COVID-19 pandemic in Austria

The COVID-19 pandemic in Austria occurs as a regional sub-happening of the global outbreak of the respiratory disease COVID-19 and is based on infections with the SARS-CoV-2 virus from the coronavirus family, which emerged at the end of 2019. The COVID-19 pandemic has been spreading from the Chinese metropolis of Wuhan, Hubei Province since December 2019.

On 25 February 2020, the first two virus infections were registered in Austria: two 24-year-old Italians living in Innsbruck. On 11 March 2020, the global spread of the disease was declared a pandemic by the World Health Organization (WHO).

The Austrian government advises the wearing of masks (at the beginning: mouth-nose protection, since 2021 particle-filtering half masks), spatial distance to other people and hygiene (washing hands etc.). From 16 March 2020, a nationwide lockdown was imposed as a pandemic control measure, which was gradually relaxed again from Easter and lifted completely from 1 May 2020. In order to combat the second COVID 19 wave, masks have been compulsory in almost all publicly accessible indoor areas throughout Austria since 14 September 2020 and restrictions have been imposed at events and in the catering sector since 21 September, which were subsequently tightened up to a "lockdown light". From 17 November to 6 December 2020, there was a second lockdown with a curfew and the extensive ban on events and gastronomy, which was followed by voluntary mass tests for the entire population and, from 26 December 2020, a third lockdown with curfew restrictions, which lasted until 7 February 2021.

The website of the Federal Ministry of Social Affairs, Health, Care and Consumer Protection (Ministry of Health) provides information about the disease and the pandemic. The compilation at ORF shows the course of the case numbers according to federal states. Maps (based on Austria's population distribution) are continuously updated on the virus atlas created by cartographers at the Institute of Geography at the University of Vienna.

Chronology

January 2020

Between 24 and 26 January, a person from Germany stayed in Kühtai who had contracted the disease on 20 January at a farm near Munich.

February 2020

On 25 February, two cases of the disease were reported from Innsbruck for the first time. They were two 24-year-old Italians, woman and man, both from Lombardy. The woman worked in a hotel in Innsbruck. The two had been visiting their region of origin, Bergamo, a few days earlier. The hotel was blocked and all contacts were tested. On 5 March, after having been free of fever and symptoms for several days, both were discharged from hospital as cured of the infection.

Two days later, the Vienna City Councillor for Health, Peter Hacker, announced that a 72-year-old man, who had already been undergoing inpatient treatment at the Rudolf Foundation in Vienna for ten days at that time, had now tested positive for the coronavirus. This led to the closure of three wards in this hospital and to the displeasure of the staff, who felt endangered and not supported. Furthermore, Hacker announced that a couple from Vienna had become infected. The suspected diagnoses of their son and daughter were still being checked. On 28 February it became known that the son had tested positive.

In February, the Ministry of Health issued nationwide guidelines according to which those affected should not see a doctor in case of suspicion, but should call the health number 1450 in order not to infect other people. The staff of the hotline, which had been set up a year earlier, arranged for further steps, such as a home visit and testing.

If a suspicion was confirmed, a home quarantine was usually ordered and attempts were made to locate any contact persons in order to impose a home quarantine on them as well, if necessary, and to subject them to a test if symptoms were present. So far, only persons with a more severe course of the disease have been admitted to hospitals, as the disease was mild in most of those affected and thus did not require inpatient treatment. Affected persons were only released from home quarantine when they were apparently healthy and no virus could be detected in two successive tests within 24 hours of each other.

March 2020

In March 2020, events in the holiday resort of Ischgl (Tyrol) made a decisive contribution to the Europe-wide spread of the respiratory disease COVID-19; as early as 5 March, Icelandic authorities classified the resort as a risk area. At the end of March, the Innsbruck public prosecutor's office began an investigation into the suspected "risk of contagious diseases". In May, a team from the Kiel Institute for the World Economy, led by Gabriel Felbermayr, concluded in its study, published on 24 May, that statistically it could be attributed to the distance from Ischgl that 48 per cent of the cases of infection in Germany had originated from the Austrian ski resort. According to a Spiegel research, more than 11,000 infections worldwide could be traced back to Ischgl.

By 1 March, 1,826 tests had been performed, including ten WHO-confirmed cases of infection.

On 2 March, the City of Vienna opened a care centre for possibly ill tourists in the former geriatric centre "Am Wienerwald" as a precautionary measure.

By March 6, about 400 people were already in home quarantine.

On March 11, 2020, WHO declared the COVID-19 outbreak a pandemic.

On 12 March, the first death was confirmed in Vienna. A 69-year-old man died in hospital after returning from Italy.

10 March 2020: Entry into force of the restrictions on travel

With effect from 10 March, passenger aircraft arriving from northern Italy, South Korea or Iran were banned from landing in Austria for the time being until 24 March. From 11 March, new arrivals from risk areas outside the EU, such as South Korea, parts of China or Iran, were required to produce a medical certificate on entry confirming that they were not infected with the virus. Point health checks were also introduced at border crossings with Italy. The obligation to present a medical certificate on entry was extended to travellers from Italy from 11 March. This measure did not apply to transit passengers whose transit was ensured without a stopover in Austria. Austrian citizens and people whose usual place of residence was in Austria were also exempt, provided they went into 14-day home quarantine until a negative laboratory result was available.

In order to support the police and the health authorities at the border crossings, soldiers of the Federal Army were also deployed, in Lower Austria also staff of the road service and in Vorarlberg also the fire brigades.

March 10, 2020: Cancellation of events and spatial distancing of people.

In the press conference of 10 March it was announced that events in closed rooms from 100 people, those outdoors from 500 people will be temporarily banned. This should also affect cinemas or theatres, for example.

It has been announced that the 2020 municipal council and mayoral elections in Vorarlberg, originally scheduled for 15 March, and the 2020 municipal council elections in Styria, scheduled for 22 March, will be postponed.

The government additionally asked the population to reduce social life for a few weeks to reduce the risk of infection for the elderly.

Public transport has not been discontinued in order to continue to make it possible to travel to work.

March 11, 2020: Announcement of school and university closures.

One day after the announcement of the restrictions on events, it was announced in a press conference on 11 March 2020 that, as of 16 March, face-to-face teaching at all Austrian universities, universities of applied sciences and universities of teacher education would be cancelled and, if possible, replaced by distance learning. In fact, the universities have brought these measures forward by a few days, in some cases already to 12 March.

In the press conference of 11 March it was also announced that schools would also be closed. The upper classes (from the 9th grade) are to be closed from 16 March and from 18 March the other schools (elementary schools, new middle schools and AHS lower classes) will also be closed. For the pupils of these schools, group care will be offered at the schools and kindergartens. In the elementary schools, Neue Mittelschulen and AHS-Unterstufen, classes at the schools ended on 18 March, but there are childcare options at the schools for children whose parents have to work outside the home. The children who stay at home receive their assignments from the teachers by e-mail or via a learning platform. Kindergartens are also open to children whose parents are unavailable for work. The measures were initially limited until Easter.

March 12, 2020: End of the ski season in some states.

On 12 March, the authorities of the three federal states of Salzburg, Vorarlberg and Tyrol announced that they were ending the 2020 ski season early. All ski resorts were closed with effect from Monday 16 March. As of March 14, the ski resort of Ischgl was already closed.

March 13, 2020: Announcement of restrictions for shops and restaurants

On 13 March, the German Robert Koch Institute (RKI) classified the province of Tyrol as a risk area.

On 13 March, the federal government announced that it would close all shops that were not necessary for basic services as of 16 March. Food stores, pharmacies and drugstores, but also tobacconists and pet food stores were excluded. Furthermore, it was announced that bars, restaurants and coffee houses would only be allowed to open until 3 p.m. as of 16 March.

The basis for the restrictions announced on March 13 was the COVID-19 Act passed on Sunday, March 15, 2020. The Act enacted a Federal Act on the Establishment of the COVID-19 Crisis Management Fund (COVID-19 Fund Act) and a Federal Act on Provisional Measures to Prevent the Spread of COVID-19 (COVID-19 Measures Act), and amended the 2020 Provisional Budget Act, the 2019 to 2022 Federal Financial Framework Act, the Federal Act on the Establishment of a Federal Reduction Shareholding Company, the Labour Market Policy Financing Act, the Labour Market Service Act and the Labour Contract Law Amendment Act. Resolutions were passed in the National Council and the Federal Council, certified by the Federal President and published in the Federal Law Gazette on a single day. The restrictions in public spaces were controlled by the police, and under the COVID-19 Act administrative fines of up to EUR 3,600 were imposed, and in certain cases administrative fines of up to EUR 30,000.

The COVID-19 law provided, among other things, for a crisis management fund endowed with €4 billion, see section on economic impact. In the parliamentary proceedings, the opposition succeeded in ensuring that the COVID-19 Measures Act, which was included in the legislative package and enabled the far-reaching restrictions on freedom of movement, was limited in time until the end of 2020.

