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Queues for tests, shops and hairdressers: How Austria reacted to the lockdown relaxation

The Local Austria
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Queues for tests, shops and hairdressers: How Austria reacted to the lockdown relaxation
People queue out the front of a Zara store in Vienna on February 8th, 2021. Photo: JOE KLAMAR / AFP

With lockdown rules relaxed, people flooded to shops and testing sites across the country on Monday.

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Austria has loosened its lockdown, opening schools, museums, hairdressers, shops, beauticians, art galleries and even zoos. 

Long queues began forming early on Friday afternoon outside the testing centre at the Orangerie at Vienna’s Schönnbrunn Palace as people waited to be tested ahead of hairdressers re-opening. 

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The Schönbrunn Palace tweeted a photograph of the testing centre ahead of opening. Medical professionals are available to carry out tests from 6am to 9pm, both for walk-in appointments and at a nearby drive-in centre. However, booking is essential. 

 

Gerhard Paleczny tweeted from inside the building “This is how we test for Covid in Vienna” with the city’s popular hashtag Wienliebe (Vienna love). 

 

ZDF journalist Britta Hilpert tweeted from Vienna’s Mariahilfer Strasse at 9:45am, noting that even 15 minutes before all the stores were open, the queues were are up to two blocks long. 

 

Meanwhile author and blogger Brigitte Winklbauer posted videos and photographs from Vienna’s Schönbrunn zoo of orangutans, a panda and a polar bear.

The zoo reopened today after 97 days of closure with an upper limit for visitors and an FFP2 mask requirement throughout the zoo. 

In Salzburg, the tourist information tweeted that Salzburgs Museums would come back to life  with its cathedral quarter, airplane museum and zoo open again on Monday, and the Salzburg Museum on Tuesday.

Salzburg Museum also tweeted to say it was looking forward to seeing all its Sattler Panorama fans, and all those who want to become one.  

 

 

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