The opening of the Salzburg Christmas market is overshadowed by reports of a new lockdown. Accordingly, Upper Austria and Salzburg want to go into lockdown again from next week – if a uniform nationwide solution does not come about anyway. The reason: the tense situation in the intensive care units. But that would also mean in plain language: The Christmas markets there would have to close their doors again. Also gastro, bars and trade and would therefore have to do it for several weeks. Tourism could practically come to a standstill in both countries – and that in the economically important pre-Christmas period.
Details on how the lockdown should look in detail are not yet known. On Friday, the regional heads in Tyrol will meet. More and more governors are pushing for a nationwide lockdown, while those in the east are holding out because their numbers are less high. It remains to be seen who can ultimately prevail. One thing is clear: a new lockdown would cost millions.