The three implementing ordinances issued in this regard were also issued on March 15. One ordinance regulated the closure of businesses in the areas of commerce, services, leisure and sport from 16 March, with §§ 2 and 3 of the ordinance exempting certain businesses for the supply of daily necessities. Contrary to the announcement of 13 March, restaurants or bars were now also not allowed to open at all from 17 March, i.e. not even with a closing time of 15:00. With regard to gastronomy, the aforementioned ordinance only came into force on 17 March (another ordinance only applied on 16 March and ordered that gastronomy had to observe a curfew of 3:00 p.m.).

March 13, 2020: Announcement of a ban on entering public places.

Another ordinance imposed a general exit restriction (ban on "entering public places"). This ordinance also went into effect on March 16. According to § 1, "entering public places is prohibited." Section 2 enumerates exceptions ("Exempt from the prohibition ... are entries ..."): in case of imminent danger (item 1), to care for persons in need of assistance (item 2), to meet basic needs (item 3), because of professional purposes (item 4). The following point 5 does not give a specific reason: "if outdoor public places are to be entered alone, with persons living in the same household or with domestic animals, a distance of at least one metre must be kept from other persons." This provision was referred to orally on the part of the Government as to walking.

Numerous penalties were imposed as a result of this ordinance, sometimes challenged on appeal. Several jurists argued that Z. 5 allowed entry into public places for any reason.

Further course

On 15 March, the two ministers Tanner and Köstinger announced that both the basic military conscripts in the armed forces and the civilian conscripts would not be able to end their service, which would end at the end of March, but would have to provide extended service. Civilian servants from the last five years had also been called upon to volunteer for service. This was the first time in the history of civilian service that the possibility of calling up persons for extraordinary civilian service had been used.

In addition, 1400 militia soldiers of the Austrian Armed Forces were called up for operational presence duty.

After Hungary closed its borders on 17 March and only allowed Hungarian citizens and truck transports into the country, traffic soon backed up all the way to Parndorf, as many people travelling home from other countries who wanted to pass through Hungary were also in the columns at the motorway border crossing. As a result, there were protests by those stranded, which also blocked entry into Austria. Only after diplomatic negotiations between the respective interior ministers was a humanitarian corridor briefly opened on the night of 18 March, at least for Romanians and Bulgarians, as a "one-off exception". However, since other citizens were also at the border, the same heated situation built up on 18 March.

With effect from 20 March, the restriction on going out was extended: health resorts, (apart from exceptions) also rehabilitation centres and sports grounds were barred. This regulation also provided for an obligation to work from home if the professional activity could also be carried out away from the place of work. However, this provision was weakened back to a mandatory provision the following day. In addition, on March 20, all measures were extended until April 13.

As of March 25, the coronavirus tracking app "Stop Corona" was released by the Austrian Red Cross. This registers when you meet someone who also has this app. If a person tests positive for SARS-CoV-2, all persons who had previously met the infected person are informed.

On 27 March, the German Robert Koch Institute declared the whole of Austria a risk area.

At a press conference on 30 March, Federal Chancellor Kurz expressed fears that intensive care could be overstretched as early as mid-April. In Austria, the "calm before the storm" prevailed. These statements were preceded by a drop in the effective reproduction rate to around 1.5 and corresponding relief at the task force in the Ministry of Health. The basis of this statement by the Federal Chancellor, which therefore came as a surprise to the experts, was a so-called "table paper" prepared by four mathematicians from the University of Vienna and a population geneticist from the Austrian Academy of Sciences with "the support of Rectors Heinz Engl (University of Vienna) and Markus Müller (Med Uni)". In it, various calculations were presented that predicted up to 100,000 additional deaths for Austria "as soon as R0 is above 1 in the longer term." Thomas Czypionka of the Institute for Advanced Studies criticised that the assumptions made in the paper were not verifiable due to a lack of precise description. The submission of such a manuscript without such a precise disclosure of the methodology is incomprehensible to him. In any case, it was therefore not suitable as a basis for decision-making.

April 2020

By April 1, the total number of infected persons had risen to 10,482, by which time 1436 infected persons had recovered and 146 infected persons had died. On April 4, the number of those recovered that day exceeded the number of new infections that day for the first time.

Mouth-nose protection masks - compulsory wearing

On 30 March, Chancellor Kurz announced that protective mouth-nose masks would have to be worn when shopping in open shops. Supermarkets should distribute them at the entrances. These masks do not primarily protect the wearer of the mask, but those around him. Later, some supermarkets started to sell the masks.

On April 6, the federal government announced that the obligation to wear protective masks for the mouth and nose would be extended from April 14 to public transport and to commercial and craft establishments which would then be open again.

Gradual openings from Easter

On 6 April, the federal government announced at a press conference that businesses were to reopen gradually after the Easter weekend. Smaller shops (up to 400 square metres) as well as DIY and garden centres (regardless of shop space) and craft businesses were allowed to open from 14 April, while the larger shops, shopping centres and hairdressers were allowed to open from 1 May. Hotels and restaurants were to follow in mid-May at the earliest, although the decision on this would depend on the further course of the pandemic. The curfews were extended until the end of April, and events would remain banned for a longer period.

Following the Easter weekend, the Federal Gardens reopened to the public on 14 April 2020, having closed on 16 March 2020. The closure was highly controversial and discourse was reported, for example, by the FinancialTimes. After the reopening of the Bundesgärten, officers of the Vienna Parking Monitoring Group (PÜG) ("Parksheriffs") were deployed to monitor the spacing regulations in the Bundesgärten.

Schools were also to remain closed until at least mid-May, with support facilities at schools remaining in place. In higher education, distance learning systems were to remain in place for the entire summer semester, but examinations could be held under certain conditions.

May 2020

On 30 April 2020, the previously existing exit restrictions expired, following which a new regulation issued by the Minister of Health came into force on 1 May. This COVID 19 relaxation regulation imposed a general obligation to wear the mouth-nose protection when entering public places indoors, at outdoor markets, in taxis and carpools. The previously existing obligation to wear it on public transport was retained. In addition, a distance of at least 1 metre had to be maintained from persons not belonging to the common household outdoors and in enclosed public spaces. Although this minimum distance also applied in principle to public transport, it was possible to deviate from it if this was not possible due to the number of passengers and for boarding and alighting. The restrictions on trade, on the other hand, were largely lifted; all customer areas could therefore be entered again, provided that in addition to wearing the mouth-nose protection, a minimum area of 10 m² was available per customer. At the same time, events with up to 10 people were now permitted, and up to 30 people were allowed at funerals.

On 15 May, the catering trade reopened, accommodation establishments, fitness studios, outdoor swimming pools as well as thermal spas followed on 29 May 2020 - in each case with certain protective measures. On May 30, another regulation came into force, according to which, among other things, no minimum area per customer had to be guaranteed in the trade.

June 2020

From 15 June, masks were only compulsory in public transport, in health care establishments such as pharmacies, or when services were used where the minimum distance could not be observed (e.g. at the hairdresser's). The obligation to wear masks in shops, schools and for guests in restaurants or cafés was abolished. Also from 15 June, catering establishments were allowed to open until 1am. There was also no longer a limit on the number of people sharing a table. The mask requirement was also dropped in this area, but only for guests, not for staff.

July 2020

In Upper Austria, the number of infected persons rose sharply at the end of June and the beginning of July. Whereas on 4 June only 17 Upper Austrians were infected with SARS-CoV-2, by the beginning of July the number had already risen to 191. For this reason the regional government decided to close all schools, kindergartens and after-school care centres in the districts of Linz-Stadt, Linz-Land, Urfahr-Umgebung, Wels-Stadt and Wels-Land for a week from 3 July. For the schools in Upper Austria, the summer holidays then began on 11 July.

Nevertheless, the obligation to wear a mask for waiters was also abolished throughout Austria as of 1 July. The practice of sports where the minimum distance cannot be observed was also permitted again. The closing time for closed events such as wedding parties was dropped.

Due to a decree of the governor, the general obligation to use mouth-nose protection masks in public places in closed rooms, in particular also in trade and gastronomy, applied again in the province of Upper Austria as of 9 July 2020.

On 9 July 2020, an outbreak of Corona virus occurred in three large meat processing plants in the districts of Ried, Wels-Land and Braunau, with ten people infected.

As of 10 July, masks were made compulsory at markets in Klagenfurt and in the evenings in individual tourist areas in Carinthia.

In late July, a cluster in St. Wolfgang in the Salzkammergut region became known, leading to 107 cases nationwide.

