The pandemic apparently feeds the propensity to make promises that are not realized. This also applies to New Years Eve parties. Originally, the government wanted to allow festivities for the New Year and, as an exception, lift the corona curfew. But on Wednesday she announced: no. The curfew in gastronomy will even be brought forward to 10 p.m. from December 27th.
Vice Chancellor Werner points out Artichokes (Greens) in connection with the now stricter New Year’s Eve rules on a clear recommendation from the experts: “Unfortunately, this is not the year for New Year’s Eve parties – unfortunately,” said Artichokes towards the APA.
Health Minister Wolfgang Mückstein (Greens) also defended the measures. “We cannot see the Omikron wave and take no action,” said Mückstein on Thursday in the Ö1 “morning journal”. The new virus variant can no longer be stopped, but its spread can be slowed down.
Caution should be exercised with regard to the new Omikron variant. The experts of the new GECKO committee clearly indicated that this was also beginning to spread in Austria, explained Artichokes. The forecasts are not yet very transparent, there is still a lot “in the fog”, so you have to “drive on sight”. It is also about the signal effect that one has stepped on the brakes: It was the clear recommendation of the experts not to open up the danger on New Year’s Eve to also allow “quasi officially legitimized superspreader events”.
After all, the regulations for Christmas were not subjected to any changes. The strict measures in November and December would have allowed a certain amount of leeway. Christmas parties are therefore possible at least on a small or medium scale. But it should be “careful” and everyone appeals to be tested. “These are regulations with a seat in life. We want to make Christmas possible for families. ” (APA / Red.)
