Lockdown in Austria officially extended to December 11th
Shops have to close earlier
The biggest change is the restriction on shop opening times, which became known the day before: those shops and suppliers who have been allowed to keep open for basic supplies in the current lockdown, when & on Thursdays from 7 p.m., close their doors. Until now, it was possible to keep them open until 9 p.m. at the latest.
In addition, it is stated (in the “legal justification” to the regulation) that the sale of Christmas trees falls under the exception of “agricultural trade”. Therefore, Christmas trees can also be sold during the lockdown, and sale at stands is expressly permitted.
The Austrian Ministry of Health is also using the amendment to implement the announced reduction in the validity of the vaccination certificates in the Green Passport – from 360 to 270 days. This does not apply to people who have been vaccinated twice and have recovered. The vaccination certificate is still valid for 360 days. This regulation comes into force on December 6th.
As expected, a no to the extension came from the FPÖ, which was fundamentally opposed to the lockdown, and from the NEOS. Compared to the APA, the pink parliamentary club justified the rejection, among other things, with the wish for an earlier opening of trade – “under strong security precautions”.