In Austria, May starts with a public holiday. That is “May Day”. All shops are closed and public transport is reduced until noon. Also every year there ususally is a big demsonstration and parade in front of City Hall etc.. This year however, due to Coronavirus, everything has been cancelled. Today is an especially quiet May Day. I have a feeling that there is again a total lockdown taking place.
April is coming to a close. April began with a total lockdown and starting from middle of the month there was some easing of restrictions. In May there will be further easing. Today was a beautiful day almost like an early celebration. Many people were at the parks, children were playing. It is wonderful to see. Such everyday scenes were not permitted until now. Now I feel how precious these “normal” days are. I hope that today’s picture will be a symbol for the future.
Finally we can eat ice cream outside! People are waiting while keeping their distance. やっと、アイスクリームを戸外で食べてもいいことになりました！ アイスクリーム屋さんの前で、皆、間隔をとって並んでいます。
Lockdown has had clear effects and now Austria is gradually easing restrictions. Middle of May, restaurants will be allowed to open again. The damage to the economy is quite extensive and some experts believe that about 20 to 30% of restaurants in Vienna will go out of business. How much can the Austrian government help to rise again…? Also there is talk of a second wave of infections… I cannot do anything against it but I want to try to protect myself as best as I can.
Starting this week on Tuesday(April 14th) all parks in Vienna opened their gates. For one month we could not enter Burggarten but today how happy we are to be there! But inside we must also keep distance from one another.
Zoom zoom zoom, busy bee… This year in April there was almost no rain and therefore many blossoms have no power to bloom… Bees however cannot lose any time! ブンブンブン…熱心な蜂さん… この4月はほとんど雨が降らないので、お花がきれいに開けないみたい… それでも、蜂さんは大忙しです！Finally the gate was opened and I am inside the park！ Last week I took pictures of my standing position from outside stretching my hands through the gate…. やっと中に入りました！先週は、あの柵の向こうから腕を伸ばして、こちらの写真を撮ってました…
Pictures by Yuka Simeno April 2020 at Burggarten, Vienna
Finally some fountains in the city of Vienna have been turned on! Because the “lockdown” has produced a favourabale result, starting Tuesday there will be a slight easing of restrictions. All the parks will be opened. I look forward to it!
Tomorrow will be the end of the third week of lockdown in Austria. The Austrian government changed course. Until recently it was forbidden to wear masks in public. Starting next Monday (April 6th) however, it is allowed to wear masks. At the entrance to supermarkets, masks are handed out and I received one. Surely my mother would be content seeing me wearing a mask since she always used to recommend it. Austria will domestically produce masks of high quality for medical staff. Right now the government is looking for experienced seamstresses to help with the production. Also they will produce mask cleaning devices domestically.
Although Austria makes a big effort for masks something unbelievable happened in Vienna. Someone robbed a bank and a customer whol tried to run away was shot and heavily injured. The robber fled the crime scene by bicycle. There were witnesses but because he was wearing a mask, he could not be visually identified. People live with restrictions and frustration because of Coronavirus and such a criminal act is terrible. Today, one day later, I still have not heard whether the perpetrator has been apprehended or not. I hope there will never be a bank robbery again.
Some years ago, the Austrian government made it illegal to wear masks in public with an “anti-concealment law”. Back then, the Chancellor now in office, together with a far-right party in a coalition government decided it. This was very difficult for Japanese residing in Austria and Japanese tourists. But finally the government allowed wearing masks in public! Today（March 30th) at a press conference at 11:00 the chancellor said that soon there will be masks handed out at the entrance to supermarkets and those masks must be worn inside！However the government stressed that this measure is to protect others. Also in this conference, i liked the speech of Vice-Chancellor Werner Kogler (Green Party), which he started by addressing all people living in Austria. In contrast, the Chancellor started his speech with the words “Dear Austrians”. Many people from foreign countries live in Austria and especially in Vienna, where I live. I really hope that because of this crisis countries will help each other and I truly wish that hatred will not be directed towards foreigners.
Go go go！Every day I go out for a walk through the city of Vienna for health. Walking slowly or resting on a bench is not advised by the government at this time. Often police cars and officers on foot are on patrol in the streets.
Public transport should also be avoided except for going to work etc.
Outside of your own living space, one should always keep a distance from others of at least one metre. Every day at a bakery I buy some bread or sandwich for lunch. In the afternoon I go out for a second short walk to go to a supermarket for groceries. Such necessary businesses are open and there is plenty of merchandise. Also inside the stores people keep their distance from each other. Since few are on the streets it is also like that inside the stores.
Schools are still closed but that does not mean there is a break. They have enough homework and most can do their studies via the internet. Those children who cannot be supervised at home can come to their schools and do the homework there.
Concerning domestic violence there is a telephone helpline which is always available for help. There has already been an increase of regstered calls of 50% compared to normal levels.
Since everybody is always at home, the utility bills such as electricity, water, etc. add up but if people cannot pay those bills right now, those services will continue regardless.
On TV there are spots to help recruit people to help with the harvest because foreign workers must return to their country and there is a labour shortage right now. There are also TV spots for thanking those who are on duty right now such as sales assistants, doctors, police officers etc.
Those Austrians still abroad were called on by the government to return to Austria as soon as possible.
In my opinion the measures taken by the Austrian government against the spreading of Coronavirus quite good. I get a feeling that Austria as a country does indeed protect its citizens and inhabitants. “Whatever the cost” is something the Austrian government has promised and is actively trying to pursue. At this time I have quite a positive impression of the government and I hope they will succeed.
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