- Title: 279 AT COVID-19 Government update
- Date: 8th May 2020
- Description:Austrian chancellor is against international “blame game” over pandemic The press conference with the Austrian Chancellor, the Health Minister, and the Austrian Minister for Tourism, took place to update the sinking number of COVID-19 cases as well as to inform about the efforts by the government to strengthen the affected tourism and gastronomy. After the presser, Kurz answered the reporter`s question "Will the Austrian government presents an excuse for the Ischgl gate" with No. "I would never ask the Italians to apologize for the fact that Italian guests carried the virus into Austrian ski resorts because it was certainly not an intention." Kurz says: "It does not make sense to play a blame game internationally who is to blame for this pandemic." Kurz intends to open borders with Germany as soon as possible. Shotlist - SOUNDBITE (GERMAN) Sebastian Kurz, chancellor of Austria: “I can start with good news again. The number of infections is still very low today: 22 new infections. I believe that people reacted much earlier in Austria than in any other country. If we hadn't done that, the situation with us would not be as it is now. It is true that areas that are very international, such as ski resorts or tourist areas, have spread. I would never ask the Italians to apologize for the fact that Italian guests carried the virus into Austrian ski resorts because it was certainly not an intention. And I also believe that it doesn't make sense to play a blame game internationally who is to blame for this pandemic. TC 01:16 As soon as Germany is ready for it; We have not only solved the question of tourism in Europe, but many people live along the borders; some of these people are severely limited in their family life, in their leisure time or in their job. We have a very interlinked industry, especially between Austria and Germany, where travel is also necessary. In this respect, I hope that we will come to a settlement with Germany very quickly. But I go one step further: I believe that it is the European Union that we have a Europe without internal borders. In this respect, we need a perspective beyond the neighborhood for the whole European Union. We are in discussion with the President of the Commission and I hope that fair rules can be created quickly.”
- Collection: ORF
- Genre:News
- Producer:ORF
- Transmission Date:08/05/2020
- Decade: 2020s