Re-introduction of compulsory masks

On 21 July 2020, the federal government announced at a press conference the reintroduction of an Austria-wide mask requirement in supermarkets, bank and post office branches as of 24 July. On the same date, entry from designated risk areas will only be permitted with a negative test result. Finally, an ordinance of 22 July announced the introduction of compulsory masks from 24 July in food retail outlets including bakeries and petrol station shops, in bank and post office branches as well as in hospitals, nursing homes and health resorts.

August 2020

Rising numbers of infections were noted in August, mainly attributed to people returning from holiday. Travel warnings and testing obligations were therefore reinforced. Conversely, some other states declared Austria a risk area: returnees from Austria must observe a 14-day quarantine in Great Britain from 22 August, and a ten-day quarantine in Norway.

The measures introduced by the Governor of Upper Austria on 9 July were lifted again on 28 August.

September 2020

Introduction of the Corona traffic light

On 4 September, the "Corona traffic light" was put into operation. This is intended to indicate the epidemiological situation at regional level on the basis of certain criteria. The evaluation is carried out at district level. Its colour spectrum ranges from green (low risk) through yellow and orange to red (very high risk). With the commissioning, the cities of Vienna, Graz, Linz and the district of Kufstein were set to "yellow".

The Corona traffic light information is based not only on the numbers of newly infected persons, but also on other indicators, such as clusters, health facility resources and tests. A commission ("Corona Commission") determines the assignment of districts to the traffic light colours and makes recommendations regarding the measures to be taken, but ultimately the decision on measures is in the hands of the politicians. The classifications have been criticised in part as lacking transparency, especially by the mayor of Linz. In view of the new infection figures, the mayor of Vienna stated that he had expected the classification.

Based on the classification of the individual districts according to the Corona traffic light, different strict hygiene measures are provided for in the individual districts. The legal consequences of the traffic light classification for the school system in the individual districts is regulated by the ordinance BGBl. II No. 384/2020.

Strengthening measures in view of increasing infection rates

As of 14 September, in view of the rising infection figures, the measures were tightened again, in particular with regard to the use of masks. Thus, a mask had to be worn again in trade and gastronomy in closed rooms. The consumption of food and beverages was only permitted while seated at tables. The tightenings applied nationwide regardless of the Corona traffic light.

On 15 September, the traffic light colours were adjusted again. Large parts of Upper Austria, Tyrol, Vorarlberg and parts of Lower Austria were now set to yellow. Vienna, Innsbruck, Kufstein, Mödling, Neunkirchen, Bludenz and Dornbirn were set to orange. However, the measures originally planned for the traffic light colour orange will not be implemented - the change of the traffic light circuit is seen more as a "symbol" by the federal government. According to Education Minister Faßmann, "the schools will remain yellow and so will the universities".

Germany declared Vienna a risk area on 16 September and Tyrol and Vorarlberg on 25 September. In Switzerland, on the other hand, Vienna, Lower Austria and Upper Austria were declared.

With the Ordinance Federal Law Gazette II No. 407/2020, the COVID-19 Loosening Ordinance was amended with effect from 21 September. In the process, the title of the Ordinance was changed to COVID-19 Measures Ordinance (COVID-19-MV) and the measures provided for in the Ordinance were further tightened. For example, the mask requirement was expanded, particularly to include outdoor markets. The size of visiting groups in food service establishments was again restricted. Visitor groups may no longer exceed ten persons if they do not belong to a single household. The same maximum number applies to private events without assigned and designated seating, such as yoga classes, game nights, or weddings. Funerals, however, are exempt. As of 25 September, the closing time in the provinces of Salzburg, Tyrol and Vorarlberg has been brought forward to 10 pm.

Amendment of the COVID 19 Measures Act

In view of the findings of the Constitutional Court declaring the ordinance on the first lockdown to be unlawful, the COVID 19 Measures Act was amended in September 2020. The amendments explicitly include the possibility of a lockdown, in addition to some adjustments to the Epidemics Act and clarifications regarding authority responsibilities. In addition to the possibility originally provided for in the COVID-19 Measures Act that "entering certain places" can be prohibited, it is now also provided that "entering public places in their entirety" (Section 3) or "leaving private living quarters" (Section 4) can be prohibited. The law now expressly provides that leaving the private living area must in any case remain permissible for the following reasons:

1. Averting imminent danger to life, limb and property,
2. Care of and assistance to persons in need of support as well as exercise of family rights and fulfilment of family duties,
3. Covering the necessary basic needs of daily life,
4. professional purposes, where this is necessary, and
5. Spending time outdoors for physical and mental recreation.

In addition, the law clarifies that conditions may also be considered, such as in particular the wearing of protective masks for the mouth and nose. For the particularly serious interventions (ban on entering public places in their entirety or ban on leaving private living quarters), the law stipulates that the ordinance must be issued in agreement with the Main Committee of the National Council and that it may only be issued for a period of 10 days at a time. The amendment was passed in the National Council on 23 September 2020 with the votes of the governing coalition and the SPÖ against the votes of the FPÖ and NEOS. After the Federal Council decided on 25 September 2020 not to raise an objection, the amendment was notarised and promulgated on 25 September (Federal Law Gazette I No. 104/2020).

October 2020

On 9 October, Switzerland added Burgenland and Salzburg to its quarantine list, in addition to Vienna, Lower and Upper Austria.

On 15 October, the Ministry of Social Affairs announced that Christmas markets with appropriate prevention concepts could open.

On October 19, further tightening was announced by the federal government. Accordingly, private gatherings were to be limited to a maximum of six people indoors and twelve people outdoors as of October 23. Professional meetings and funerals would be exempt. The same recommendation would apply to private premises, but for legal reasons it could not be made compulsory. On October 25, the announced ordinance finally came into force. It also included the reintroduction of the minimum distance of one meter in closed rooms and outdoors. Drinking alcoholic beverages after closing time within a radius of 50 meters around restaurants was also prohibited. Only after a transition period expired on November 7 was the use of "tight-fitting" mouth-nose protection made mandatory. This meant that face visors in particular were no longer considered a sufficient protective device.

At the end of October, Austrian Post issued a "Corona special issue stamp" with a face value of € 2.75 plus a € 2.75 charitable surcharge in an edition of 300,000. The stamp block is made of genuine toilet paper produced by an Austrian manufacturer and measures 40 by 50 millimeters. The perforation of the stamp imitates the perforation of standard toilet paper. The choice of material and shape allude ironically to the hoarding of toilet paper that was common at the beginning of the pandemic. The brand motif, designed by graphic artist Marion Füllerer, depicts the body sizes of various animals, with the largest animal, a "baby elephant", referring to a symbol widely used in Austria for the minimum social distance of one metre.

From 24 October, Germany declared the provinces of Salzburg, Lower and Upper Austria, Burgenland and Styria to be a risk area in addition to Vienna, Tyrol and Vorarlberg. Thus, all Austrian provinces except Carinthia were considered risk areas. As of 31 October, the province of Carinthia was also considered a risk area for Germany.

November 2020

Lockdown light" package of measures from 3 to 16 November 2020

On 31 October 2020, the Chancellor announced that there would be another partial lockdown from 3 November 2020, which was referred to as "lockdown light". This meant that curfew restrictions applied across the country between 8pm and 6am. During that time, leaving private residences was permitted only for certain reasons, specifically to "avert imminent danger to life, limb, or property," to "render assistance to persons in need of support," to "exercise family rights and perform family duties," for "occupational and educational purposes," and - outdoors - "for physical and mental recreation." The basis for these measures was the COVID-19 Protection Measures Ordinance (Federal Law Gazette II No. 463/2020), which was promulgated on 1 November 2020 after approval by the Main Committee of the National Council. The ordinance itself was limited in time until 30 November 2020, and the exit restrictions were limited to ten days in accordance with the requirements of the COVID-19 Measures Act. In both cases, extensions were possible with the approval of the main committee. The COVID 19 Measures Ordinance did not apply while the Safeguards Ordinance was in force (section 19(2) of the Safeguards Ordinance).

Cultural and recreational facilities had to close, with the exception of funerals and individual other exceptions, no more events take place. The ban also applies to private events, as long as they do not take place in the "private residential area". The hotel and hospitality industry also closed, although takeaway and delivery were allowed. Professional sports took place without an audience, and sports were only allowed outdoors without physical contact. Retail and service businesses such as hairdressers remained open for the time being, subject to conditions. Schools had to switch to distance learning from sixth form onwards. Universities and colleges also switched back to distance learning.

Since then, the COVID 19 protective measures ordinance has stipulated that a "tight-fitting mechanical protective device covering the mouth and nose area" must be worn in public places in buildings. Due to the addition of "close-fitting", acrylic face shields are no longer permitted.

Second "hard lockdown" from November 17 to December 6, 2020.

