Coronavirus: Austria reopening thousands of shops in first loosening of lockdown

Country has 368 deaths from virus

Austrian Interior Minister Karl Nehammer, Vice Chancellor Werner Kogler, Chancellor Sebastian Kurz and Health Minister Rudolf Anschober arrive to give a joint press conference on April 6, 2020 in VienShow more

Thousands of shops across Austria will reopen on Tuesday as it becomes one of the first countries in Europe to loosen its coronavirus lockdown.

But the government is still telling the nation it is “not out of the woods” yet.

Austria acted early in its outbreak to close schools, bars, theatres, restaurants, non-essential shops and other gathering places about four weeks ago.

The government has told the public to stay home and work from there if possible.

It has fared relatively well so far, having reported 368 deaths in total, fewer than some larger European countries have been suffering each day.

The daily increase in confirmed cases is in low single digits in percentage terms and hospital admissions have stabilised.

“Economically, too, we want to come out of this crisis as quickly as possible and fight for every job in Austria,” Chancellor Sebastian Kurz said in an open letter to the country on Saturday.

Last week, Mr Kurz outlined a phased plan to reopen parts of the economy, starting with shops of up to 400 square metres and home-improvement and garden centres on Tuesday.

They are due to be followed by shopping centres, larger shops and hairdressers from May 1.

Restaurants and hotels could reopen progressively from mid-May, Mr Kurz, a conservative, has said.

It is unclear, even with limits on the number of people allowed inside shops and a requirement for all shoppers to wear face masks, whether Mr Kurz is sending a mixed message about the lockdown, which is in place until the end of April.

The World Health Organisation on Friday urged caution.

“Lifting restrictions could lead to a deadly resurgence," it said, mentioning Austria specifically.

But Mr Kurz told the Kurier newspaper on Saturday: "I am simply 100 per cent certain that we did the right thing and are doing the right thing."

The same day, he told national broadcaster ORF: “We are not out of the woods. The danger is still among us.”

Mr Kurz then urged the public to keep in isolation and implement social distancing.

Other western European countries are loosening their lockdowns, albeit differently.

On Monday, Spain allowed some businesses to restart, including construction and manufacturing.

Denmark is reopening daycare centres and schools for children from first to fifth grades on Wednesday.