|
 Austria
has closed schools, restaurants, bars, cultural venues and other
gathering places, including non-essential shops. People have been
told to stay at home and work from there if possible.
The country has reported 108 deaths and more than 9,000 cases so
far, fewer than its neighbors Italy and Switzerland and within its
health system's capacity for now, but Kurz said its intensive care
capacity could be exceeded by mid-April.
"As of the moment these masks are handed out in front of
supermarkets it will be compulsory to wear them in supermarkets,"
Kurz said, adding that the aim in the medium-term was for people to
wear them in public more generally as well.
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The so-called MNS masks are below medical grade and aimed at preventing the
wearer from spreading it to others by coughing or sneezing, he said, adding:
"Currently the infections are far too high."
The masks will be handed out probably from Wednesday.
Austria is also carrying out tests on a representative sample of 2,000 people to
get a clearer understanding of how much of the population has been exposed to
the virus, Kurz said, adding that Austria was one of the first countries in
Europe to do so. The results will be available at the end of the week.
(Reporting by Francois Murphy; Editing by Catherine Evans and Alison Williams)
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