On 14 November 2020, the Federal Government announced a further lockdown from 17 November 2020 until probably 6 December 2020. The basis for the hard lockdown is the COVID 19 Emergency Measures Ordinance, which replaces the COVID 19 Protective Measures Ordinance in force until then. The COVID 19 Emergency Measures Ordinance was approved by the Main Committee of the National Council on 15 November 2020 with the votes of the governing parties against the votes of the opposition and was then issued and promulgated by the Minister of Health (Federal Law Gazette II No. 479/2020). In accordance with the provisions of the COVID 19 Measures Act, the initial regulations will initially apply for ten days, with an extension being envisaged.

The COVID-19 Emergency Measures Ordinance provides for extensive closure of businesses, with grocery stores, drugstores, pet food stores, pharmacies, post offices, banks, in particular, remaining open. Leisure facilities (such as theatres, concert halls, cinemas, museums, swimming pools, dance schools or casinos) and businesses offering body-related services (such as hairdressers or nail salons) must remain closed - with the exception of health and care services. Customer areas of non-body-related service businesses (such as car repair shops, insurance companies, cleaners or alteration tailors) may also be visited.

In addition, this ordinance provides for more stringent exit regulations that now apply throughout the day. Leaving the private living area and staying outside the private living area are only permitted for the following purposes:

• Averting imminent danger to life, limb and property,
• Care of and assistance to persons in need of support as well as exercise of family rights and fulfilment of family duties,
• Covering the necessary basic needs of daily life, such as in particular
• contact with a partner not living in the same household or contact with individual close relatives or individual important reference persons with whom contact is usually maintained several times a week,
• the supply of basic goods for daily life,
• the use of health services,
• the satisfaction of a residential need (e.g. at a secondary residence),
• the satisfaction of basic religious needs, such as visits to cemeteries and individual visits to places of worship,
• the care of animals,
• professional and educational purposes, where this is necessary,
• Spending time outdoors for physical and mental recreation,
• for the performance of official or judicial duties that cannot be postponed,
• to participate in elections provided for by law and to use instruments of direct democracy provided for by law,
• for the purpose of entering shops and establishments which may remain open, and
• to participate in approved events.

Catering establishments remain closed (with a few exceptions). Pick-up of food and beverages is possible from 6:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m., delivery service is possible around the clock. Accommodation establishments must also remain closed for tourism purposes.

Events remain prohibited. Exceptions are, for example, funerals with a maximum of 50 people, professional meetings that cannot be postponed, supervisory board meetings, general meetings, works council meetings, meetings for absolutely necessary professional training and further education purposes and completion of professional final examinations that require attendance and are not possible digitally.

The kindergarten, high school and college sectors are not covered by the COVID-19 Emergency Measures Ordinance. In addition to high schools and colleges, which have already been practicing distance education since early November, the remaining schools have also been converted to distance education. However, childcare will continue to be provided at the schools and kindergartens.

December 2020

Relaxation of the second hard lockdown

After the expiry of the "hard lockdown", essentially the same restrictions that applied during the "lockdown light" will apply again from 7 December 2020 until probably 23 December. The basis for this is the 2nd COVID-19 protective measures ordinance (Federal Law Gazette II No. 544/2020). Since 4 December, rapid antigen tests have been offered in all federal states as voluntary mass tests for the entire population. Approximately 2 million people took part in the test series, and around 4,200 infected persons were found, including PCR retesting.

Third "hard lockdown"

On 18 December, the government announced a third lockdown for the period between 26 December 2020 and 18 January 2021. With the 3rd COVID-19 Protective Measures Ordinance (Federal Law Gazette II No. 566/2020) and the 2nd COVID-19 Emergency Measures Ordinance (Federal Law Gazette II No. 598/2020), this lockdown is officially ordered for the time being for the period until 4 January 2021. Before the end of the lockdown, which was announced by the government for 18 January, mass tests are to be carried out again, and the use of trade and gastronomy is to be possible only with a negative test result until 24 January. The government submitted a corresponding draft law on 31 December 2020 for review until 3 January 2021.

First vaccinations

On 27 December, the first people in Austria were vaccinated against COVID-19 using Pfizer and Biontech's vaccine. The first five Austrians were vaccinated at the Medical University of Vienna in the presence of the Federal Chancellor and the Minister of Health, and the event was broadcast on television.

While the federal party leader of the SPÖ Pamela Rendi-Wagner welcomed the vaccination start, FPÖ club leader Herbert Kickl called the media event a "propaganda show in Eastern bloc style".

This implements the recommendations of the National Immunization Panel on prioritization within the Immunization Strategy.

By 30 December, approximately 6,000 people had been vaccinated. In phase 1, these are residents of old people's and nursing homes, nursing staff and members of the high-risk group.

January 2021

Following the opposition's announcement that it would block the bill on so-called free testing in the Bundesrat, the government dropped the motion on 3 January 2021. As a result, the 2nd COVID-19 Emergency Measures Ordinance specifying a lockdown was initially valid until 14 January and was extended until 24 January on 14 January. On 14 January, the National Council also passed a bill on the so-called clean test.

According to Defence Minister Tanner, the mass tests announced in December are to be converted into a permanent test infrastructure. Nevertheless, test dates were held in Styria and Lower Austria in January.

On 5 January, the Ministry of Health announced that 8,360 vaccinations had been given in nursing homes and hospitals so far.

On 17 January, the lockdown was extended until 7 February. From 25 January 2021, it will also be compulsory to wear FFP-2 masks in commerce and public transport (3rd COVID-19 Emergency Measures Ordinance, Federal Law Gazette II No. 27/2021).

On 21 January it was decided to suspend the regional risk assessment for the Corona traffic light and to assign only one value for the whole of Austria.

On 22nd January it became known that the British pharmaceutical company AstraZeneca will probably only be able to deliver 509,000 to 600,000 vaccine doses to Austria in the first quarter of 2021 instead of the agreed 2,000,000 doses due to production difficulties.

February 2021

From 5 November 2020 to 4 February 2021, the Corona traffic light was set to red nationwide. From 5 February 2021 Vienna and from 12 February 2021 Upper Austria were set to orange.

Exit test obligation Tyrol

As the "South African variant" (virus variant B.1.351) of SARS-CoV-2 had recently spread in the federal state of Tyrol, from 12 February 2021 onwards it will only be permitted to leave the federal state after presenting a negative test result. This also applies to travel within Austria. The basis for this is the COVID-19 Virus Variant Ordinance (BGBl. II No. 63/2021), which is initially valid until 21 February 2021.

Border controls between Germany and Tyrol

As of 14 February, Germany tightened the entry regulations for people entering Germany from Tyrol.

Presence classes at schools and normal operation in kindergartens again

After the semester break, face-to-face teaching was again made possible in the schools.

• Kindergartens: 5 days
• Elementary schools: 5 days
• Higher School Levels:
• Alternate Education
• Division of the classes into two groups
• Classes: One group Monday and Tuesday, the other group Wednesday and Thursday
• On non-presence days: completing tasks at home or video lessons.
• Childcare options in the lower school
• Self-testing obligation
• Masks compulsory from lower school
• Lower level: Mouth-nose protection
• Upper stage: FFP2 mask
• Tests for teachers
• Mouth-nose protection compulsory for tested teachers, FFP2 masks compulsory for non-tested teachers
• Music lessons possible but no singing
• Physical education possible but no contact sports

For the universities, it was decided to keep them in hybrid mode for the summer semester.

Trade, body-related services, museums, libraries and zoos

As of February 8, all shops were allowed to reopen and body-related services such as hairdressers were also allowed again.

With the openings, the square footage limit was increased to 20 square feet.

Museums, libraries and zoos were also reopened.

As a prerequisite for the use of body-related services, a COVID19 test was prescribed by an official testing station.

Meetings and nightly curfews

As of February 8, it became possible again for two households with a maximum of four adults to meet during the day. At night, between 8 p.m. and 6 a.m., curfew restrictions continued to apply.

March 2021

Vaccinations in the district of Schwaz as part of a European research project

Due to the high number of infections with the "South African" virus variant B.1.351, a European research project was carried out in the Tyrolean district of Schwaz from 11 March onwards, within the framework of which all residents aged 16 and over had the opportunity to be vaccinated with the Biontech/Pfizer vaccine for approximately one week. Therefore the delivery of 100.000 vaccine doses was brought forward. Parallel to the vaccination campaign, there was a compulsory exit test for two weeks from 1 March.

As vaccine doses were available from the vaccination campaign in the Tyrolean district, there was a special coronavirus vaccination campaign for all over-65-year-olds between 12 and 17 March in 3 Salzburg municipalities with high infection rates, in the two Pongau municipalities with mandatory exit test Bad Hofgastein and Radstadt and in the Pinzgau municipality of Unken.

Mandatory exit tests for high incidence areas

On 05 March, the Ministry of Health sent a decree to state governors for stricter CoV measures in "high incidence areas". The decree mandates negative CoV tests for leaving districts or "locally defined hotspots" if the 7-day incidence there is above 400 per 100,000 population. This measure must remain in place until the incidence falls below 200 for 10 days. If the high incidence persists for longer than one week, the respective governor must issue further measures.

