Covid-19: No change for mask rules in schools
The Federal Government has confirmed there will be no changes to the current mask rules in schools - for now.
Austria's current FFP2 mask rules for schools will remain unchanged for now, despite calls from some politicians to tighten the mandate.
This was confirmed on Thursday by Minister of Education Martin Polaschek of the Austrian People's Party (ÖVP) at a press conference in Vienna.
The current rules require students to wear an FFP2 mask when moving around the school but not while sitting in a class. It is similar to the rule applied to other public indoor spaces and gastronomy.
READ MORE: UPDATED: Austria brings back mandatory FFP2 masks indoors as Covid cases soar
Speaking about the rule for schools, Polaschek said: "We will definitely keep this rule until the Easter holidays."
Governor of Upper Austria Thomas Stelzer (ÖVP), recently called for the mask rule in schools to be tightened due to rising Covid-19 case numbers in schools across the country.
In addition to the mask rule, pupils and teachers are also required to test for Covid-19 three times a week.
What are Austria's current Covid measures?
From a nationwide vaccine mandate for every citizen earlier in the year which was subsequently scrapped, Austria has gradually relaxed Covid measures in recent weeks.
However, the ad hoc manner in which this has taken place, along with the different rules in place in different states, has made this difficult to follow.
The so-called spring awakening, when most restrictions were lifted, happened on 5th March, with swarms of people visiting nightclubs and parties all over the alpine country.
The midnight curfew for restaurants was also lifted as nightclubs, and apres-ski venues were allowed to reopen.
The federal government’s are the minimum standard for rules and regulations, and states in Austria are free to adopt stricter measures.
This is the case of Vienna, as often happened during the pandemic, there is a separate set of rules.
Vienna is keeping the 2G rule to gastronomy, though the mask requirement is waived for staff and customers. There is no more curfew, and night gastronomy is allowed to open, but also with a 2G rule.
More information on the Covid measures in place can be found in the following explainer.
Comments
See Also
Austria's current FFP2 mask rules for schools will remain unchanged for now, despite calls from some politicians to tighten the mandate.
This was confirmed on Thursday by Minister of Education Martin Polaschek of the Austrian People's Party (ÖVP) at a press conference in Vienna.
The current rules require students to wear an FFP2 mask when moving around the school but not while sitting in a class. It is similar to the rule applied to other public indoor spaces and gastronomy.
READ MORE: UPDATED: Austria brings back mandatory FFP2 masks indoors as Covid cases soar
Speaking about the rule for schools, Polaschek said: "We will definitely keep this rule until the Easter holidays."
Governor of Upper Austria Thomas Stelzer (ÖVP), recently called for the mask rule in schools to be tightened due to rising Covid-19 case numbers in schools across the country.
In addition to the mask rule, pupils and teachers are also required to test for Covid-19 three times a week.
What are Austria's current Covid measures?
From a nationwide vaccine mandate for every citizen earlier in the year which was subsequently scrapped, Austria has gradually relaxed Covid measures in recent weeks.
However, the ad hoc manner in which this has taken place, along with the different rules in place in different states, has made this difficult to follow.
The so-called spring awakening, when most restrictions were lifted, happened on 5th March, with swarms of people visiting nightclubs and parties all over the alpine country.
The midnight curfew for restaurants was also lifted as nightclubs, and apres-ski venues were allowed to reopen.
The federal government’s are the minimum standard for rules and regulations, and states in Austria are free to adopt stricter measures.
This is the case of Vienna, as often happened during the pandemic, there is a separate set of rules.
Vienna is keeping the 2G rule to gastronomy, though the mask requirement is waived for staff and customers. There is no more curfew, and night gastronomy is allowed to open, but also with a 2G rule.
More information on the Covid measures in place can be found in the following explainer.
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.