Category: Austrian News

The federal government plans to end all Corona crisis measures by the end of June. Vaccinations, tests and medications are to be integrated into the regular structures of the Austrian healthcare system by then. Corona will then also no longer be a notifiable disease. This was decided by the Council of Ministers today. The end of compulsory mask use in hospitals, retirement and nursing homes is already planned for the end of April. The high level of immunity in the population and the availability of COVID-19 drugs allow this step,…

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Meteorologists warned on Wednesday of coming partly large amounts of fresh snow. “In the next few days, moist air will flow into Austria from the northwest, accumulating on the northern side of the Alps and bringing heavy snowfall here at times,” Christian Pehsl of Geosphere Austria (formerly ZAMG) explained in a statement. Therefore, there could be problems on roads, railroad lines and in the power supply, for example, if trees fall under the snow load. “Especially in the area from Vorarlberg to northern Tyrol, Salzburg and Upper Austria to the…

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From today, February 1, 2023, the new Vignette must be attached to cars, motorcycles and light motor vehicles for the highway. The tariff for the annual Vignette is €96.40 (for cars) or €38.20 (for motorcycles). 10-day and 2-month vignettes are also available. Those who forgot to buy the digital Vignette until today and still want to take advantage of its benefits (no problems with broken windshields, for example), drive to the nearest ARBÖ test center or ÖAMTC offices and can obtain the digital Vignette there, which is valid immediately because…

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According to preliminary figures, 91,765 people died in Austria in 2022. “This is 10.7 percent more than the average of the last five years before the outbreak of the pandemic and also more than would have been expected due to the aging of the population,” Statistics Austria Director General Tobias Thomas reported Thursday. Life expectancy is down from 2016 to 2019 for women at 83.7 and men at 79, but it is rising in the long-term trend. The statistics for the previous year will still be somewhat higher, as deaths…

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On January 31, the current vignette year ends. This means: From February 1, only Vignette 2023 in purple or Digital Vignette 2023 are valid. For all those who still have to click or pick, it is therefore high time to get the vignette. “67 percent of all annual vignettes are already digital. The trend towards digital continues unabated. So if you don’t have a current vignette yet, you can get one at the toll store or via the ASFINAG app. Or get a vignette in time at one of our…

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Good news for nurses! Nursing staff will receive a bonus of 2,460 euros in 2023, significantly more than the approximately 2,000 euros paid out (increased by 500 euros only in Lower Austria) last year. To ensure the best possible care and support, the working conditions of the nursing staff urgently need to be improved, emphasized Social Minister Johannes Rauch. With an amendment introduced on Wednesday, the monthly payment will be fixed uniformly throughout Austria. The motion on the Entgelterhöhungs-Zweckzuschussgesetz (EEZG), introduced in the Social Affairs Committee, provides uniform conditions for…

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The government’s electricity subsidy will be increased once again. Larger households with more than three people will now get extra money. The government announced a new cash bonus this week in a surprise move. The motion for the necessary amendment to the Electricity Cost Subsidy Act was sent to the parliamentary parties late Tuesday evening, and Wednesday, as of 10 a.m., the decision was already made during a special session of the National Council. The facts at a glance: The money bonus is only available for households with more than…

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The fraudulent emails with the subject “Final warning! You will receive a tax refund” or “[Reminder] Your tax refund is ready!” contain the information that the recipients will receive a 578.99 euro tax refund and should disclose their data for this purpose. The BMF continuously warns against this scam. Example of such a phishing mail: Betreff: Letzte Warnung! Sie erhalten eine Steuerrückerstattung Sehr geehrter Herr/Frau, nach der letzten jährlichen Berechnung Ihrer Steueraktivität haben wir festgestellt, dass Sie Anspruch auf eine Rückerstattung haben. Ihre Rückerstattung beträgt 578,99 Euro. Um Ihre Rückerstattung…

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Inflation is becoming increasingly extreme: energy costs have become a real burden for many companies. They are now being helped. “We have had an extreme year in terms of energy policy, with a situation the likes of which we have never seen before,” says Doris Hummer, president of the Upper Austrian Chamber of Commerce. She refers to “exploding energy prices and supply fears.” Hummer said that costs had risen many times over for virtually all companies. “For some companies, electricity and gas prices have tenfold.” The WKOÖ boss warns against…

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