Now the political pressure on Governor Wilfried Haslauer (ÖVP) is increasing. The green coalition partner’s lack of understanding about the defensive stance towards a lockdown for unvaccinated people is stirring. The scientists are fighting back because they have been warning against the force of the fourth wave for months.
The astonishment at Wilfried Haslauer’s broadside against the virologists continues. Now 33 Austrian scientists have made a statement in which they do not share Haslauer’s surprise about the force of the fourth corona wave. In view of the low vaccination rate, there have been clear warnings before autumn since the end of summer at the latest. In Salzburg, little or nothing happened, despite the high corona numbers at that time. The hectic pace and hustle and bustle are now increasing, and criticism is also getting louder in state politics. Haslauer’s deputy Heinrich Schellhorn (Greens) would like much stricter measures. “I’m afraid that very soon we will not be able to avoid a lockdown, because otherwise we will not be able to make the downward curve,” said Schellhorn about the “Krone”. He does not understand that Haslauer is resisting a lockdown for unvaccinated people. There were also intensive discussions about this in the state government. Federal President Alexander Van der Bellen also appeals to the federal and state governments: “Action has to be taken!” SPÖ proposes a non-binding invitation to vaccinate for everyone. The SPÖ demands from Haslauer an apology for “his own failure”. “Salzburg doesn’t need a populist governor now,” says SPÖ boss David Egger. There is also a specific proposal from the Reds: The state government should send non-binding, but specific vaccination appointments to all unvaccinated Salzburgers. Haslauer, who is critical of the measures, does not rush to help. FPÖ leader Marlene Svazek accuses Haslauer of having “duped” the population by delaying the lockdown for unvaccinated people. Neos boss Andrea Klambauer supports the additional measures imposed by the state, such as the extended FFP2 mask requirement or consumption while sitting. But she says: “We should have decided on these measures earlier.”
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