Excuses tests have been prescribed for the following area:

• (before the Order) 27 February to 3 March: Municipality of Mayrhofen in the district of Schwaz (Tyrol)
• 05 March - 14 March: City of Radstadt in the district of Sankt Johann im Pongau/ Pongau (Salzburg)
• 05 March - 05 April: Municipality of Bad Hofgastein in the district of Sankt Johann im Pongau/ Pongau (Salzburg)
• 15. March - 05. April: Extension to the entire Gastein Valley (i.e. also the communities of Dorfgastein and Bad Gastein)
• 09 March - 21 March: Hermagor district (Carinthia)
• 10 March - 24 April: Wiener Neustadt district (city) (Lower Austria)
• 11 March - 24 March: Muhr municipality in the district of Tamsweg/ Lungau (Salzburg)
• 11 March - 08 April: Schwaz district (Tyrol)
• 12 March - 25 March: Municipalities: Haiming and Roppen in the district of Imst and Matrei in the district of Lienz/ East Tyrol (Tyrol)
• 12 March - 31 March: Municipality of Virgen in the district of Lienz/ East Tyrol (Tyrol)
• 17 March - 08 April: Municipality of Arzl in Pitztal in the district of Imst (Tyrol)
• 21 March - 26 March: village of Zlan in the municipality of Stockenboi in the district of Villach/ Land (Carinthia)
• 24 March - 26 March additionally for the locality Hochegg also in the municipality Stockenboi in the district Villach/ Land (Carinthia)
• 22 March - 04 April: Municipality of Elbigenalp in the district of Reutte (Tyrol)
• 25 March - 31 March: Leiblachtal (municipalities of Eichenberg (Vorarlberg), Hohenweiler, Hörbranz, Lochau and Möggers in the district of Bregenz) (Vorarlberg)
• 25 March - 21 April: Neunkirchen district
• 25 March - 24 April: Wiener Neustadt-Land district (Lower Austria)
• 31 March - 14 April: Kufstein district (Tyrol)

On 10 March, the obligation to carry out exit tests within Austria expired for the Tyrol. From 31 March, due to the presence of the British virus mutation "with further mutation characteristics", an exit test obligation was reintroduced for northern Tyrol, in parallel with the measure in Kufstein, for an expected period of two weeks.

Opening steps in Vorarlberg

Due to a 7-day incidence of under 70 there was from 15 March the possibility in Vorarlberg the catering trade, both in closed rooms, as well as in the free one again open and meetings both inside and outside. Vorarlberg should thus be a model region.

Regulations for a visit to a restaurant:

• Negative antigen or PCR test (max. 48 or 72 hours old) from an official testing station (no self-testing)
• One registration
• Maximum four persons/ table or only persons from one household
• Distance between the tables min. 2 meters
• FFP2 mask obligation

Regulations for events:

• Negative antigen or PCR test (max. 48 or 72 hours old) from an official body, but also self-tests
• One registration
• Max 100 persons or 50 % of the capacity
• An assigned and marked seat for each guest
• FFP2 mask obligation also at the seat

Due to the still valid exit regulations, the closing time for gastronomy and events was set to 8 pm.

Austria-wide training opportunities for young athletes

As of 15 March, training for children and young people under 18 was again permitted throughout Austria.

Regulations for this:

• 2 meters distance between each other (max. short-term shortfalls)
• Austria-wide training only possible outside:
• max. 20 persons plus three trainers
• no testing required
• only in Vorarlberg training also possible indoors:
• max. 10 persons plus two trainers
• Children and adolescents need a negative test, self-tests (max. 24 hours) or official antigen tests (max. 48 hours), no school tests accepted

Meetings of self-help groups possible again

As of 15 March, meetings of self-help groups were exempted from the ban on events, prerequisite mandatory FFP2 mask and a minimum distance.

Border controls between Germany and Tyrol

German border controls for Tyrol were extended several times in February and March. On 26 March, the Robert Koch Institute (RKI) decided to remove Tyrol from the list of "virus variant areas" as of 28 March. Thus, the strict German entry restrictions for the province of Tyrol were lifted. After that, Tyrol, like the other Austrian provinces, was considered a risk area.

April 2021

Lockdown tightening in Eastern Austria (Vienna, Lower Austria and Burgenland)

From 1 April (Maundy Thursday) the lockdown rules were tightened again due to the bad situation in the hospitals in eastern Austria (Vienna, Lower Austria and Burgenland) over Easter until 11 April.

• Outgoing restrictions again all day (home may be left only to work, buy groceries, pick up merchandise, recreate, meet with individual caregivers, or provide assistance to persons in need of support)
• A household may meet only one other person
• Close body-related service providers, zoos and museums
• All shops close except for shops offering goods for daily use
• In Vienna, masks are compulsory in some very crowded places.
• After the holidays, Distance Learning will be available in schools from 6 April.

On April 6, it was decided to extend the tightened lockdown until April 18.

As of Monday, 12 April, face-to-face classes were again held in the final classes in Eastern Austria. In addition, it was planned that school work would again take place on site in all school classes. On 12 April it was decided to extend the lockdown in Vienna and Lower Austria until 2 May. However, it was also decided to allow face-to-face teaching to take place again in the schools in Vienna and Lower Austria from 26 April.

On 14 April it was decided to phase out the tightened lockdown in Burgenland on 19 April and to allow all shops to reopen and for face-to-face classes to be held in schools.

On 2 May, the tightened lockdown in Vienna and Lower Austria also ended, so that all shops, "body-related service providers", museums and zoos could open again.

Mandatory exit tests for high incidence areas

• 05 April - 11 April: Braunau district (Upper Austria)
• 08 April - 18 April: Municipality of Fulpmes in the district of Innsbruck-Land (Tyrol)
• 09 April - 24 April: Scheibbs district (Lower Austria)
• 10 April - 19 April: Municipality of Weißenbach am Lech in the district of Reutte (excluding the district of Gaicht) (Tyrol)
• 3 regions in Osttirol (district Lienz):
• 11 April - 13 April: area of the municipalities of Prägraten amGroßvenediger and Virgen
• 11 April - 13 April: area of the municipalities of Sillian, Heinfels, Außervillgraten and Innervillgraten
• 11 April - 24 April: area of the municipalities of Anras, Abfaltersbach, Assling and Leisach
• 21 April - 11 May: Bregenzerwald region (Vorarlberg)
• 21 April - 02 May: Großarltal (municipalities of Großarl and Hüttschlag) in the district of Sankt Johann im Pongau (Salzburg)
• 22 April - 02 May: Municipality of Straßwalchen in the district of Salzburg Umgebung (Salzburg)
• 23 April - 13 May: Gemeinde Längenfeld im (Bezirk Imst) (Tirol) decided.
• 29 April - 07 May: Municipality of Abfaltersbach in the district ofLienz (Tyrol)
• 30 April - 16 May: City of Hallein in the Hallein district (Salzburg)
• 30 April - 07 May: Market town of Telfs in the district of Innsbruck-Land (Tyrol)

The exit test obligation for North Tyrol was extended to East Tyrol on 13 April.

On April 24, there was an amended decree that the exit test requirement can be lifted as soon as "the seven-day incidence per 100,000 population is back below 200." Previously, this had to be the case within a period of ten days. In addition, it was made possible to terminate the controls even at an incidence of less than 300 "if the high incidence is attributable to one or a few clusters, if existing clusters do not show any growth and any new cases can be assigned to a source or a cluster".

May 2021

Mandatory exit tests for high incidence areas

• 05 May - 11 May: Rheindelta region (municipalities of Höchst, Fußach and Gaißau in the district of Bregenz) (Vorarlberg)
• 08 May - 16 May: Municipality of Oberalm in the Hallein district (Salzburg)
• 14 May - 09 June: Municipality of Umhausen in the district of Imst (Tyrol)
• 20 May - 09 June: Pitztal (the municipalities of Sankt Leonhard, Wenns, Jerzens and Arzl) in the district of Imst (Tyrol)

Openings from 19 May

On May 10, 2021, the federal government unveiled the "COVID-19 Opening Ordinance." This includes wide-ranging openings of all areas of public life from 19 May and applies until 30 June 2021 for the time being. The following areas will be opened:

• Gastronomy: opening possibility with curfew 10 p.m., compulsory registration and limitation of persons per table
• Tourism: opening possibility with compulsory registration and restrictions on persons, e.g. in the wellness area
• Sports: exercise, team and contact sports also possible again indoors with person restriction
• (Sports and cultural) events: Up to 1,500 people indoors and 3,000 people outdoors with limited occupancy and no catering possible.

In addition, as of May 17, face-to-face classes were reintroduced in schools for all classes. As opening rules a test as well as mask duty were issued.

