- Title: 94 AT COVID-19 Kurz Presser
- Date: 13th March 2020
- Description:Austrian Chancellor Kurz speaks of further restrictions to prevent the spread of coronavirus A lock-down for some parts of Tyrol has been ordered. Only food stores, pharmacies, banks and post offices can stay open, with other shops having to close on Monday. Restaurants and cafes are only allowed to stay open until 3pm. Austria sets these new measures to prevent the spreading of COVID-19. At the moment, Austria has 428 infections, but the rate has increased by 40%. Austrian Chancellor Kurz and Health Minister Anschober say it is important to set these measures to protect elderly people and also to slow down the infections, so the hospitals have enough capacity to take care of ill people. Austria will also close its border to some neighbouring countries and introduce border controls to Switzerland. Shotlist - SOUNDBITE (German) Sebastian Kurz, Austrian Chancellor: "On Monday we have to reduce our social life to a minimum. We ask all companies to send their employees for home office temporarily , if this is possible., that beginning with next week. On Monday, restaurants, bars and cafes are open only until 15.00 in the afternoon. Shops will be closed but I point out this not valid for food stores, pharmacies, bank offices, post offices, and other branches necessary for supplies. Nobody should be worried that the basic supplies will be not possible." "There are some countries where the virus spreads rapidly Spain, France and Switzerland, therefore we are forced to cancel the flight connections with these countries on Monday, and also to introduce border controls on the border to Switzerland, like we do with Italy." "We also have to halt the further spread of the virus inside Austria. In some areas of Tyrol there has been a rapid spread, therefore we have to take measure, and counter steer precisely targeted. Therefore, the valley of Paznaun and St. Anton on Arlberg will be under lockdown. These regions will be isolated with immediate effect." - SOUNDBITE (German) Karl Nehammer, Interior Minister: "The foreign visitors in these areas can leave, they are asked to go on a direct way home, their identities are checked, and the health authorities in their countries will be informed." - SOUNDBITE (German) Sebastian Kurz, Austrian Chancellor: what is happening to the job, if the economy is hit by this crisis, tomorrow we will present a aid package for economy together with the Vice Chancellor and the Finance Minister - SOUNDBITE (German) Rudolf Anschober, Health Minister: [What is] important is the protection of the health system, therefore we will ban visitors from hospitals in all provinces, there will be exemptions for children medical units or palliative units." "Our aim is to keep hospital intensive unit beds free for the worst case, to stay functional." - SOUNDBITE (GERMAN) Karl Nehammer: "The authorities will inform you that you will be able to cope with your daily life, also when the measures now announced by the Chancellor and the Health Minister will be effective."
- Collection: ORF
- Genre:News
- Producer:ORF
- Transmission Date:13/03/2020
- Decade: 2020s