Austrian supermarkets began handing out basic face masks to largely compliant shoppers before they become compulsory next week, though there remained some confusion about the new measure and uncertainty about its usefulness in fighting the coronavirus.
The World Health Organization has questioned the use of an entire population wearing face masks to slow the coronavirus and said it can be counter-productive, since the wearer could infect themselves by putting it on or removing it incorrectly.
Conservative Chancellor Sebastian Kurz this week said masks would soon be required in supermarkets and possibly later in public places in general, a cultural shift for a country that introduced a ban on face-coverings like Muslim veils 18 months ago in the wake of Europe’s migration crisis.
Neighboring Slovakia and the Czech Republic, which have far fewer cases, have introduced a more sweeping measure, making face masks compulsory outside the home. Support for wearing masks in public appears to be rising across Europe.
Austria borders Italy, one of the world’s hardest-hit countries but moved earlier in its outbreak to shut down schools, bars and other gathering places. Its more than 10,000 cases have yet to overwhelm its health system, but Kurz says that could happen in two weeks. There have been 146 deaths so far.
The Austrian government has announced additional measures slowing down the ongoing pandemic of the COVID-19 disease caused by the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus, including to wear face masks in supermarkets, with a shop area over 400 square meters, from 06 April 2020 on, occupational exemption for people in the risk group, stricter penalties for disregarding the measures and all hotels must close their operations.
