The government has abolished the quarantine for contacts, but measures have to be tightened at the same time.
As of Monday, contact persons of someone infected with Corona no longer have to be quarantined, the government has also relaxed the previous regulation for all people without complete immune protection, so the ten-day domestic isolation falls even for the unvaccinated.
No quarantine
Instead, the new Health Minister Johannes Rauch has issued so-called “traffic restrictions.“ Those affected are now allowed outside but must wear FFP2 masks – even in the open air. There is an identical recommendation for private homes. Mouth-nose protection is sufficient for children between six and 14 years of age; the regulation does not cover younger children.
However, restaurants or fitness clubs remain off-limits where the mask cannot be worn permanently. Contact persons are prohibited from attending significant events, even with FFP2 protection. Entering facilities with vulnerable persons or “risky settings” is also prohibited. According to the APA, this applies to old people’s and nursing homes, health care facilities, homeless shelters, prisons, and refugee homes.
On the other hand, what is allowed is to leave one’s own home, go shopping, and work. However, the mask must not be removed under any circumstances.
Who can be a contact person
People who have been fully immunized (three times) are not classified as contact persons in the first place; for children up to the age of 12, two such events are sufficient. Also, anyone who has recovered from an infection with the Omikron variant within the last three months before the contact is not considered a contact person. And: If, for example, both persons had an FFP2 mask on, the contact person status does not carry either.
New Corona rules are coming
Health Minister Rauch has announced that the quarantine rules for infected health workers will be relaxed. This is to prevent a possible overload of hospitals and nursing homes due to employee absenteeism. Wednesday is also expected to see the comeback of mandatory FFP2 masks for everyone in all enclosed spaces – except in schools.
The corresponding ordinance “is still being drafted,“ as the Ministry of Social Affairs“ Further details will be announced in the next few days.
- source: heute.at/picture: pixabay.com
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