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From Sunday onwards, further measures to contain the corona pandemic will apply throughout Austria. For example, the maximum number of people at meetings and small events away from home will be reduced to six (indoor) or twelve (outdoor). The 1-meter distance (the “baby elephant”) in public space is revived. In restaurants, only six adults are now allowed to share a table.
Contrary to what was announced, the new measures will not apply from Friday, but only from Sunday, midnight – because the corresponding decree by Health Minister Rudolf Anschober was delayed. Some innovations have a transition period. The following is an overview of the most important current and future regulations:
Distance rules
The general 1 meter distance rule (the “baby elephant”) for entering public places (such as the street), which was repealed at the end of July, is now legally binding again from Sunday. Since the end of July, this measure has existed only as a recommendation by Health Minister Rudolf Anschober (Greens), the reason being the lifting of the general corona exit restrictions by the Constitutional Court. After the necessary “repair” of the Covid-19 measure law in September, the rule was now reinstated by decree. What is new is that one must also wear a mouth and nose protector when entering all publicly accessible closed rooms – this applies, for example, when entering an underground passage.
Excluded from the 1 meter rule are persons living together in the same household, and the rule does not apply within groups of up to six persons (plus a maximum of six underage children). Caretakers for people with disabilities are also excluded. In sports, on the other hand, the distance must now definitely be maintained again – apart from contact sports or, for example, when overtaking runners.
In many other areas, the 1-meter rule applies as before. It is prescribed in public transport (“if possible”), in all customer areas, in all professional activities, in the catering trade (as opposed to those who do not belong to the visitor group) and in accommodation establishments in generally accessible areas. Also at all events, during the practice of religion as well as at extracurricular events (such as vacation camps), one must keep one meter distance from other persons.
Duty to wear masks
Wearing a mouth and nose protector (MNS mask) is obligatory in almost all publicly accessible indoor areas, but also at numerous open-air events. From November 7, 2020, face shields open on several sides or small chin visors are no longer permitted. From then on, only a tight-fitting mouth-nose protection is permitted. As before, such a protective mask must be worn on public transport (including cable cars, aircraft, coaches, excursion boats), also when shopping and for any service with customer contact. What is new is that the MNS obligation now explicitly also applies in subway stations, platforms, stops, train stations and airports.
Also new: the mask must now be worn continuously at all events with assigned seating (with more than six people indoors and more than twelve people outdoors). This also applies, for example, to visits to the opera or theater, where it was previously possible to take the mask off at the seat. Also new is the continuous MNS obligation at outdoor events. Also in the catering trade (apart from the seat), in schools outside the own class, in accommodation facilities (in the generally accessible interior area), when visiting administrative authorities and administrative courts the mask obligation still applies.
MNS protection must also be worn when visiting old people’s homes, bathrooms (apart from wet rooms such as showers and swimming pools), sports facilities (apart from sports practice), in museums, exhibitions, libraries, archives and other leisure facilities in closed rooms. This regulation also applies to markets – indoor and outdoor. Those who cannot wear a mask for health reasons must carry a medical certificate.
Events
For events, new upper limits apply from Sunday. In future, only six (instead of ten) adults will be allowed to participate in indoor events without assigned seats. For open-air events without assigned seats, the limit is twelve adults (previously 100) – plus six underage children in each case. This rule applies to all gatherings – including private parties – outside of one’s own living space, for example also for Christmas parties, wedding and birthday celebrations. Planned gatherings in the park or during leisure sports are also covered by these maximum limits. There is an exception for funerals, where a maximum of 100 participants is now allowed (previously 500). New is that every event with more than six or twelve people must be reported to the health authorities, the permit requirement remains at 250 participants.
Organized large events are limited from Sunday onwards to a maximum of 1,000 persons indoors (previously 1,500) and 1,500 persons outdoors (previously 3,000). This also applies to opera houses or soccer pitches, for example, the German Football League is affected. There is also a ban on serving food and beverages, with exceptions for events lasting more than three hours.
Gastronomy
In the catering trade, the general obligation to wear masks remains in place – apart from the seat, as usual. Consumption is still only allowed while seated. A new feature is that instead of the maximum limit of ten people per visiting group, only six adults plus a maximum of six underage children may visit the restaurant together. In the restaurant garden there is a maximum limit of twelve people (plus six children). New from Sunday is that after closing time alcoholic beverages may no longer be consumed within a radius of 50 meters around a restaurant, this also applies to gas station stores and snack stands.
The closing time generally remains at 1 o’clock. Stricter regulations have been in force since 25 September in Salzburg, Tyrol and Vorarlberg: the lights go out at 10 pm. A registration obligation existed already so far in Vienna, Tirol, Salzburg, Upper Austria, starting from Friday it becomes obligatory also in Vorarlberg. In Lower Austria it applies in all “orange” districts. All restaurants with more than 50 seats will have to create a prevention concept in the future (instead of only those with more than 200 seats so far).
Choirs and music bands
For amateur choirs and music bands, from Sunday onwards, the maximum number of participants indoors is six and twelve outdoors. Professional music groups are obliged to draw up a prevention concept. If there are more than 50 people indoors or more than 100 outdoors, a COVID 19 representative must also be appointed.
Nursing homes
To protect vulnerable groups in nursing homes, residents in all general (non-residential) areas will also be required to wear MNS protection from Sunday onwards. There are exceptions only for health reasons (e.g. dementia) or because of a disability. Visitors and employees must wear a mask at all times. Comprehensive screening tests must also be carried out on residents and employees. In addition, a prevention concept must be drawn up in homes for the elderly, nursing homes and homes for the disabled to minimize the risk of infection. This concept must also specify the number of visitors, the frequency, duration and the obligatory advance notification of visits and health checks upon entry. Visits in the context of palliative care and hospice accompaniment as well as to accompany critical life events must be made possible in any case.
Private living area
There are definitely no restrictions on private housing, although the federal government is urging that social contacts at home be kept to a minimum. In Salzburg and Vorarlberg, there are local restrictions in that it is forbidden to hold private parties outside of the home – for example in garages or barns.
Schools
In schools, the existing measures will be maintained. Here, the compulsory wearing of masks outside the classroom essentially applies. Distance learning is only prescribed regionally – depending on the color of the school traffic light. In ten districts, this has been orange since Monday. Affected are Hallein, Salzburg City and Salzburg Land, St. Johann im Pongau (all Salzburg), Innsbruck City and Innsbruck Land, Schwaz, Landeck, Kufstein and Imst. For upper school classes this means a changeover to shift operation or homeschooling. Gymnastics will continue to be performed preferably outside, but only with mask.
Local measures
Local measures that go beyond this are also possible. In addition to the aforementioned local earlier curfews and registration obligations in the gastronomy sector, a quarantine has been in effect in the Tennengau market town of Kuchl (Salzburg) since October 17th – until November 1st. Access roads to the town are controlled by the police, hotels and restaurants have been closed, and stores are allowed to stay open. Only key workers can currently commute in and out.
— Source: diepresse.at. Picture: stockilyapp.com
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