WIEN. Austria will go into a so-called lockdown from Tuesday due to the threat of overloading the health system. As at the beginning of the Corona crisis in spring, most shops – and the schools. The measure is initially limited to December 7th. Education Minister Faßmann is convinced that Austrian schools have been better prepared for the upcoming distance learning since the first closings in spring.
After the upper grades – which are already running distance learning – the remaining schools also switched to distance learning on Tuesday. “Open schools were our goal because we are convinced of the value of education and the social function of schools,” said Education Minister Heinz Faßmann (ÖVP) on Saturday evening. But the situation is precarious and health is a priority. “The schools are not drivers of the infections, but they are not free from infections either.” Schools and teachers are better prepared for the closings than in the spring.
It was important to him to name a date for school openings, says the Education Minister
After the upcoming 14 days of school in distance learning, one is sure that the number of infections has decreased, emphasized Faßmann according to the “Tiroler Tageszeitung”. It was therefore important for him to name December 7th as the specific reopening date. “I would like to avoid a state of limbo like in spring.”
Until then, there will be offers for supervision and learning support at the schools. These could be used by all students, even by the hour, not just by children of parents with systemically relevant professions. Especially those children who did not have the necessary infrastructure or parental support at home should be able to come to schools, says Faßmann. He expects more students in schools than at the first lockdown in spring. Presumably this would be a “double-digit percentage in the low range”.
In distance learning, according to the Minister of Education, the students should “not be overwhelmed with new tasks”. The focus in the next three weeks should be on deepening what has already been learned. “New material should only be taught in moderation.” Even after returning to face-to-face teaching, there should not be too many schoolwork and tests. “A reliable performance assessment can also take place, for example, by evaluating the employees.” Faßmann was convinced that distance learning will work better this time. The technical requirements have improved, and learning platforms are part of everyday school life.
Even after the planned return of the students to face-to-face classes on December 7th, school operations will be different than before. “We will continue differently than we stopped, but we will continue,” explained Fassmann. Among other things, there will be a mask requirement for pupils from the age of ten in the classroom, school-autonomous shift work should be possible.
The incidence value in Austria is currently 554 – in Germany an average of 130
From Tuesday, leaving private living space is only permitted in Austria for compelling reasons such as fulfilling basic needs, work, helping relatives, for example, and relaxing outdoors. “Even if nobody wants a second lockdown, the second lockdown is the only means that we know reliably that it will work,” said Federal Chancellor Sebastian Kurz Kurz. The restrictions apply from midnight on Tuesday and are expected to end on December 6th. The exit restrictions must be re-approved every ten days by Parliament’s main committee.
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Shops for daily needs, such as supermarkets, drug stores, pharmacies and banks, remain open. If possible, employees should work from home. Private meetings are limited to one partner, individual close relatives or caregivers. People who live alone should choose a single person to be in contact with, Kurz asked. “My urgent request for the next few weeks is: don’t meet anyone! Every social contact is one too many. “
The goal is to be able to reopen schools and trade on December 7th. “The more people stick to what is given here, the shorter this state of affairs will last,” emphasized Kurz. This is how you can save Christmas.
Gastronomy, tourism, cultural businesses and leisure facilities have been closed in Austria since November 3rd. Exit restrictions previously applied from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. However, the number of infections initially continued to rise in the first half of November. On Friday, the number of new infections per 100,000 inhabitants within 7 days was 554.2, in individual regions even up to 850. For comparison: Germany currently has an average of 130.
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The target value for new infections within seven days is less than a tenth of the current value, emphasized Kurz. Authorities are meanwhile unable to trace 77 percent of new infections – it is the same in Germany. Health Minister Rudolf Anschober (Greens) said that statistically, every person infected with corona is currently infecting 1.2 other people. This so-called reproduction number must be reduced to 0.9 – then 10 sick people would theoretically infect 9 people.
Anschober warned that the health system was reaching its limits in many areas. “So we need an emergency stop and really immediately,” he said. The braking distance – the time until a sustainable reduction in the numbers – is two weeks. The hospitals are already facing the limit, as the country’s top intensive care doctor warned again on Saturday. “If the whole thing should increase at this rate in the next few days, we will face a triage situation,” said the President of the Austrian Society for Anesthesia, Resuscitation and Intensive Care Medicine, Klaus Markstaller. Doctors would then have to choose which patients can be treated in intensive care.
But how could the situation develop so badly again? Were there any failures? There was some heated argument about this on Saturday. The government had repeatedly emphasized that it wanted to prevent a lockdown by all possible means. Health Minister Anschober had practically ruled out such strict measures almost exactly a month ago. “I can’t imagine that at all,” he told ORF on October 11th. That is only possible before a comprehensive collapse of the health system. “Thank God we’re miles away from that,” he said at the time.
The opposition parties have now accused the government of losing control. Closing schools remained a major point of contention. According to the media, the Corona expert commission spoke out against it on Thursday. The Federal Chancellery was a supporter of the measures. The chairwoman of the liberal Neos, Beate Meinl-Reisinger, announced that she would examine legal steps because of the school closings. News4teachers / with material from the dpa
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