Austria reintroduces mandatory face masks

Austria is reintroducing mandatory face masks in some stores and banks after a new upsurge in coronavirus infections.

Austrian chancellor Sebastian Kurz told reporters on Tuesday that everyone would have to wear face masks again in supermarkets, smaller grocery stores, post offices and banks.

The measure will come into force on Friday, Austrian news agency APA reported.

The chancellor also announced that controls along the country's border to the Balkans will be further increased because many of the new infections in Austria can be traced back to that region.

Kurz called on his compatriots not to travel to the region this summer.

A focus of the health authorities will also be on religious communities which have registered several clusters of outbreaks recently, Kurz said.

The number of religious services will be reduced again, worshippers will be asked to wear face masks, and if any positive cases are reported the religious communities will no longer be allowed to assemble.

Austria had relaxed many coronavirus restrictions in recent weeks but has since seen a rise in the number of those infected.

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