In mid-February, Austria's chancellor Karl Nehammer (“OVP) announced the country would begin reopening, with many restrictions in position to contain the Covid-19 pandemic being lifted in March and venues for example nightclubs and apres-ski reopening after months of closure.
The city is fully open. The nation's government has lifted just about all restrictions in Austria: some mask requirements remain, as well as restrictions applying to, for example, care homes, hospitals, and positive cases. However, Vienna has retained a few extra restrictions. With regard to FFP2 goggles, they are obligatory in certain situations. Notably when utilizing public transport or taxis, inside stores or hairdressers, and inside museums, concert venues, cinemas and other alike.
In Vienna, you need to satisfy the 2G rule in nightclubs, bars, restaurants, coffee houses and similar gastronomic areas (also those within wider institutions). This rule will also apply to indoors sports facilities for example gyms. Following the Austrian government chose to lift most anti-Covid measures, weekend saw citizens flocking to restaurants, bars and clubs across the country in what some club-owners have referred to as spring fever. People no longer need any kind of health pass to enter crowded venues and, in addition, the curfew has additionally gone away.
In mid-February, Austria's chancellor Karl Nehammer (“OVP) announced the country would begin reopening, with many restrictions in place to retain the Covid-19 pandemic being lifted in March and venues for example nightclubs and apres-ski reopening after months of closure. In mid-March, further changes were announced, including a cap on tests as well as an alteration towards the isolation policy, both of which apply from April.
The so-called spring awakening, when most restrictions were lifted, happened on 5th March, with swarms of people visiting nightclubs and parties all around the alpine country.
The midnight curfew for restaurants was also lifted as nightclubs, and apres-ski venues were permitted to reopen. The upper limit on event attendees seemed to be lifted, and 2G and 3G rules, meaning the need to prove vaccination or recovery (2G) or vaccination, recovery or tested status (3G), has also been removed in many places.
The main rules that continue to apply nationwide would be the FFP2 mask mandate in public places transport and essential retail, for example supermarkets, banks, pharmacies, and hospitals or an elderly care facility homes. In the health sector, the 3G rules still apply. However, there's still a recommendation to wear the masks in enclosed spaces. The 3G requirement at the office, which has been in position since 1st November and applied to all workplaces in which you can't eliminate entering close connection with others, has also been lifted.
Austria's test technique is likely to change soon, though, because the country plans to phase out mass Covid testing on 31st March. Instead, a far more “targeted test strategy” would follow, as Parliament approved an amendment to the infection law allowing the Health Ministry to determine test strategies. The federal government's are the minimum standard for rules and regulations, and states in Austria can adopt stricter measures.
This is the case of Vienna, as frequently happened during the pandemic, there is a separate algorithm. It comes with an FFP2 mask requirement for all customers in trade and body-related services. For personnel in vital trade, the FFP2 mask requirement only applies high is direct customer contact. There isn't any longer a mask requirement for personnel in the non-essential business. For body-related service, there is still a requirement for purchasers, but not staff. Vienna is keeping the 2G rule to gastronomy, though the mask requirement is waived for staff and customers. There isn't any more curfew, and night gastronomy is permitted to open, but also having a 2G rule.
In the hospitality sector, there isn't any more G-proof required, so guests can check-in without showing evidence of vaccination, recovery or negative tests. However, the 2G rule applies to the catering areas in Viennese hotels. There isn't any maximum of attendees for meetings and events but an FFP2 mask requirement in enclosed spaces. The mask also applies indoors for leisure and cultural facilities. For sports, there is a 2G rule when it's indoors, but no more FFP2 mask requirement with no restrictions on outdoor sports.
Children and teenagers from the age of six need an entrance test where the G-rule pertains to adults. As much as 12 years, the 3G applies, such as the so-called “ninja passport” for kids of faculty age. For kids aged 12 to fifteen years, a PCR test can be presented and is valid for Two days. From April 1st, residents in Austria will be eligible for five PCR and five antigen tests monthly inside a departure in the unlimited free tests that are currently available.
Covid-19 tests will also be readily available for symptomatic cases and those in at-risk settings, such as in schools and hospitals. Based on the ORF, the Austrian national broadcasting agency, Klaus Friedl, chairman of the gastronomy section of the Styrian Chamber of Commerce, explained that the sector is visiting a full spring awakening. Also, he explained that the catering industry hopes that will visit a full recovery by mid-2023.
This, however, creates a contradiction with Austria's mandatory Covid-shot policy and a situation where it will likely be very difficult to enforce it. Notably, in the past, authorities used pandemic restrictions and also the Green Certificate in an effort to distinguish the unvaccinated. With measures disappearing that will become more difficult. At the same time, according to the Ministry of Health, the mandate has already established very little effect on vaccination rates and there are a million adults in the united states, who are susceptible to a fine. Now, the government is set to decide whether or not to drop portions of the mandate.
