- Title: Austrians go shopping amid loosening of coronavirus lockdown
- Date: 14th April 2020
- Summary: VIENNA, AUSTRIA (APRIL 14, 2020) (REUTERS) PEOPLE OUTSIDE OF SHOP FOR PROTECTIVE GEAR PEOPLE SHOPPING FOR PATTERNED MASKS MASKS ON WALL MANNEQUIN WEARING PROTECTIVE GEAR / SHOPPERS DOLL WEARING PATTERNED MASK MAN PUTTING MASKS INTO CARDBOARD BOX (SOUNDBITE) (German) SHOP OWNER, ELSA DODI, SAYING: "We've had 2785 buying customers so far. We have 7.5 million FFP3 3M masks. I
- Embargoed: 28th April 2020 16:50
- Keywords: Austria Sebastian Kurz Vienna coronavirus shops reopen
- Location: VIENNA, AUSTRIA
- City: VIENNA, AUSTRIA
- Country: Austria
- Topics: Health/Medicine
- Reuters ID: LVA001C9GQAMF
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: Austria allowed thousands of shops to reopen on Tuesday (April 14), becoming one of the first countries in Europe to loosen its lockdown imposed to curb the spread of the new coronavirus.
Austria acted early in its outbreak to close schools, bars, theatres, restaurants, non-essential shops and other gathering places roughly four weeks ago. It has told the public to stay home and work from there if possible.
The Alpine republic has fared relatively well so far, having reported 384 deaths in total, fewer than some larger European countries have been suffering each day. The daily increase in confirmed cases has fallen to low single digits in percentage terms and hospitalisations have stabilised.
Last week, the government outlined a step-by-step plan to reopen parts of the economy, starting with shops of up to 400 square metres (4,300 square feet) - roughly twice the playing area of a singles tennis court - as well as all DIY and garden centres on Tuesday.
They are due to be followed by shopping centres, larger shops and hairdressers from May 1.
It remains unclear whether, even with limits on the number of people allowed inside shops and a requirement for all shoppers to wear face masks, the government is sending a mixed message about the lockdown in place until the end of April.
Each week of lockdown has cost Austria's economy 0.53% of yearly gross domestic product, or 2.1 billion euros ($2.3 billion), its central bank has estimated.
(Production: Matteo Witt, Lisi Niesner, Barbara Woolsey) - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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