Austria blamed for Bavaria’s Covid-19 surge
A district administrator in a heavily hit region in German state of Bavaria has said Austria is partly to blame for the rise in infections.
The region of Rottal-Inn is now one of the worst hit areas for new coronavirus infections, resulting in the implementation of significant lockdown restrictions.
The region, roughly 60 kilometres east of Munich, sits on the Austrian border - which a local politician has said is one of the primary reasons for the skyrocketing infection rates.
The region has recorded 239.5 new infections per 100,000 inhabitants over the past seven days. As reported by the Passauer Neue Presse on Tuesday, this is the highest region in Germany per inhabitants.
The district administrator of the Rottal-Inn district, Michael Fahmüller, told the media that Austria was at least in part responsible for the increase.
“You have to state that openly," Fahmüller said.
Fahmüller pointed out that coronavirus measures have been much more relaxed in Austria than they have been in Bavaria in recent weeks.
The majority of Austria is classed as a risk zone by Germany so people visiting Bavaria face restrictions including quarantine. On Monday, Bavarian officials urged people in Austria not to cross the border unless they have an essential reason to do so.
Rottal-Inn shares a border with Upper Austria, the Austrian state with the highest count of new infections from Sunday to Monday.
UPDATED: Where are Austria's coronavirus hotspots?
Over the past seven days, Upper Austria has had the third highest number of new infections per capita, after Salzburg and Tirol.
Rottal-Inn became one of only two German regions - alongside fellow border area Berchtesgadener Land - to be forced into lockdown.
Since Tuesday, October 27th, people are only allowed to leave their apartment to work, go shopping or to exercise.
Schools and day care centres have been closed, while restaurants can only offer take away service. Unlike in the Spring, shops remain open.
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The region of Rottal-Inn is now one of the worst hit areas for new coronavirus infections, resulting in the implementation of significant lockdown restrictions.
The region, roughly 60 kilometres east of Munich, sits on the Austrian border - which a local politician has said is one of the primary reasons for the skyrocketing infection rates.
The region has recorded 239.5 new infections per 100,000 inhabitants over the past seven days. As reported by the Passauer Neue Presse on Tuesday, this is the highest region in Germany per inhabitants.
The district administrator of the Rottal-Inn district, Michael Fahmüller, told the media that Austria was at least in part responsible for the increase.
“You have to state that openly," Fahmüller said.
Fahmüller pointed out that coronavirus measures have been much more relaxed in Austria than they have been in Bavaria in recent weeks.
The majority of Austria is classed as a risk zone by Germany so people visiting Bavaria face restrictions including quarantine. On Monday, Bavarian officials urged people in Austria not to cross the border unless they have an essential reason to do so.
Rottal-Inn shares a border with Upper Austria, the Austrian state with the highest count of new infections from Sunday to Monday.
UPDATED: Where are Austria's coronavirus hotspots?
Over the past seven days, Upper Austria has had the third highest number of new infections per capita, after Salzburg and Tirol.
Rottal-Inn became one of only two German regions - alongside fellow border area Berchtesgadener Land - to be forced into lockdown.
Since Tuesday, October 27th, people are only allowed to leave their apartment to work, go shopping or to exercise.
Schools and day care centres have been closed, while restaurants can only offer take away service. Unlike in the Spring, shops remain open.
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