Austria Report

Compared with other countries, and in particular other EU member states, Austria’s performance during the coronavirus crisis has not been unsuccessful. In terms of medical (e.g., infection and death rates) and economic indicators (e.g., unemployment), Austria’s performance was in line with the average within the EU. The government sought to balance life-saving policies (e.g., school closures, lockdowns and travel restrictions) with economic measures like stimulus packages in ways more or less similar to approaches taken in other countries. After the first wave of infections declined in late spring of 2020 and most restrictions were lifted, overconfidence within the government and public spread, resulting in a surge of infections by October, which led in turn to new restrictions being levied by November. A combination of anti[1]statist and right-wing extremist elements voiced their opposition to the restrictions in demonstrations.