In the catering trade, tourism and for spectators at events, there is also a FFP2 mask obligation and a "3 G proof" obligation.

3-G detection

By "3-G evidence" is meant "evidence of a low epidemiological risk" (designation in the regulation) that includes one of the following:

• Recovery: A person is considered to have recovered in Austria for six months after the end of the infection. Evidence includes, for example, a certificate of segregation or a medical confirmation of an infection confirmed by molecular biology. Evidence of neutralising antibodies counts for three months from the time of testing.
• Vaccinated: In Austria, only vaccinations with a vaccine approved by the EMA are recognised. The first vaccination is valid from the 22nd day after the 1st sting for a maximum of 3 months from the date of vaccination. The 2nd sting extends the validity period by a further 6 months (thus a total of 9 months from the 1st sting). Vaccines where only one vaccination is scheduled (e.g. from Johnson & Johnson) are valid from the 22nd day after vaccination for a total of 9 months from the date of vaccination. For people who have already recovered and have been vaccinated once previously, the vaccination is valid for 9 months from the date of vaccination.
• Tested: If not considered recovered or vaccinated, a negative Covid 19 test must be presented when visiting any of the above facilities. PCR tests are valid for 72 hours from sample collection. Antigen tests from an authorized site are valid for 48 hours from sample collection. Self-tests recorded in a state regulatory data processing system are valid for 24 hours. "Point-of-sale" tests at the entrance to sports facilities, premises, restaurants, hotels, or an event are now valid for a single entry into the facility or event.

June 2021

Relaxations from 10 June

As of June 10, there were the following changes:

• Change of person limit for meetings: indoors: eight adults + children | outdoors: 16 adults + children
• Minimum distance: 1 meter
• Minimum area in commercial and leisure establishments: ten square metres per person
• Closing time: 24.00 h
• From the mask obligation in outdoor areas
• Maximum capacity for cultural events: 75 % (maximum number of participants remains unchanged: 1,500 indoor, 3,000 outdoor)
• Travel form ("Pre Travel Clearance") only required for entry from high incidence and virus variant areas
• unrestricted bus travel under the "3 G rule
• Minimum age for compulsory testing raised to twelve years
• Requirement for choir and music rehearsals only "3-G rule".

Salzburg Airport converted into a test centre in the course of the Corona mass tests, December 2020


Corona traffic light: set to red statewide from November 5, 2020 to February 4, 2021.


Corona traffic light: Hazard assessment by the Corona CommissionDate : September 26, 2020. Low risk Medium risk High risk Very high risk


Districts affected by school and child care closures beginning July 3, 2020.


The border fence at Platschberg, originally created during the 2015 refugee crisis, was blocked again during the pandemic (photo taken June 12, 2020)


Closed border crossing towards the Czech Republic near Mitterretzbach (May 2020)


Message from Kollektiv 1909 on a pedestrian bridge in Graz to all those who work in important infrastructure (March 19, 2020).


On 13 March 2020, there were hoarding purchases in Viennese supermarkets. In addition to toilet paper, rice and pasta, some meat shelves were also quickly empty.


Closed border crossing between Gaißau (AT) and Rheineck (CH). Austrian driving ban in front, Swiss driving ban in back (17 March 2020).

Measures and problem areas

Rules in public life

Since March 2020, the government has adopted far-reaching regulations to reduce the net number of infections and thus to break infection chains and protect known risk groups - primarily senior citizens and people with certain pre-existing and underlying diseases. The regulations also serve to protect other people, because even young people without pre-existing conditions can, on the one hand, develop a life-threatening course of the disease and, on the other hand, long-term consequences often occur over a period of months, such as pain, concentration disorders, and no sense of smell and taste.

The 2nd COVID-19 Emergency Measures Ordinance is effective as of December 26, 2020.

A number of public health measures are in place to help limit the spread of the COVID-19 respiratory disease and thus the coronavirus pandemic:

Rules of conduct in public spaces

• General requirement of spatial distancing: A distance of at least two (formerly one) metres should be kept from all persons who do not belong to the common household.

Mandatory wearing of masks in public spaces

The distance of at least two metres must be maintained in all public places, but may be temporarily reduced due to local conditions (e.g. pavement). In addition to the minimum distance, the wearing of an FFP2 mask is mandatory in practically all publicly accessible indoor areas (e.g. supermarkets, public transport), as well as some outdoor areas (e.g. markets).

Restriction of public and private life

• Event ban: Events are prohibited.
• Food Service: Food service operations are closed again as of November 3, 2020, delivery operations and pickup are available.

Reactions to the rules

While the government's first measures still met with the approval of the opposition, this changed in the case of individual further measures and intentions. In particular, a so-called "Easter Decree" met with broad rejection on the part of the opposition as well as constitutional lawyers. This forbade more than five people to stay in one room unless they belonged to a common household. This was to ensure that no large celebrations took place in private households, even at Easter. According to constitutional experts, this decree was unlawful as an interference with the protected right of the home. The Minister of Health then withdrew the decree, arguing that it was unnecessary due to the continued restrictions on leaving the premises. This was because, according to the so-called "Betretungsverordnung", Easter celebrations had not been possible anyway, as a visit to friends was not listed there as an exception to the general ban on entry. After the withdrawal, it was also stressed on the part of the Chancellor that the police would "not snoop in homes". The Ministry of Health finally said at the end of April that the entry regulation did not prohibit meetings in private rooms.

Another idea, put forward by the President of the National Council Wolfgang Sobotka, to ease the exit restrictions only for those who used the "Stop Corona" app of the Red Cross, also met with broad criticism from the opposition and the Red Cross itself. The Chancellor then declared that he was not thinking of an obligation, but would continue to rely on "tracking" and "containment", for example with the help of key fobs.

Infectiologist Franz Allerberger, head of the public health department at the Agency for Health and Food Safety (AGES), told ZIB 2 in August 2020 that, based on the number of deaths in Austria and a mortality rate of 0.25 per cent for Corona, around 300,000 people in Austria must have been infected with the virus. According to Allerberger, the mask requirement and also the lifting of the mask requirement had had no measurable effect on the infection situation in Austria. However, Allerberger warned of the long-term consequences of Corona.

The word baby elephant from a campaign of the federal government (which was implemented by the agency Jung von Matt) was chosen as the Austrian Word of the Year 2020, followed in second place by the word corona. The unword became Coronaparty ahead of Social Distancing and coronabedingt. The statement We will also soon have the situation in Austria that everyone knows someone who has died of corona was chosen as the unword of the year. In May 2020, Minister Margarete Schramböck took over the sponsorship of the elephant girl Kibali at Schönbrunn Zoo.

At the end of 2020, as in Germany, there was an accumulation of cases throughout Austria where demonstrations against government protection measures were registered but prohibited due to a suspected health hazard. The demonstrations often took place despite the bans and were sometimes accompanied by a large police contingent. Some of the often thousands of participants were subsequently charged with violations of the COVID-19 Measures Act, VersammlG, SPG and StPO.

Regional administrative courts ruled that private visits were allowed

On the basis of the so-called Betretungsverordnung (Entry Ordinance), which permitted entry into public places only for certain exceptions, the police checked many people who were on the move; according to § 4 of the ordinance, persons checked had to "credibly demonstrate the reasons why an entry is permissible pursuant to § 2". Many people who were out and about visiting relatives or friends in their private homes received penalties. Some of those penalized appealed, and two provincial administrative courts ruled that private visits were not prohibited. In doing so, the judges relied on Section 2, paragraph 5 of the Entry Ordinance, which required a distance of one metre to enter public places.

health interventions

In Austria, initially only persons with acute symptoms were tested, on medical assessment, or in the course of environmental examinations. Results of the tests should be available promptly, but may also be delayed in individual cases; they are communicated by the competent health authority (public health officer, or district administration, municipal department). Suspected cases and infected persons are isolated for 14 days, e.g. quarantined in a home, by decision of the health authority. These persons are given information on how to behave at home, how to monitor themselves and how care can be provided by relatives, neighbours or health services. Individuals who self-assess as contacts should voluntarily comply with analogues. If acute medical care is needed, hospitalization (hospitalization) will occur. Compliance with the ordered quarantine will be monitored by the authorities, and any violation will be punished. Due to changes in the regulations for travellers, both when entering from risk areas and when leaving countries for which Austria has been classified as a risk area, additional tests have been carried out on symptom-free persons since summer 2020. These are usually subject to a fee, the City of Vienna offers free tests for residents and commuters.

On 16 March, the umbrella organisation of the social insurance institutions released parts of the e-prescription programme, so that patients can have necessary medicines prescribed by their doctor by telephone, apart from corona illnesses, and then collect them directly from the pharmacy using an e-card. The chief physician authorization requirement is also suspended for most medications. At the same time, reports of incapacity for work can now also be made by telephone. These measures are intended to drastically reduce direct contact with patients, also among physicians in private practice.

