2020:
February 25: First confirmed cases in Austria: An Italian couple in Innsbruck tested positive.
March 11: WHO declares Covid-19 a pandemic. Larger events (500 participants outdoors, 100 indoors) are banned in Austria, and university operations and entry from risk areas are restricted.
March 12: The first corona death is reported.
March 16: FIRST LOCKDOWN (Seven-day incidence 12, 200 to 300 new infections, two deaths).
March 20: Further closures: Rehabilitation and spa houses, thermal baths also close, visits to hospitals and nursing homes are largely prohibited.
April 6: Supermarkets may only be entered with mouth and nose protection.
April 14: Beginning of gradual easing: small shops and hardware stores are allowed to open, but masks are compulsory in shops and public transport. Entry restrictions for family members or life partners are being relaxed somewhat.
1 May: end of lockdown, maximum 10 people allowed to meet.
May 15: “New normality” with an average of 50 new infections every day: Gastronomy and museums open under strict safety requirements.
June 15th: The obligation to wear masks is largely eliminated. The AUA resumes scheduled air traffic (very limited) after three months.
July 24: The numbers are increasing significantly, masks are again compulsory in food retail, supermarkets, health facilities, banks, etc.
September 4: The Corona traffic light starts on “green”, with only four “yellow” regions (Vienna, Linz, Graz and the Kufstein district) – and arguments about criteria and consequences.
September 14: The number of new infections has skyrocketed to over 900 in some cases. The government has made masks compulsory in almost all indoor spaces open to the public.
21 September: Further restrictions on gatherings and events as well as in the catering trade.
September 28: In Vienna, guests in the catering trade have to be registered. As a result, other countries also take this measure.
October 15: The Corona traffic light shows “red” for the first time in four districts. Some countries are improving the protection of retirement and nursing homes.
November 3rd: “Lockdown light”: Trade and personal service providers remain open, including elementary schools, lower schools, kindergartens. Upper schools and universities switch to distance learning. Exit is restricted at night, gastronomy, leisure facilities, theaters, museums, cinemas and hotels (for tourists) are closed.
November 13: All-time high of new infections (9,586).
November 17: SECOND LOCKDOWN (Seven-day incidence of 535, 4,525 hospital, 658 intensive care patients): Trade and service providers (except for basic and health care) have to close, exit restrictions around the clock.
December 7: The lockdown is “light” again: exit restrictions only at night, Christmas markets are prohibited.
24th/25th December: Christmas exception: A maximum of ten people are allowed to celebrate together, without a one-meter rule and mask. Ski lifts and gondolas are allowed to open (permanently), but winter holidays are not permitted, only day trips.
December 26: THIRD LOCKDOWN (Seven-day incidence of 147, 2,455 hospital, 431 intensive care patients): Exit (around the clock) and contacts (an individual with another household) again severely limited.
27 December: The first vaccinations against the coronavirus are administered at MedUni Vienna.
IN 2021:
25 January: FFP2 mask requirement in public, retail, etc.
February 8th: The “hard” lockdown is over: trade is allowed to open up again completely, schools return to face-to-face classes. A negative corona test (maximum 48 hours old) is required to visit hairdressers & co. Gastronomy and theater remain closed, the night curfew continues to apply.
March 15: Vorarlberg opens as a “model region” gastronomy and events (until 8 p.m.).
April 1: “Eastern lockdown” in Vienna, Lower Austria and Burgenland (seven-day incidence of 242, 2,297 hospital, 531 intensive care patients): Contact and exit restrictions around the clock, schools, shops (except for basic care), leisure facilities will be closed.
April 19: End of the tough lockdown in Burgenland.
May 3: Hard lockdown also ends in Vienna and Lower Austria. Gastronomy remains closed and events are limited.
May 19th: Large end of the corona restrictions: Hotels, gastronomy, sports facilities and culture open – but with 3G rule.
1 July: Relaxation again: the curfew falls, night catering opens, visitor/customer limits drop. The FFP2 mask is replaced by mouth and nose protection – and this is only to be worn where 3G does not apply (trade, public transport, offices, etc.). Vienna maintains some regional tightening.
July 22nd: Masks are no longer compulsory in stores (except for basic supplies), 2.5G (vaccinated, recovered, PCR-tested) in night gastronomy.
September 8: The government presents the “gradual plan” based on the utilization of the intensive care units.
September 15: Stage 1 comes into effect – FFP2 is again mandatory where mouth and nose protection was previously sufficient.
1 October: tightening in Vienna: 2G for night restaurants and larger events; only PCR tests apply, FFP2 obligation also in retail.
October 23: The government expands the phased plan – up to level 5 “Lockdown for unvaccinated from 600 intensive care patients”.
1 November: 3G rule in the workplace comes into effect.
November 2: Number of Covid intensive care patients exceeds the 300 threshold. This means that level 2 will come into force in 7 days – Austria-wide 2G in night gastronomy and at events with more than 500 people.
November 4: Annual high for new infections with 8,593 new infections within 24 hours.
November 8th: Austria-wide, the 2G rule applies to most areas of public life, i.e. access to restaurants, theatres, concerts, (sports) events or to the hairdresser only if vaccinated or recovered.
November 15th: Austria-wide lockdown for unvaccinated people starts.
November 18th: Upper Austria and Salzburg – where the health system threatens to collapse – announce the lockdown for everyone in their federal states for November 22nd.
22nd of November: The FOURTH Austria-wide lockdown for everyone – with 15,809 newly infected, 48 fatalities in 24 hours, 2,871 infected in the hospital, 520 seriously ill in the intensive care units.
December 12th: The lockdown for vaccinated and recovered people ends across Austria – with protective measures: 2G proof, widespread FFP2 obligation, registration of the catering trade.
December 18: The new Corona expert panel Gecko is launched to support the government.
December 20: Austria tightens the entry rules because of the Omicron variant.
24th/25th/26th/31st December: Over the Christmas holidays and on New Year’s Eve, the lockdown falls de facto for those who have not been vaccinated. Meetings of up to ten people are permitted without 2G proof. Above that, up to a maximum of 25 people, 2G applies again.
IN 2022:
20 January: The National Council decides to make vaccinations compulsory from the age of 18, which will apply from the beginning of February. However, fines do not have to be feared until mid-March.
January 31: The lockdown for the unvaccinated also ends.
February 5: Some restrictions are lifted: the curfew is moved from 10 p.m. to midnight. The maximum number of people for gatherings without assigned seating increases from 25 people to 50 people. For events with up to 2,000 people, only the 2G rule applies instead of the 2G+ rule.
February 12: The 2G rule in shops, museums and body-related services is no longer applicable. In addition, there is no longer an upper limit for people at events, but you still have to be vaccinated or recovered.
Source: Nachrichten
