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As of December 26, strict restrictions apply again in Austria due to the crown. The individual points at a glance:
Duration
The closure that begins on Saturday ends for everyone on January 24. However, the possibility of a “free trial” is planned for mid-January: anyone who participates in the free corona tests (scheduled for January 15, 16 and 17) and then can submit a negative result can end the lockdown January 18. – a week earlier than those who refused to take the test. The trade association criticized “Freest” on Christmas Day.
Exit restrictions
Exit restrictions will apply again 24 hours a day in the future. You can only leave your own private living room during the day for specific reasons. You are allowed to drive to work, attend to the basic needs of daily life (such as shopping) and use health services. It is also allowed to stay outdoors for “physical and mental relaxation” (for example, for walks or individual sports). Caring for people in need of support also falls within the exceptions again.
Contact arrangements
Contacts are again severely restricted. Meetings between a household (one person or multiple persons) are only allowed with an individual from another household. This also explicitly applies to private areas such as gardens, barns, sheds, or garages. Basically, among other things, meetings with a partner or obligations to supervise minors are excluded from the restrictions. For example, both grandparents can supervise multiple siblings at the same time. The duty to supervise underage children can also be performed by people who are not part of the family, such as babysitters, babysitters or a neighbor.
There are no exceptions for New Years Eve, all exit and contact restrictions apply at the end of the year.
Kindergartens, schools and universities
After the end of the Christmas holidays, all schools start with distance lessons on January 7, so the students stay at home. Schoolchildren up to 14 years old will receive supervision and learning support if necessary. Classroom teaching will resume on January 18, a crown test is not required to attend on-site school.
In kindergartens, the obligation to attend is removed in the last year of kindergarten. Universities also continue to focus on distance education.
Business and services
Trade is blocked to basic suppliers (including grocery stores, drug stores, pharmacies, post offices, banks, tobacconists, gas stations) until January 17 inclusive. There is also a mask requirement here (for both clients and employees). Access is restricted to customer areas: there must be at least ten square meters available for each customer. The exception for the collection of products ordered directly in the store is new, but entry to closed rooms is not allowed. All “body hug” services, such as hairdressing, must be re-locked. Visits to car and bicycle workshops are still allowed.
Gastronomy and tourism
All gastronomy remains closed to customers. Pick up of food and beverages is still allowed between 6 am and 7 pm The sale of open alcoholic beverages is not yet allowed. Delivery services continue to be allowed without a time limit. Pubs, bars and all nightclubs are also affected by the closure. On January 18, the accommodation business should be allowed to start again.
Sports and skiing
Outdoor sports alone are still allowed, as they have been since the start of the pandemic. Outdoor sports facilities (such as cross-country ski trails or ice rinks) are still open, a minimum distance of 10 square meters per person applies. From December 24, the state authorities can also allow skiing at their discretion. When using the elevator and in waiting areas, people over the age of 15 should wear a FFP2 mask (without exhalation valve), younger children do not need to wear a mask. Enclosed or covered lifts (gondolas, cabins, covered chair lifts) can only be used half; this does not apply if only people from the same household are transported.
All contact sports (such as soccer) are prohibited. Indoor sports facilities are still closed to amateur athletes. As soon as indoor sports facilities reopen, a negative test result should be a prerequisite for their use.
Events and culture
The events are still almost completely banned for now. This includes cultural events, but also wedding, birthday and anniversary celebrations and occasional markets. The Christmas markets are also closed. Libraries are also affected by the closures. The opening of cultural institutions such as museums, theaters or concert halls is scheduled for January 18. Then you should only be able to visit these events after a negative corona test. In addition, a maximum of 500 visitors is allowed inside and 750 outside.
Recreational facilities
Entering leisure facilities such as fitness studios or indoor swimming pools is prohibited. Amusement parks, dance schools, gambling houses and casinos, prostitution bars, indoor playgrounds and paintball facilities are also affected by the closures. Zoos and botanical gardens are also closed; Unlike originally planned, they cannot open during the Christmas holidays.
Residences and nursing homes
In the elderly, nursing homes and homes for the disabled, only one visit per patient per week is possible. However, minor residents of homes for the disabled and residents in need of support can be visited by two people (eg parents). Hospice or palliative accompaniment is excluded from visitation restriction.
Employees must perform a weekly crown test; if no tests are available, an FFP2 mask should be used. Newly admitted residents must show a negative corona test result, the same applies to visitors. The same rules apply in hospitals. There are exceptions to visitation rules for accompaniment during pregnancy exams, during and after delivery, and for palliative or hospice support.
Mask requirement
The one meter distance rule is still in force in public spaces. This safety distance must be respected for all people who do not live in their own home. When staying in closed public spaces, mouth and nose protection (MNS) should also be worn; children up to the age of six are, as before, exempt from this. Anyone who cannot wear a mask for medical reasons must carry a certificate with them and then wear a so-called face shield.
Entry restrictions
Entry restrictions into Austria that have been in effect since December 19 continue to apply. All persons entering Austria before January 18 must immediately begin a ten-day quarantine. Quarantine can be terminated earlier with a negative PCR or antigen test, which is possible on at least the fifth day. The only exceptions are entries from countries whose exposure to the crown is still low (Australia, Iceland, Japan, New Zealand, Norway, South Korea, Uruguay, the Vatican, as well as Finland and Ireland). Regular travelers or people entering the Mittelberg (Kleinwalsertal), Vomp-Hinterriss or Jungholz enclaves can also enter without restrictions. Those who come to Germany at least once a month for family reasons or to visit their partner, or in case of serious illness, death, funeral or birth in a family circle, can come without examination. (apa)
