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As previously announced, gastronomy, tourism, culture and sports will reopen on May 19. Chancellor Sebastian Kurz announced this on Monday but all, of course, with considerable security precautions. However, large events such as weddings, club parties are still not possible.
Validity of the ordinance
The ordinance is valid from May 19 to June 30, 2021. The provisions for meetings, youth work, top sports and trade and public fairs already expire on June 16.
Tested, Vaccinated and Recovered
A prerequisite for entering many venues will be “evidence of a low epidemiological risk.” These can be tests, and with varying periods of validity. Antigen self-tests for self-administration and recording in an official data collection system are valid for 24 hours. Such a test may also be performed under the supervision of the operator of a facility.
Large celebrations such as weddings, club parties or family celebrations will still not be possible, “because unfortunately these events always turn into super spreader events.” However, this should become possible again from July 1. “The plan is: weddings, parties, everything where people celebrate and have intensive contact, at the latest with July 1,” Kurz said.
Vaccination exempts from testing for three months
Health Minister Wolfgang Mückstein (Greens) said that they were happy to be able to offer vaccination to all those willing to be vaccinated by June. A first vaccination already exempts for three months from the testing obligation, at the latest then must have been refreshed. The second vaccination exempts from testing for six months. For already recovered persons who have been vaccinated once so far, the test exemption is valid for nine months from the date of vaccination. The much-discussed green passport, on the one hand, but also the vaccination certificate, on the other, should be valid as proof.
Evidence of neutralizing antibodies counts for three months from the time of testing.
For recovered persons, it also applies that they are exempt from the testing obligation for six months after the end of the infection. Evidence includes, for example, a certificate of segregation or a doctor’s confirmation of an infection confirmed by molecular biology. Evidence of neutralizing antibodies counts for three months from the time of testing.
PCR tests are valid for 72 hours, antigen tests for 48 hours. Self-tests recorded in an official data processing system of the countries are valid for 24 hours. A new feature is that in future tests can also be carried out on site at sports facilities, restaurants or hotels, so-called point-of-sale tests. However, these only apply to one-time entry.
Closing time at 10 p.m.
In general, the minimum distance of two meters will also be maintained almost everywhere, with the exception of tables in restaurants or assigned seats in theaters, for example. The general curfew will remain at 10 p.m., and the current rules for FFP2 masks and mouth-nose protection will also remain unchanged. During the day, gatherings of four people indoors plus six minor children will be allowed, and outdoor gatherings of ten people plus ten minor children will be allowed.
Details on the opening steps in each area:
Food Service:
Admission – 3G Rule (Getestet, Geimpft und Genesen) Admission only for tested, recovered or vaccinated persons.
Indoor maximum of four people per table plus a maximum of six children (exception: shared household)
Outdoor maximum of ten people plus ten children
Take-away during regular opening hours (5am-2pm) is still possible.
No test is required for snack stands and for pick-up.
Hotels:
3G Rule applies when entering and checking in – only for tested, recovered or vaccinated persons. One of these proofs is required to use food service, spa and fitness facilities, tests must therefore be renewed for this purpose.
Retail and service establishments:
Stores: no 3-G proof required, an area of 20 square meters must be available per customer.
For body-related services, 3-G proof is required, only ten square meters are required per customer for this.
Other services (e.g., banking advice) may only be used by as many people as absolutely necessary.
Culture and events:
The same regulations apply to museums as in retail: no 3-G proof, 20-square-meter rule.
Events are newly regulated under the term “gatherings”:
Under ten persons, gatherings are permitted without notification or permit.
Eleven or more people are subject to the 3-G rule, and notification to the local health department is also required. In addition, an FFP2 mask must be worn both indoors and outdoors. The serving of beverages and the serving of food are not permitted. This rule applies to weddings, garden parties and similar events.
Only events with assigned seating are permitted for 51 or more people. These must be approved by the local health department. The maximum limits are 1500 people indoor and 3000 outdoor. 50 percent of the seating capacity may be occupied, such as in theaters.
Recreational businesses:
3-G rule
Indoor (e.g. in pools and spas), an area of 20 square meters must be available per guest in the respective enclosed space.
Each leisure operation must draw up a prevention concept and appoint a Covid 19 officer.
For rides (e.g. carousel), there must be an empty seat between visitors.
Registration of customers is required indoors.
Retirement and nursing homes:
3-G rule for visitors.
Employees must be tested once a week unless vaccinated or recovered.
Visitation rules are relaxed: up to three people are now allowed to visit each day.
Sports:
The 3-G rule applies to sports facilities.
All sports are permitted, including contact sports.
There is no requirement to wear a mask or to keep a distance during the practice of sports.
Sports in public spaces (e.g., soccer cages) may be played by a total of ten people; mask requirement and spacing do not apply.
Workplace:
Workplace rules remain essentially the same.
Masks are mandatory in the workplace if several people are in the same room.
Occupational groups with customer contact or persons who regularly cannot maintain the distance to other persons must be tested once a week as before (exception for vaccinated or recovered persons). If a negative test result cannot be presented, FFP2 is mandatory.
These occupational groups include: Teachers, elementary educators, workers in warehouse logistics or with customer contact and people in the public service
If one is alone at the place of work, there is no mask obligation.
- sources: from the press conference of the federal government today via ORF, Austrian Television, krone.at and vienna.at, May 10, 2021. picture: pixabay.com
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