Mask requirement in Austria – where it still applies

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For now, Austria continues to adhere to the FFP2 mask requirement, and for a good reason. But the places where it applies are few.

“The regulations in Austria are designed to protect people at increased risk of severe covid-19. They are limited to those areas these people need to go to in everyday life.” That’s the word from the Ministry of Health this week in response to a question from “Heute” about why they were still sticking to the FFP2 mask requirement. For many months the piece of cloth in the face accompanies us now already, although otherwise, nearly all measures were lifted.

But this one default for protecting the risk groups one wants to maintain. For the time being, at least, because it is continuously evaluated and advised. The decisions on the current basic measures also further “the prognoses of the prognosis consortium, the technical evaluations of the Corona commission, and the recommendations of the GECKO” would flow.”

Only time will tell whether the mask requirement will be waived after all or whether the recommendation of GECKO head Katherina Reich to wear the masks even beyond the expiration date of the current COVID 19 Basic Measures Ordinance on July 8 will be decisive. What is fixed is many places are no longer where the ordinance still requires a mask to be worn:

in all means of public transport and the associated bus stops

in hospitals, older adults‘ homes, and nursing homes

in customer areas of vital trade (supermarkets, pharmacies, post offices, and bank branches)

In public areas of shopping centers – but not in stores for clothes, shoes, etc.

in public places, such as administrative authorities and administrative courts when parties are in session

in establishments for the practice of religion

While the mask requirement has been lifted at schools, some colleges and universities continue to adhere to it. For example, wearing an FFP2 mask is still mandatory at the University of Vienna, while in Graz, it is only recommended. Kindergartens also regulate the measures individually and inform parents.

Also, the measure applies further to the airplanes from and to Austria. This is because whether or not a mask must be worn on the plane is not specified by an airline but depends on the respective national and official regulations.