Published: 5 Mar, 2021 CET.Updated: Sun 7 Mar 2021 09:31 CET
Austria hopes to open outdoor areas at restaurants by late March, but increasing coronavirus infection rates may see the plan scrapped. Here's what you need to know.
Advertisement
There are tentative plans for the Austrian government to allow restaurants with outdoor seating (Schanigarten) to open for outdoor dining from 27th March.
This could bring a shortage of antigen tests. Hacker says it could cause the tests to run out in “one swoop”.
The government will make its decision on 15th March on whether to open restaurants.
Advertisement
Do enough restaurants have outside areas for dining?
In Vienna there are around 3,500 outdoor eating areas spread out around its 9,000 restaurants.
However, some restaurants do not have large enough outdoor areas to justify opening without indoor dining, especially with distance rules, according to Der Standard.
People enjoy sunny weather in Vienna's Stadtpark (Photo by JOE KLAMAR / AFP)
Plan to use city parks in Vienna
Vienna’s mayor Michael Ludwig is considering using the Rathaus square, Karlsplatz, Danube Canal and the Stadtpark as outdoor dining areas for bars and restaurants with no outdoor dining areas.
He is also looking into the possibility of food trucks, he told broadcaster ORF.
Normally the Stadtpark is used every year for the Viennese Gourmet Festival, which gives a good idea how dining in the park could work in practice.
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.
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 here to leave a comment.