Austria-wide lockdown will apply again from Monday, November 22nd – also for vaccinated people. As already known from previous corona waves, retailers, restaurants and co. Have to close – up to and including December 12th – in Upper Austria by at least December 17th. The rest of the federal states are to reopen for vaccinated and convalescent people on December 12th, but the lockdown for unvaccinated people will continue. From February 2022 there should be compulsory vaccination.
The overview:
- Exit restrictions as in previous lockdowns
- FFP2 mask requirement indoors
- Close retail, catering and service providers
- Schools without compulsory attendance
- Vaccination compulsory from February 1st
- Green passport is only valid for seven months
- 3G at work, appeal for home office
Compulsory vaccination
A corona vaccination is to be introduced in Austria from February 2022. In the case of Versten, however, there is a risk of administrative penalties. Details have not yet been determined, a law for this is now to be drawn up.
Grner Pass
There will also be changes to the Green Pass from February 2022. From then on, this loses its validity for access to 2G areas as soon as seven months have passed after the second trick (the current period is nine months). In the case of previous vaccinations with vector vaccines (such as Astra-Zeneca), the third dose is expressly recommended from the fourth month onwards, with mRNA vaccines (Pfizer or Moderna) the third prick is “possible” from the fourth month.
Exit restrictions
The lockdown is in effect around the clock. This means that the exit restrictions that were already in effect in earlier pandemic phases will come into force again for everyone – in the end they only applied to the unvaccinated. You are only allowed to leave your own living area for known reasons, for example to go to work or to take care of your daily life. It is still possible to go to the doctor and other health services or to have a vaccination or test.
The “satisfaction of basic religious needs” as well as the way to school or university is permitted. You can also leave the house to look after people in need of support and to “exercise family duties”. Contact outside of one’s own household is only allowed to – individual – closest relatives or important caregivers. Taking care of animals or attending official appointments are also exceptional reasons, as is being outdoors for physical and mental relaxation.
school
The schools basically remain open. “Face-to-face tuition for all those who need it” is planned. There is, however, an appeal from the federal government and the provincial governors to look after students at home “wherever possible”. “Learning packages” are to be ensured for these children. For all school levels, a mask is required in the school building as well as class and group rooms.
Trade, services
The entire trade apart from the basic supplier must close. Only the grocery trade (including supermarkets), pharmacies, drug stores, petrol stations, banks, postal service providers, as well as tobacco shops and newspaper kiosks remain open. The “body-related” service providers, such as hairdressers or beauticians, must also block.
leisure
The entire leisure area is also affected by the lockdown – from swimming pools to zoos, amusement arcades and amusement parks, indoor playgrounds, dance schools and prostitution facilities. The entire cultural area will also be shut down. Theaters, concert halls, cinemas, museums and libraries close their doors.
Gastronomy and hotel business
The entire gastronomy also locks. Only company canteens and catering establishments in hospitals and health resorts, old people’s and nursing homes or schools and kindergartens are excluded. Picking up food is permitted, drinks may only be sold locked. These foods and beverages must not be consumed within 50 meters of the establishment. Delivery service remains allowed.
Accommodation establishments are also affected. There are exceptions for those guests who are already checked in at the time the lockdown begins; they are allowed to stay until the agreed end of their stay. Overnight stays for professional reasons or if there is an urgent need for accommodation are also permitted.
job
The 3G rule still applies in the workplace. If contact with other people cannot be ruled out, you may only appear at the place of work (as usual) if you have been vaccinated, recovered or tested. An antigen test is sufficient for the test, but this must be approved by a competent authority (pharmacy, test street). The higher-quality PCR tests also apply; an intended obligation to do so is not yet in force. Living room tests are still not recognized.
There will also be a recommendation to work from home for all areas where this is possible. This is also implemented in the federal service.
Hospitals and nursing homes
Visits to hospitals and nursing homes are only permitted if the visitors have 2G evidence (vaccinated or recovered) and also have a current negative PCR test. In nursing homes, visits with a maximum of two people per resident per day are permitted, in hospitals one visitor per patient per week. There are less strict rules for minors; an additional two people are allowed to visit here per day.
Mask requirement
In all closed interiors (apart from private areas) an FFP2 mask is mandatory. This also applies to the workplace. Exceptions are only made if appropriate structural safety precautions are taken, such as partition walls or Plexiglas panes. As usual, FFP2 masks must also be worn on public transport, but also when using motor vehicles together (if you do not live in the same household).
The mask requirement does not apply to children up to the age of six. Children between the ages of seven and 14 as well as pregnant women can use a simple mouth and nose mask instead of the FFP2 mask.
Sport
Top sporting events in Austria can continue to take place from Monday, but only without spectators, so in the football Bundesliga, for example, as “ghost games”.
Popular sport (club sport) comes to a complete rest. Even outdoor sports facilities may only be entered together with household members or “closest” caregivers. Skiing will not be possible during the lockdown, even if there is sufficient snow, because the use of cable cars and cogwheel railways is only permitted for professional purposes and to cover the basic needs of daily life.
Controls of all these measures are to be strengthened and penalties increased. Details are still pending.
Source From: Nachrichten
