Vienna imposes 2.5-G for teenagers

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Children and adolescents over the age of twelve will have to provide proof of 2.5-G in Vienna starting Friday.

School-aged children from twelve to 15 years must in the future for catering, gym, hairdresser and Co. a 2.5 G proof, that is vaccinated, recovered or PCR-tested (PCR is valid 48 hours from acceptance). The Ninja Passport would not apply across the board as 2-G proof for this age group until the end of the week.

Stricter measures than federal government
The corresponding Viennese ordinance is just being fine-tuned and will in any case come this week, announced Health City Councilor Peter Hacker (SPÖ). As a result, Vienna continues to have stricter measures than the federal government. Most recently, there had been talk of even introducing 2-G for young people over the age of twelve in Vienna. According to reports, the coalition partner, i.e. the NEOS, has spoken out in favor of a 2.5-G regulation – since with 2-G some school events cannot be attended by non-vaccinated persons.

2-G at events
The 2-G rule for 12- to 15-year-olds will remain in place at nighttime restaurants and events (500+).

As a reminder, the federal rule equates the Ninja Pass to 2-G proof and therefore also counts as proof of admission to restaurant, cultural events or cable cars. After completing their ninth year of school, young people must also have a 2-G certificate in order to gain access to the relevant areas. In Vienna, however, only the PCR tests completed as part of the Ninja Pass are valid for young people aged twelve and over outside the school area – with a validity period of 48 hours in each case.

Vaccination option as justification
The reason given for the Viennese measure is the possibility of vaccination from the age of twelve; almost half of the approximately 70,000 children in Vienna in the relevant age group have already been vaccinated. The unvaccinated 36,500 children in this age group could be vaccinated within three days. The incidence among 12- to 15-year-olds is rising sharply, currently standing at 626, with more than 400 children in this age group falling ill every week. The vaccination of younger children is currently being prepared, with doctors reducing the vaccine serum according to the child’s body weight.

For children under twelve years nothing changes, the test obligation in Vienna starting from six years remains. Six- to eleven-year-olds can use their fully loaded Ninja passport until the end of the week, so 3-G (antigen test 48 hours, PCR test 72 hours) applies to them.