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The Austrian government decided to partially relax the tough lockdown from February 8th.

The trade, schools and body-close service providers such as hairdressers as well as museums, galleries and zoos are allowed to reopen under strict conditions, said Chancellor Sebastian Kurz (ÖVP) on Monday.

In the schools, lessons will partly take place in shifts.

Only those students who can be tested are allowed to participate.

Hairdressers and other services may also only be used with a test that is not older than 48 hours.

In retail, wearing an FFP2 mask is compulsory, as in Germany.

The exit restrictions currently in force around the clock have been limited to the time between 8 p.m. and 6 a.m.

Two households are allowed to meet during the day.

However, the entry requirements would be tightened in order to prevent the introduction of further virus mutations from other countries.

Variants of the corona virus, such as those from Brazil, should be averted, it said.

"Mutations eat up the success of the lockdown to a certain extent"

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"Please do not understand these selective easing as an all-clear," said Kurz.

If the number of infections increases, it must be sharpened again immediately.

In view of the mutations, the Chancellor warned of exponential growth and once again called on the population to limit social contacts.

“The mutations are spreading, especially the British, but also the South African and are eating away at the success of our lockdown,” said Kurz.

Epidemiologically, the problem is clear, the Chancellor admitted: "The safest way would be to remain in lockdown".

But one is also aware that children have a need to go to school again.

In addition, everything must be done to keep unemployment as low as possible.

According to the Ministry of Health and the Interior, 1124 new infections were counted within a day.

Despite the restrictions, the number has only fallen slowly over the past few weeks and is well above the government's target of around 700 new infections per day in early February.

In the country with just under nine million inhabitants, 7,778 people have so far died of or with a Covid-19 infection.

The seven-day incidence on Monday was 105.8 new infections per 100,000 population.

In Germany this value is 91.

After brief easing before Christmas, Austria has been in its third hard lockdown since December 26th.

When the opening steps for restaurants, hotels and sports and cultural areas can be expected will be decided on February 15th.