, if you do not absolutely have to be present at work. Grocery stores, gas stations and pharmacies may be up. For those who are unvaccinated, the suspension will last for a total of one month.
– Children suffer
One of those who buys chestnuts is pensioner Imseta Srna. She is particularly worried about the children. Schools should in principle be open, but homeschooling is recommended. No one will be absent if you do not show up at school.
– This is not good for the children. They become depressed and aggressive, and so do the youth. This is not a future for our children, says Imseta.
The purpose of the shutdown is to have as little close contact in society as possible in the coming weeks, in order to reduce the number of infections. In recent days, the infection numbers have been 14,000-15,000 new infected every day.
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CONCERNED: Pensioner Imseta Srna is worried about children and young people, when Austria has to shut down again. Photo: Santiago Vergara / TV 2
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AUSTRIA: The country is struggling with low vaccine numbers, and therefore a vaccine requirement will be introduced from February. Photo: Santiago Vergara / TV 2
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CHRISTMAS DECORATION: For the unvaccinated, the closure is extended by twenty days, well into the Christmas season. Photo: Santiago Vergara / TV 2
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HARD AFFECTED: In recent days, between 40 and 50 people have died as a result of Covid 19 in Austria. Photo: Santiago Vergara / TV 2
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STRICTER WATCHWARE: The police presence outside, among other places, hospitals has been strengthened following threats of demonstrations and attacks by vaccine opponents. Photo: Santiago Vergara / TV 2
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Since Wednesday, more than 150 people have died as a result of Covid-19. Many intensive care units are overloaded, and must select the patients who can be rescued.
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