Today in Austria: A roundup of the latest news on Thursday
Find out what's going on in Austria on Thursday with The Local's short roundup of today's news.
Changes to pandemic rules come into force
On June 10th many more relaxations of Austria’s pandemic measures have come into effect.
This means:
- Austria’s curfew will be moved from 10pm to midnight, meaning people in Austria will be able to watch European Football Championship games in bars from June 11th.
- Groups of up to eight adults can meet up indoors and up to 16 outdoors.
- The maximum occupancy of cultural venues will be increased to 75 percent (previously it was 50 percent).
- The ten-square-meter rule per person now applies in the leisure, sports and wellness sectors, allowing more people to use facilities at once.
- In retail, too, it will be reduced from 20 to ten square meters per customer, meaning more people can enter shops.
- People will be asked to keep one metre apart, rather than two metres.
- Mandatory testing will only be in place for children aged 12 and up, releasing 10 and 11 year-olds from mandatory testing.
- People will no longer be asked to wear masks outdoors.
READ MORE: Austria announces further easing of coronavirus measures in June and July
Changes to travel pre-registration for low risk countries
From June 10th there will also be changes to requirements when travelling to and from other European countries defined as "low risk" from Austria.
If you are coming from one of these destinations, have been staying in that location for at least ten days and can provide proof that you have tested negative, been vaccinated against or recovered from Covid-19, you no longer need to pre-register.
You can find a list of "low risk" countries in the Ministry of Health’s Appendix A here (scroll down to the bottom of the page).
Further opening steps announced for July
As The Local reported yesterday, the Austrian government presented further opening steps on Wednesday. There will be no further curfew from July, and a decision on openings in the night-time catering is to be made by the end of June .
READ MORE: Austria to lift almost all coronavirus restrictions by July 1st
Austria unlikely to introduce digital certificate before most other EU states
As The Local reported yesterday, Austria is unlikely to fully meet its ambition to introduce the EU Digital Covid Certificate before most other member states. The Health Ministry intends to launch the certificate on June 10th, but without the ability to generate QR-codes with which the fully vaccinated can prove their status.
READ MORE: Austria to launch Covid-19 pass this week
Scientists urge vaccination drive over Delta variant
Scientists are urging Austria to step up the pace of its vaccination coverage due to the new “Delta” or B.1617.2 coronavirus variant, which has become dominant in India and Great Britain. At the moment the number of cases of the variant in Austria are "relatively low", broadcaster ORF reports, quoting scientist Andreas Bergthaler.
However in the long term, Bergthaler expects the delta variant will spread throughout Europe as more infectious than the alpha variant (B.1.1.7). British data shows that the Covid-19 vaccines from Biontech and Pfizer as well as AstraZeneca also protect against the Delta variant - but only if you are fully vaccinated with two doses.
Vaccination appointments released in Vienna
Vienna has released 223,200 additional vaccination appointments today. Employees who are in contact with customers and people aged 50 and over can now book an appointment here. There are further vaccination appointments for health professionals and people working in care facilities.
Woman wakes from coma after 11 months
An Italian woman who fell into a coma after suffering cardiac arrest while giving birth has woken up after being treated for eleven months the Hochzirl regional hospital in Tyrol, broadcaster ORF reports.
Seven day incidence at 26
The seven-day incidence, or the number of new infections with the coronavirus in the past seven days per 100,000 inhabitants, is 26. All federal states are now under 50 - with Burgenland (11.2) having the lowest and Tyrol (43.7) the highest number of infections.
Comments
See Also
Changes to pandemic rules come into force
On June 10th many more relaxations of Austria’s pandemic measures have come into effect.
This means:
- Austria’s curfew will be moved from 10pm to midnight, meaning people in Austria will be able to watch European Football Championship games in bars from June 11th.
- Groups of up to eight adults can meet up indoors and up to 16 outdoors.
- The maximum occupancy of cultural venues will be increased to 75 percent (previously it was 50 percent).
- The ten-square-meter rule per person now applies in the leisure, sports and wellness sectors, allowing more people to use facilities at once.
- In retail, too, it will be reduced from 20 to ten square meters per customer, meaning more people can enter shops.
- People will be asked to keep one metre apart, rather than two metres.
- Mandatory testing will only be in place for children aged 12 and up, releasing 10 and 11 year-olds from mandatory testing.
- People will no longer be asked to wear masks outdoors.
READ MORE: Austria announces further easing of coronavirus measures in June and July
Changes to travel pre-registration for low risk countries
From June 10th there will also be changes to requirements when travelling to and from other European countries defined as "low risk" from Austria.
If you are coming from one of these destinations, have been staying in that location for at least ten days and can provide proof that you have tested negative, been vaccinated against or recovered from Covid-19, you no longer need to pre-register.
You can find a list of "low risk" countries in the Ministry of Health’s Appendix A here (scroll down to the bottom of the page).
Further opening steps announced for July
As The Local reported yesterday, the Austrian government presented further opening steps on Wednesday. There will be no further curfew from July, and a decision on openings in the night-time catering is to be made by the end of June .
READ MORE: Austria to lift almost all coronavirus restrictions by July 1st
Austria unlikely to introduce digital certificate before most other EU states
As The Local reported yesterday, Austria is unlikely to fully meet its ambition to introduce the EU Digital Covid Certificate before most other member states. The Health Ministry intends to launch the certificate on June 10th, but without the ability to generate QR-codes with which the fully vaccinated can prove their status.
READ MORE: Austria to launch Covid-19 pass this week
Scientists urge vaccination drive over Delta variant
Scientists are urging Austria to step up the pace of its vaccination coverage due to the new “Delta” or B.1617.2 coronavirus variant, which has become dominant in India and Great Britain. At the moment the number of cases of the variant in Austria are "relatively low", broadcaster ORF reports, quoting scientist Andreas Bergthaler.
However in the long term, Bergthaler expects the delta variant will spread throughout Europe as more infectious than the alpha variant (B.1.1.7). British data shows that the Covid-19 vaccines from Biontech and Pfizer as well as AstraZeneca also protect against the Delta variant - but only if you are fully vaccinated with two doses.
Vaccination appointments released in Vienna
Vienna has released 223,200 additional vaccination appointments today. Employees who are in contact with customers and people aged 50 and over can now book an appointment here. There are further vaccination appointments for health professionals and people working in care facilities.
Woman wakes from coma after 11 months
An Italian woman who fell into a coma after suffering cardiac arrest while giving birth has woken up after being treated for eleven months the Hochzirl regional hospital in Tyrol, broadcaster ORF reports.
Seven day incidence at 26
The seven-day incidence, or the number of new infections with the coronavirus in the past seven days per 100,000 inhabitants, is 26. All federal states are now under 50 - with Burgenland (11.2) having the lowest and Tyrol (43.7) the highest number of infections.
Join the conversation in our comments section below. Share your own views and experience and if you have a question or suggestion for our journalists then email us at [email protected].
Please keep comments civil, constructive and on topic – and make sure to read our terms of use before getting involved.
Please log in here to leave a comment.