Testing a bust as shops open

Vienna – Austria’s Chancellor Sebastian Kurz had hoped that taking part in a mass Covid-19 testing scheme on Monday would draw crowds, but the lure of stores being reopened after weeks of lockdown proved stronger for many.

Though Kurz called on people to “spread out shopping urges” across days, additional police had to be dispatched to ensure social distancing and other measures were observed at malls.

Many shoppers, like subcontractor Robert Bauer, “couldn’t wait with the shopping – even if it might be a bit crowded today”.

Since the lockdown came into effect on 17 November, when the small country had one of the highest per capita number of new coronavirus cases, Bauer’s family of four had been confined to their Vienna apartment as schools, stores, restaurants, bars and all cultural venues remained closed.

“And this morning, the kids were also really excited to return to school and for the younger one, to kindergarten,” Bauer’s wife Petra said of their sons, Emilio, 4, and Ricardo, 8.

With the numbers now above 3 000 new infections per day, the government aims to find hidden cases in a nationwide mass-testing scheme.

So far, however, turnout has been low and the minds of those who have grown weary of restrictions weren’t changed by Kurz and Vienna mayor Michael Ludwig getting tested under the gaze of national media on Monday.

“I am increasingly uncertain if there is a point to it,” said Gerhard, a 64-year-old retiree.

“There are still a lot of people who have this virus. And now they are all going outside to shop again. Look at them,” he said, gesturing at the long queue in front of the post office.

Museums and libraries have also reopened in Vienna, restaurants, cafes and bars will remain closed until after Christmas.

As Wham’s Last Christmas played in the background, Jelena and Ivan Markovics zipped straight to a furniture store advertising generous “post-lockdown” sales.

They moved into a new, but completely unfurnished apartment and urgently needed a kitchen, Ivan said.

Their kitchen won’t arrive for another eight weeks, so their Christmas dinner will be cooked on an old electric stove, but they will be seated on a new couch.

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