Advertisement

How Austrian brothels want to open with corona testing

The Local Austria
The Local Austria - [email protected]
How Austrian brothels want to open with corona testing
A sex worker's face mask calls for brothels to reopen INA FASSBENDER / AFP

Using hairdressers as an inspiration, could mandatory coronavirus testing allow brothels to open again in Austria?

Advertisement

The head of one of Austria’s largest brothels is calling for brothels to be allowed to open under the same conditions as hairdressers and tattoo parlours in Austria.

This would mean entrance would only be possible with a recent negative PCR or antigen coronavirus test. 

Alexander Holzer, who heads up the nude sauna Goldentime in Vienna told the Kronen Zeitung he would be able to guarantee “health and safety for everyone” with the test requirement.

The newspaper reports while registered establishments have to remain closed due to pandemic restrictions, prostitution in private apartments is booming. 

Advertisement

All brothels in Austria have been closed since November 3rd, 2020, and are expected to remain closed until Easter 2021.

However, sex worker home visits are allowed in Vienna, Lower Austria and Syria.

Both sex workers and clients should wear masks giving mouth and nose protection, gloves and bed coverings should be washed between us. 

The Kronen Zeitung reported in December that illegal sex work was increasing due to the lockdown measures, with sex workers hiring out Airbnb apartments as brothels were closed.

Advertisement

This violates the Prostitution Act and the Corona Ordinance, means women miss out on health checks and puts sex workers at risk of attacks. 

 

 

 

More

Join the conversation in our comments section below. Share your own views and experience and if you have a question or suggestion for our journalists then email us at [email protected].
Please keep comments civil, constructive and on topic – and make sure to read our terms of use before getting involved.

Please log in to leave a comment.

See Also