The government presented a new package of measures on Wednesday to contain the corona numbers, which have recently risen sharply. Health Minister Wolfgang Mückstein (Greens) spoke in advance of a step-by-step plan that should be activated depending on the utilization of the intensive care beds. Mückstein wants to differentiate between vaccinated and unvaccinated people, because the latter are the carriers of the infection process.
“It makes no sense that we vaccinated people denied access to any events,” said Mückstein on Tuesday evening in the ORF “Report”. As possible measures, he named the expansion of the mask requirement as well as access to certain events and night catering only for vaccinated people. Mückstein emphasized that those who have recovered should also be put on an equal footing with them for at least a certain period of time, because they would have a similarly good protection against infection as vaccinated persons for six months.
Mückstein did not want to give concrete details before the talks with the federal states planned for Wednesday: “That is important and it should be.” The minister named a utilization of ten, 15 or 20 percent of the intensive care beds as possible threshold values for the step-by-step plan. He also wants to strengthen the vaccination coverage. 60 percent are “too little”. Chancellor Sebastian Kurz (ÖVP) and Vice Chancellor Werner Kogler (Greens) had previously ruled out another lockdown for those who had been vaccinated.
At 8:30 a.m. on Wednesday, the government receives the governors and experts for deliberations in the Chancellery. Most of the country leaders will probably be there via video link. Tyrolean Governor Günther Platter (ÖVP), who is currently chairing the Governors’ Conference, is expected to be there. The plans will be presented from 10 a.m. at a press statement in the Chancellery. The government then withdraws to the Council of Ministers (11 a.m.). However, there will be no new press appearance (“press foyer”) afterwards.