Austria reintroduces face masks as coronavirus cases surge – POLITICO

People in Austria must wear FFP2 face masks indoors again as COVID-19 cases rise again, said the country’s health minister, Johannes Rauch called.

“I don’t like doing that,” Rauch called during a press conference on Friday evening, adding that the new rule will apply from Wednesday and the isolation rules will also be revised. He called Details of the restrictions being reviewed will be announced “over the weekend”.

smoke conceded that easing measures had come too early. Austria is the first country in the EU to reintroduce stricter restrictions during the current wave.

The number of COVID-19 cases has increased in the country over the past two weeks.

“A decrease in the current numbers is only to be expected in the next few weeks,” said the Austrian Federal Ministry of Health statementadding that “the tense situation will therefore last much longer than previously expected”.

Austria lifted the restrictions on March 5 and only made FFP2 face masks compulsory in hospitals, public transport and essential shops. smoke he said regrets People confused with a “back and forth” implementation of the measures.

Germany decided Friday to lift most COVID-19 restrictions despite high levels of contamination, and Italy is considering gradually easing measures in the coming weeks.