Letters from Vienna #26
Although the dubious and questionable “number of infections” seems to “remain high” the situation in the intensive stations in Austria seems to be “relatively relaxed” according to the government, which is why, ostensibly at least, they are declaring an easing of restrictions. Today, the 17th of February, nearly all measures are being rolled back in Switzerland and by tomorrow the minister of health here in Vienna has to tell the constitutional court why this nonsense is still enduring.
The federal government, together with the provincial governors, seems set to declare the 5th of March a “Day of Freedom” (“Freiheits-Tag”). On this day all the “Corona measures” other than mask wearing, the symbol of slavery par excellence, will, theoretically at least, be withdrawn. Whether this will actually happen or not remains to be seen.
On the 19th 2G (vaccinated or recovered) and early closing times are set to fall, yet, somewhat confusingly 3G (vaccinated or recovered or tested) will be introduced for a couple of weeks, which shows how arbitrary and ridiculous government here has actually become. On the 5th of March 3G will also fall. Up until then testing remains free, which has been a bone of contention. From that point on: restrictions on events, concerts and parties will, theoretically at least, cease.
Paradoxically and in truly Kafkaesque fashion: mandatory vaccination remains an issue. The burning question is: who will get an exemption and who not? The government wants the numbers to be limited but this will inevitably put an awful lot of pressure on the system.
According to the chancellor: “We have the prospect of carefully but emphatically taking back the freedom the virus has stolen from us, bit by bit”. When exactly a virus took over the reins of government in Austria he didn’t say. In the same way that all the measures have been blamed on the “advice of (unnamed and extremely dubious) experts” so a virus, which most probably doesn’t even exist, is being given the responsibility for all this nonsense.
It should hardly thus surprise when thrice jabbed and Covid victim Chancellor Nehammer says in truly Orwellian fashion: “We have not yet overcome the pandemic. The virus is still part of our lives.”
Similarly, the health minister Wolfgang Mückstein (Greens) was quoted as saying: “The current situation seems to enable an “Awakening of Spring” out of an entrenched crisis mode; we can, step by step, switch to standby. That doesn’t mean that the pandemic is already over. We mustn’t make the same mistake again (The government had already declared the pandemic for the vaccinated to be over in the summer of 2021). I can’t promise you that we won’t need stricter measures in the coming months, the virus has already taught us that.”
Above all: he seems to want to avoid the embarrassment of admitting that the vaccinated have Covid. “Regularly testing symptom-free, boosted people” he said “makes little sense and costs a lot of money.” In reality of course: Regularly testing symptom-free people never made any sense and always cost an awful lot of money.
The government is trying to salvage and retain as much as possible from its shambolic and ridiculous policies but it might well be a case of “too little, too late”. The real reason for the dramatic developments are not moments of enlightenment or changes of heart on the part of the government or “falling numbers of cases” but waves of disappointment and anger; the government is deeply unpopular, as are all establishment parties.
Opinion polls seem to indicate that over 80% of Austrians are opposed to the current measures, especially mandatory vaccination and the “Green Pass”. The average Austrian is bitter and angry at what has been done to them; they are unhappy about being lied to and they are furious at the broken promises and years of deception. Whether or not they’ll actually avenge themselves at the polls remains to be seen.
The wave of popular revolt could well prove too strong and not a few politicians might have to content themselves with the rest of their lives spent in prison. This shouldn’t prove a problem. After all: They have long robbed their fellow citizens of their lives and liberties and they have long been proponents of “lockdown”.