Hospitals are preparing for the special conditions by creating isolation wards and quarantine areas. Health resorts have been closed, also in order to be able to use them as emergency hospitals at best, as have rehabilitation facilities, which for the time being will only be entered in the case of absolutely necessary medical measures. Visits to relatives undergoing inpatient treatment were to be kept to a minimum.

The Austrian health system has a total of about 2500 intensive care beds in normal operation, the long-term average occupancy rate is about 80 percent, and about 500 beds are normally free for emergencies. This figure is the pivotal point of the measures taken by the responsible health minister Rudolf Anschober: Model calculations are used to estimate how high the occupancy rate of intensive care units would be under various spread scenarios. If all beds were occupied, the treating physicians would have to resort to triage measures, i.e. make a selection on the basis of a certain catalogue of criteria as to which patients would require (further) intensive medical measures and which would not. After this selection, the latter would in some cases only receive palliative care. According to the Minister of Health, these conditions, which prevailed for several weeks in Northern Italy and other European regions, were to be avoided. On 12 March, researchers from the Complexity Science Hub Vienna calculated that, if growth had remained constant, the capacity limit of intensive care units would have been reached by the end of March. As part of the government's countermeasures, additional beds were then created and the usual hospital operations were reduced in parallel. The stock of intensive care beds was then 3000 at the beginning of April, of which around 1300 were available at that time.

The Ministry of Health set up a task force which, in addition to Minister Rudolf Anschober, includes the previous Minister of Health Brigitte Zarfl and Anschober confidante Ruperta Lichtenecker. Members of the advisory board are, among others, the President of the Supreme Sanitary Council Markus Müller, the President of the Medical Association Thomas Szekeres, the virologist Elisabeth Puchhammer-Stöckl and the simulation researcher Niki Popper. Following the departure of public health expert Martin Sprenger, he was succeeded on the advisory board by bioethicist Christiane Druml.

Effects in the health care system

The number of heart attacks registered in Austria decreased by 40 percent during the coronavirus pandemic in March 2020, according to a study. While around 1,000 heart attack patients are normally admitted per month, only around 720 patients were admitted to 17 of Austria's 19 cardiac catheterization centers in March 2020, according to the report by the Austrian Cardiology Society (ÖKG). The observed decline in heart attack numbers could not be explained from a pathophysiological point of view; rather, according to ÖKG Secretary General Bernhard Metzler of the MedicalUniversity of Innsbruck, an increase in the number of cases was even to be expected. It was suspected that a part of the patients who suffered a heart attack did not seek medical help in case of mild symptoms due to fear of an infection with SARS-CoV-2.

There was an equal decline in the number of hospital treatments for cancer, which fell by 20 %. This was attributed to the fact that diagnosis was often postponed, both in early detection and for mild symptoms. As a result, diagnoses may not have become apparent until a later and more dangerous stage of the disease. In pediatrics, there was an 83% decrease in hospital visits from mid-March to mid-April 2020, and in pediatric and adolescent surgery, there was a 59% decrease from previous years. The delayed treatment led to at least very likely health problems in 33 children, and in one case to the child's death, according to a study. About two-thirds of the affected children presented late to the hospital for fear of infection, and 16% because of closed medical facilities. The authors concluded that the consequences of delayed acute treatment of children outweighed the risks of infection with SARS-CoV-2.

Lack of protective equipment

In the first two weeks of March, Austria also came under criticism from the Federal Republic of Germany, which ordered an export ban on protective equipment. After this had already led to diplomatic upheavals with Switzerland, the same discussions ensued with Austria, as the German customs authorities had stopped transports of protective clothing urgently needed and already paid for in Austria's hospitals before the border. In a television report (of 21 March 2020), a family doctor from the particularly hard-hit region of Landeck in Tyrol criticised the lack of supplies of disinfectants, respiratory masks and protective clothing. Only through the support of private individuals and companies was the practice able to continue operating. It was only on 19 March, after interventions with the German Minister Peter Altmaier, that this export ban to Austria was lifted, following negotiations at EU level for joint procurement by the Commission and export restrictions only for EU third countries. At the time, Austria had already resorted to direct procurement with AUA special flights to China, for its own needs and for onward transmission to Italy, which was also severely affected by the German and also French export ban.

On the other hand, several million protective masks that had expired since 2016 were still stored in Austria by the then Health Minister Rauch-Kallat in the course of the bird flu epidemic in 2005. From this total quantity, 1.6 million pieces were released in March 2020, after they had been checked and declared fit in an elaborate procedure by the Austrian Armed Forces since February. However, since they only corresponded to protection class FFP-1, their protective effect against viruses was only limited.

Education

Following the school and university closures the Minister of Education announced on 17th March that the central school-leaving examination would be postponed by at least two weeks, while the date of the summer holidays would still be adhered to.

The public broadcaster ORF set up a school television programme on 18 March. Under the title "Freistunde" (free hour), a three-hour programme for children aged ten and over and young people is broadcast from 9:00 a.m., which largely draws on existing content. Before that time, there is a three-hour program for younger children. Teaching materials will be made available online under the "Eduthek". This will include task sheets, interactive exercises and videos, including tasks for all school levels in the subjects German, mathematics and English, in each case covering all the key competence areas from the curricula. In addition, there will be exercises for other subjects and for preparing for the Matura. Teachers were given recommendations on online platforms and teaching materials. According to this, teachers at a school should pay attention to uniform platforms and also make use of distance learning. Support was offered throughout for pupils of primary and secondary schools and lower secondary schools.

Conducting the maturity examination

The examinations for the Central Matura were held in May and June 2020 under conditions, and the annual progress mark was included in the assessment as an exception.

Events and culture

Due to the imposed restrictions, numerous events were completely cancelled or restricted in March 2020. For example, the matches of the Austrian Bundesliga in the near future, various cultural events and concerts were cancelled.

The Federal Museums were closed, the Diagonale film festival was cancelled, as were the Salzburg Easter Festival and the Vienna City Marathon. The Amadeus Awards 2020 were postponed until September. The events of Messe Wien were postponed.

Following public criticism of her actions, State Secretary for Culture Ulrike Lunacek resigned on 15 May 2020.

In the wake of the pandemic, musician and lyricist Thomas Spitzer of Ersten Allgemeine Verunsicherung adapted the title "Küss die Hand, schöne Frau" and rewrote it as "Kiss the Hand, Pandemic!" in May 2020.

The Province of Styria and the Institute for Art in Public Space Styria at the Universalmuseum Joanneum announced a competition for the design of sculptures in reflection of the coronavirus pandemic and its effects. In September 2020, a jury of seven selected the designs by Wolfgang Becksteiner, Werner Reiterer and Michael Schuster from the approximately 300 submissions by 220 artists. In spring 2021, coronavirus memorials are to be unveiled in Graz and two other locations in Styria.

In September 2020, a number of balls were cancelled for the 2020/21 Viennese ball season, including the Vienna Opera Ball, the Doctors' Ball, the Lawyers' Ball, the Pharmacists' Ball, the Officers' Ball and the Hunters' Ball.

In the renewed lockdown starting November 3, all events except professional sporting events (without spectators), funerals, and demonstrations were canceled. Recreational and cultural establishments, with the exception of libraries, were also closed.

The Vienna Philharmonic New Year's Concert 2021 took place without a hall audience.

Public transport

Cross-border rail traffic with foreign countries was largely discontinued in mid-March:

• on 11 March 2020 with Italy,
• on 13 March 2020 with Slovakia,
• on 14 March with the Czech Republic and Switzerland,
• on 15 March 2020 on the Mittenwald and Außerfernbahn,
• on 16 March 2020 with Slovenia and between Salzburg and Freilassing. This traffic was resumed with tighter controls on 25 March 2020.
• As of 26 March, long-distance traffic to Hungary was restricted, but regional trains continued to run.

The timetable was thinned out overall. On the other hand, Verbund tickets were recognised on Westbahn trains from 23 March 2020.

As of 11 March, central opening was introduced in all modern underground trains in Vienna, so that the push buttons no longer have to be pressed.

From 16 March onwards, the front door of all bus lines of the Eastern Region Transport Association was closed to passengers, and in addition the area closer to the driver was separated from the rest of the passenger compartment by means of a barrier. The situation was similar with the old tram sets. This was not necessary for the new trams and underground trains, as the driver's cabin is separated from the passenger compartment anyway. From 18 March, due to the school closures, all timetables throughout Vienna were changed to holiday operation.

As of 21 March, the timetables in Vienna's public transport system have been adjusted once again: On all days, the weekday timetable will be used at night (i.e. with a lower network coverage than on weekends and also without a night subway). During the day on Saturdays and Sundays the Sunday timetable will be followed, while on Mondays to Fridays the Saturday timetable will be used. This was the Wiener Linien's reaction to the enormous drop in passenger numbers of up to 95 percent. ÖBB also adjusted its timetables throughout Austria and switched to a weekend timetable for the entire week (with the exception of a few booster trains during the weekday rush hours).

