In Austria, the FFP2 mask, more filtering, became mandatory, Monday, January 25, in public transport, shops, services and medical offices.
The implementation of this new measure, which remains uncommon in Europe, does not give rise to any real debate in the country, while "the regulation ensures that the masks are sold at cost price" (i.e. 59 euro cents ), comments another passerby, Dorothea, who declined to give her last name.
It is now necessary to wear these more filtering masks - which block 94% of aerosols, the finest particles (around 0.6 microns) - in buses, trams, trains and subways.
The measure also applies to supermarkets and to service providers such as garage owners and health professionals.
Teachers, warehouse workers and people in the public service in contact with the population must also comply with this in their workplace, unless they can keep a distance of two meters.
Neighboring Bavaria imposes FFP2
Pregnant women and people with medical contraindications are exempt, as are staff who agree to undergo regular screening tests for the coronavirus.
At the German neighbor, in Bavaria, the authorities have also decided since Monday to impose the wearing of FFP2 masks in buses, trams, subways and all transport, as well as in shops.
Despite a third containment put in place after Christmas and extended until at least February 8, the number of infections is hardly decreasing in Austria.
New daily contaminations are around 130 per 100,000 inhabitants.
However, the government has set itself the objective of not exceeding 50.
Schools, museums, sports halls, cinemas and non-essential shops are currently closed and residents called on to limit contact as much as possible.
Winter sports are however maintained.
Skiing, an outdoor discipline, is considered less risky.
With AFP
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