Adjustment: these corona measures apply from Monday – Coronavirus Vienna

This means that from Monday there will be a requirement for masks throughout Austria in almost all indoor public access areas, as well as setting at events and in the catering sector.

The amendment to the so-called “COVID-19 Relaxation Ordinance”, which establishes the rules of the Crown, comes into force on Monday night at 00.00. She did not bring any surprises to the ads. This means that the use of a nasal mask is now also mandatory to include many other areas; this now applies to all retailers and to all forms of customer contact, unless another protective device is available. Until now, the NMS obligation only applied in grocery stores, pharmacies, banks, gas stations, and public transportation.

It is also clarified that this rule also applies in administrative authorities and administrative courts (in the case of relations between parties). An exception to “wet areas such as showers and swimming pools” is explicitly mentioned.

To avoid guests staying too close together inside the bar in the future, eating and drinking will only be allowed sitting there, that is, at the “delivery points”, as the regulations say. However, there is no mask requirement for guests, only for staff. The plan to introduce mandatory masks in accommodation establishments is also stipulated, in all indoor areas that are generally accessible.

The announced reductions in the number of participants allowed in the events are also regulated. Events without assigned seats and marked with more than 50 people in closed rooms such as those with more than 100 people in the outdoor area are also prohibited. Organizer people are not included. If food or drink is served, gastronomy rules apply.

If there are only assigned and marked seats at an event, a maximum of 1,500 people can participate in closed rooms in the future. These outdoor events are limited to 3,000 people.

For these larger events, it should be noted that if they are of a certain size, they need a permit from the locally responsible district administrative authority. This applies if more than 500 people are participating indoors and more than 750 people are participating outdoors. According to the regulations, the decision period for approval is four weeks from the presentation of the documents in their entirety. In order to obtain a permit, the organizer needs a concept of prevention. The epidemiological situation in the catchment area of ​​the event, as well as the capacities of the responsible local health authority, must be taken into account to guarantee the necessary follow-up of the contact person.

The rules for the schools are set out in a separate ordinance, which was announced Friday. Starting next week, pupils and teachers across Austria will have to wear a mask outside the classroom in the school building, even if the traffic light is green. In class (in class, but also in physics or the gym and on the schoolyard), the mask requirement does not apply.

From entering a restaurant for the first time until reaching the administration point, the client must maintain a distance of at least one meter from other people who do not belong to his group of visitors. The same applies when leaving the restaurant. The curfew remains, at least with the current traffic light changing from maximum yellow, at one o’clock.

In regards to events, once again it is made clear that it is not necessary to wear mouth and nose protection when sitting if the seats are assigned and marked. However, if there are no assigned places, it must remain created. Events with more than 200 people must appoint a COVID-19 representative and develop and implement a corresponding COVID-19 prevention concept.

Even at the supermarket checkout, staff will not necessarily have to wear mouth and nose protection in the future. As in other stores, the ordinance published today allows vendors or cashiers to use alternative protective measures such as Plexiglas windows.

The same applies also in the service sector, if possible. An example of a corresponding plexiglass option is manicure, when the client is separated from the beautician (logically with the exception of the hand) by a plexiglass wall.