Coronavirus: Austria set to ease lockdown with reopening of shops

Around 0.33 per cent of population were infected early April, according to research

Austria prepares to reopen small shops during its coronavirus lockdown (JOHANN GRODER/APA/AFP via Getty Images)

Small shops are set to re-open in Austria as the country looks to relax its coronavirus lockdown.

The Austrian government said last week it aimed to allow stores which have been closed due to the pandemic to re-open in phases beginning on Tuesday.

The easing of the lockdown would come amid research suggesting the number of infections – which stood officially at 14,000 on Monday – could actually be double that when taking the general population into account.

A government-commissioned study estimated that about 28,500 people had been infected by early April.

Austria had reported some 12,000 confirmed cases of coronavirus as of 6 April when the study's sampling ended – a number which had risen to 13,945 by Monday.

Sebastian Kurz, the chancellor, said last week the government planned to reopen small shops on Tuesday, as well as DIY stores and garden centres.

The number of people permitted inside will be limited, and all will have to wear face masks, as they must already do at supermarkets.

He also said the government would extend restrictions on public movement to last until the end of April while the country continued to tackle the spread of the virus.

The recent study conducted by the SORA Institute estimated that 0.33 per cent of people in Austria were infected with coronavirus at the start of this month.

Researchers said: “This study makes it possible to estimate the prevalence of acute infections with Covid-19 ... among non-hospitalised people living in Austria for the period early April 2020.”

"There has been the assumption that more people are infected than those officially tested. It's along the lines of other findings so far," SORA founder Christoph Hofinger told the Agence France-Presse news agency.

The findings suggested around 28,500 people in the entire population had contracted the virus.

When taking into account a margin of error, researchers said the number could be between 10,200 and 67,400 people.

After the initial opening on small shops on Tuesday, authorities hope to let the rest of the retail stores – including shopping centres and hair salons – open on 1 May.

“We will watch things closely,” Mr Kurz said. “If the figures continue to go in the right direction, then the next step will take place on 1 May. If we are not successful, then we must pull the emergency brake.”

The government does not plan to reopen restaurants and hotels until at least mid-May, and the decision will be made at the end of April.

Additional reporting by agencies