Austria readies new COVID curbs as daily infections stay above 5,000

FILE PHOTO: Man walks over a bridge in Salzburg, Austria October 21, 2020. REUTERS/Leonhard Foeger

ZURICH (Reuters) – Austria’s daily tally of new coronavirus cases stood at 5,349, data from the government showed on Saturday, as it prepares to announce new measures aimed at slowing the spread of the virus.

Chancellor Sebastian Kurz, who has said hospitals would be stretched beyond capacity at around 6,000 daily infections, has said an economically damaging second lockdown would be a last resort, but Austrian media reported tough measures were in the works.

Daily cases hit a record of 5,627 on Friday.

Reporting by Brenna Hughes Neghaiwi; editing by John Stonestreet

source: reuters.com