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MASKS

Austria re-introduces mandatory mask use in supermarkets

Austria's government on Tuesday said it was re-introducing mandatory face mask use in supermarkets and several other places as the country fears a surge in new coronavirus cases.

Published: 21 July 2020 17:09 CEST
Austria re-introduces mandatory mask use in supermarkets
AFP

Chancellor Sebastian Kurz said wearing masks would be mandatory from Friday in supermarkets, food stores, post offices and bank branches.

This is in addition to public transport and pharmacies, where the government had maintained mandatory mask use introduced during a strict lockdown earlier this year to curb coronavirus infections.

“We are experiencing that the numbers in Austria are rising again,” Kurz told reporters.

He added re-introducing the wider mask use was aimed at “protecting people for one… and also because we know the mask has a symbolic effect: the less visible they are on a daily basis, the greater the lack of concern.”

The Alpine EU member of some nine million people has reported less than 20,000 cases to date with 710 deaths, but the number of new daily infections has risen again in recent weeks. 

On Monday, those infected with the virus and hospitalised exceeded 100, the first time since May 29.

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HEALTH

Tens of thousands of workers in Austria hit by Covid and flu as cases rise

Does it seem like everyone around you in Austria is sick? As it turns out, statistics support your suspicions.

Published: 28 November 2023 09:46 CET
Tens of thousands of workers in Austria hit by Covid and flu as cases rise

Last week, over 110,000 people in Austria were absent from work due to COVID-19, influenza, or flu-like diseases.

Statistics from ÖGK policyholders, Austria’s largest public health insurer, indicated that more than 400 individuals were specifically impacted by influenza (“real flu”), while over 84,000 stayed home due to flu-like symptoms. ÖGK’s chief physician, Andreas Krauter, highlighted a noticeable uptick in sick days via a statement on Monday.

The news comes Austria struggles with 10,000 more COVID-19 infections. than at the same time last year. Several variants of the Omicron strain of the virus are currently under observation by the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control, and with temperatures plummeting, it is thought that a colder winter could further boost cases. 

Austria was a centre of several COVID-19 outbreaks in the early months of the pandemic, and stringent measures were introduced across the country in order to tackle its spread. 

READ MORE: How can I get a Covid or flu vaccine in Austria this autumn?

In his statement, Krauter emphasised the efficacy of masks in offering reliable protection against infection and curtailing further transmission. He particularly stressed the importance of considering this protective measure for individuals with underlying health risks. “For them and everyone else, we recommend vaccination against Covid-19 and influenza. Washing your hands is also important”, he said in a press release.

In total, ÖGK recorded 297,000 individuals afflicted by various illnesses or injuries and registered for sick leave during the last week.

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