New visiting rules for hospitals and nursing homes

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With the end of the lockdown, the Vienna Health Association is adjusting the rules for visitors and patients at its hospitals and care facilities.

As of Wednesday, patient visits are generally unrestricted for those recovered, tested and vaccinated, with inpatients allowed one visit per day. Patients continue to require a negative test result, regardless of whether they receive inpatient or outpatient care.

Thus, anyone visiting an outpatient clinic must continue to present a negative Corona test, even if they have already been vaccinated or have recovered. In an examination situation, it is not always possible to comply with the mask and distance rules, a spokeswoman for the health association said as published by the Austrian Press Agency.

ID or e-card required
People who have recovered must prove their status by means of a segregation certificate no more than six months old before coming to the hospital, and they must also bring their e-card or a valid ID card as proof of their identity. Individuals who have had a coronavirus infection or covid disease more than six months ago will also be admitted if they have undergone a neutralizing antibody test in a laboratory and can prove that they still have sufficient antibodies to SARS-CoV2-.

For those who have been vaccinated, the initial shot must have occurred at least 21 days ago, and visit eligibility is initially for three months. For vaccinees for whom one dose is already sufficient for full immunization, access privileges do not expire for nine months. For individuals who have already received a second dose, eligibility is extended to nine months from the initial shot.

Antigen self-tests not accepted for now
Anyone who wants to enter a hospital as a tested person will need either an antigen test that is no more than 48 hours old or a PCR test that is no more than 72 hours old. Antigen self-tests will not be accepted by the healthcare network for the time being, as it is still unclear to what extent they are reliable enough to provide adequate safety.

For hospitalized patients or visitors with negative COVID test result, the distance regulations and mask requirement continue to apply. Emergencies and acute cases – such as the admission of pregnant women and their accompanying persons or underage patients and their accompanying persons – are exempt from the new regulations as long as – a corona test can be performed on site.