Covid-19 Spreading ‘Out of Control’ in Austria
30th October 2020
Last modified on May 8th, 2021
Almost the whole of the alpine country has turned red on its four-level traffic light system. New measures are expected to be announced tomorrow.
The red alert means that outbreaks are out of control and the virus is widespread.
The government is finalising new restrictions and measures that will be announced on Saturday.
On Friday 5,627 new infections were recorded across the country – the first time since the start of the pandemic when more than 4,000 cases have been recorded in a 24-hour period.
- Lower Austria (1,074),
- Vienna (821),
- Upper Austria (796),
- Tyrol (584),
- Styria (355),
- Salzburg (262),
- Vorarlberg (261)
- Carinthia (166)
- Burgenland (119).
There were 26 deaths across the country on Friday.
Austria turns red
Eight glacier ski resorts remain open for skiing and snowboarding with Covid-19 measures in place.
They are Hintertux, Stubai, Sölden, Kaprun, Pitztal, Kaunertal, Dachstein and Mölltal.
Conditions are reported to be excellent for the time of year.
Kitzbuhel in the Tirol has also opened a run in the Resterhöhe area.
It is reported the social distancing and other measures in the ski resorts are being adhered to and working well.
We have reported on the overall measures in place:
Tirol unveils plans for safe winter
Arlberg ski area announces its Covid-19 policy for lift system
Tirol answers your Covid-19 questions
The Austrian Chancellor Sebastian Kurz, Vice Chancellor Werner Kogler and Health Minister Rudolf Anschober along with a number of health experts have met to discuss what to do next as cases surge.
Austrian media reports that the most likely option is a night-time curfew, that would last for 10-days.
Ski resorts are expected to remain open with no additional measures.
The overall toll in Austria now stands at 1,082 deaths with 99,576 cases recorded.
