Covid-19: record number of new cases, second wave hits Austria

A Covid-19 test center outside the Hofburg Palace in Vienna, September 30, 2020. JOE KLAMAR / AFP

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Austria, which has less than 9 million inhabitants, recorded more than 1,200 new coronavirus infections on Thursday, a record figure since the start of the pandemic.

Consequence: the support of the population for the government on its management of the crisis is crumbling. 

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With our correspondent in Vienna, 

Isaure Hiace

Austria had been relatively untouched by the first wave because, according to Conservative Chancellor Sebastian Kurz, the country had taken action early enough.

But in recent days, the number of coronavirus contaminations has increased sharply, reaching 1,209 new cases on Thursday.

A record figure, half of which concerns Vienna, the capital is indeed particularly affected.

Health Minister Rudolf Anschober once again called on the population to respect the measures in force.

Measures that had been reinforced

last month: the government had notably decided to limit private gatherings indoors to 10 people.

Despite this, the number of contaminations continued to increase, surpassing on several occasions in recent days the bar of 1,000 new daily cases.

Consequence: support for the government crumbles.

According to a recent poll, only 53% of Austrians now believe the government is handling the crisis well.

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