From 11 May 2020, ÖBB gradually began to operate again according to the regular schedule; in June, international connections were also offered again, as well as night trains at the end of June.

After the infections increased again in autumn 2020, and e.g. the Vorarlberg catering trade had a curfew brought forward to 22:00 h, ÖBB and Vorarlberger Verkehrsverbund (VVV) reduced or cancelled services running late in the evening or after midnight from 2 October 2020. In order to reduce the risk of contagion in crowded means of transport, ÖBB increased seating capacity in Vorarlberg by 1200 seats; VVV also rented additional buses with a total of another 1200 seats.

On 3 December, the government announced that for the duration of the Christmas holidays, entry to Austria from risk areas would only be possible with a quarantine of 10 days, which could be terminated after five days by a negative test.

Certain areas comprehensive quarantine measures

Tyrol

On 13 March 2020, the federal government announced that several municipalities in Tyrol had been placed under quarantine with effect from 13 March. Specifically, this affected the municipalities of Ischgl, Kappl, See, Galtür and St. Anton am Arlberg.

Minister Anschober announced on 17 March that the entire province of Tyrol would be classified as a risk area, so that not only people entering from the risk area but also those travelling from Tyrol to other areas of the Republic had to go into house quarantine. This also included travellers who had come from Tyrol in the last 14 days.

Late in the evening of 18 March it was announced that as of 19 March all 279 Tyrolean municipalities were placed under quarantine. These were only allowed to be left for work and for important errands, which were only possible outside the municipal area. This quarantine, which applied to the whole of Tyrol, was lifted on 7 April. St. Anton, the Paznaun valley and Sölden were not affected by the lifting. These areas were also accessible again from 23 April.

Due to an accumulation of infections with the South African Coronavirus variant, especially in the district of Schwaz, but also in other Tyrolean districts, the Austrian Federal Government announced on 9 February 2021 that from Friday, 12 February an exit from North Tyrol was only possible with a negative CoV test, which could be a maximum of 48 hours old. This was initially valid for 10 days but was extended on 19 February until 3 March and on 3 March until 10 March. The exit test requirement ended on March 10.

On 24 February 2021, a testing obligation, provisionally valid from 27 February until 3 March, was decided for the municipality of Mayrhofen in the Zillertal (district of Schwaz), which was particularly affected by clusters with the South African coronavirus variant. From then on, an exit was only possible with a negative PCR test, which could not be older than 72 hours. In addition, the testing possibilities on site were extended. The aim was to test all inhabitants 2 times. Retail and schools had to close again. The exit testing requirement expired on March 3 as scheduled.

At the same time, Germany tightened the rules for entering Germany from Tyrol (except East Tyrol, the municipality of Jungholz and the Rißtal) as of 14 February 2021. From then on, only German citizens, resident EU citizens, employees in goods transport, health personnel, diplomats as well as persons for humanitarian reasons were allowed to enter Germany from Tyrol. After lengthy discussions, an exception was made for so-called system-relevant commuters. On 16 February the regulation was extended until 6 March and on 3 March until 17 March. On 17 March border controls were extended by a further two weeks. On 28 March Tyrol was removed from the list of "virus variant areas" and the strict German restrictions on entry ended. From then on, Tyrol, like the other Austrian provinces, was considered a risk area.

From 11 March, an exit test obligation was in force in the district of Schwaz for 14 days, parallel to the vaccination campaign. Due to the appearance of a further development of the British mutant, the compulsory exit test was extended until 1 April on 23 March, despite a decrease in the number of infections with the South African mutant.

On 9 March it was decided to impose an exit test obligation valid from 12 March until provisionally 16 March for the four Tyrolean municipalities of Haiming, Roppen (both district of Imst), Virgen and Matrei in Osttirol (both district of Lienz). On 15 March, it was decided to extend the exit test obligation to the municipality of Arzl im Pitztal (Imst district) as of 17 March and to extend the test obligation until 25 March.

On 21 March, an exit test came into force for the municipality of Elbigenalp in the district of Reutte.

The exit test obligation for the municipalities of Matrei in Osttirol, Roppen and Haiming expired on 25 March, in the municipalities of Arzl im Pitztal, Virgen in Osttirol and Elbigenalp it was extended by one week.

The exit test obligation for the municipality of Virgen expired on 01 April. The exit test obligation for Elbigenalp expired on 4 April. The exit test obligation for the municipality of Arzl im Pitztal and the district of Schwaz expired on 8 April.

On 28 March, due to the occurrence of the British virus mutation "with further mutation characteristics", an exit test obligation for the district of Kufstein and North Tyrol, i.e. Tyrol without East Tyrol, valid from 31 March for 2 weeks, was decided.

On April 6, an exit test obligation valid as of April 8 was decided for the municipality of Fulpmes in the district of Innsbruck-Land.

On 09 April, a decision was taken to impose an exit test obligation for the municipality of Weißenbach am Lech in the district of Reutte (excluding the district of Gaicht), which will come into effect on 10 April...:

On 09 April, an exit test obligation for 3 regions in East Tyrol (district of Lienz), which will be valid from 11 April, was decided:

• Area of the municipalities of Prägraten am Großvenediger and Virgen
• Area of the municipalities of Sillian, Heinfels, Außervillgraten and Innervillgraten
• Area of the municipalities of Anras, Abfaltersbach, Assling and Leisach

On 13 April, it was decided to extend the exit test obligation for North Tyrol and to extend it to East Tyrol.

The exit test obligation for the district of Kufstein expired on 14 April. The exit test obligation for two regions, the municipalities of Prägraten am Großvenediger and Virgen and for the municipalities of Sillian, Heinfels, Außervillgraten and Innervillgraten ended on 13 April.

On 18 April the exit test obligation expired for the municipality of Weißenbach am Lech and on 19 April for the municipality of Fulpmes.

On 21 April it was decided to impose an exit test obligation for the municipality of Längenfeld (district of Imst), which will come into effect on 23 April.

The exit test obligation for the area of the municipalities of Anras, Abfaltersbach, Assling and Leisach ended on 24 April.

On 28 April, it was decided to impose an exit test obligation for the municipality of Abfaltersbach (district of Lienz) as of 29 April and an exit test obligation for the market town of Telfs (district of Innsbruck-Land) as of 30 April.

The exit test obligation for Tyrol ended on 05 May.

On 07 May the exit test obligation for the municipalities of Telfs and Abfaltersbach ended.

On 12 May, a decision was taken to impose an exit test for the municipality of Umhausen in the district of Imst, which will come into effect on 14 May.

On 13 May the exit test for the municipality of Längenfeld came to an end.

On 29 May, a compulsory exit test for the Pitztal valley (the municipalities of Sankt Leonhard, Wenns, Jerzens and Arzl) in the district of Imst, effective from 20 May, was passed.

On 9 June, the exit test obligation for the municipality of Umhausen and the Pitztal ended.

Vorarlberg

Also on 17 March, the Vorarlberg provincial government quarantined the Vorarlberg municipalities of Lech, Warth and Schröcken, which are linked to the Tyrolean Arlberg municipalities by the Ski Arlberg ski area, as well as the Stuben district of the Klösterle municipality. From 22 March, two districts of the Vorarlberg market town of Nenzing - Nenzing-Dorf and Beschling - were placed under quarantine by the Vorarlberg regional government. As a result, passenger trains passed through the railway stations Nenzing and Schlins-Beschling without stopping. These measures were lifted again on 4 April.

On 23 March 2021, due to a sharp increase in infections with the British variant of the virus, a compulsory exit test was decided for the Leiblachtal (municipalities of Eichenberg (Vorarlberg), Hohenweiler, Hörbranz, Lochau and Möggers in the district of Bregenz), effective from 25 March. The exit test obligation ended on 31 March.

On 19 April, a decision was taken to impose an exit test for the Bregenzerwald region, which will come into effect on 21 April.

On 03 May, an exit test obligation for the Rheindelta region (municipalities of Höchst, Fußach and Gaißau (district of Bregenz)), valid as of 05 May, was decided.

On 11 May, the exit test obligation for the regions of Bregenzerwald and Rheindelta ended.

Salzburg

In Salzburg on 15 March 2020, a doctor infected in Ischgl and more than 100 of his contacts were quarantined, including 33 doctors, 53 nurses, 18 patients, three flight paramedics and a pilot. The infections came about through uncontrolled departures from Ischgl.

On 18 March, the municipality of Flachau, the entire Gastein Valley and the Grossarl Valley in the province of Salzburg were also placed under quarantine.

On 31 March, the municipalities of Altenmarkt im Pongau, Zell am See and Saalbach-Hinterglemm were also placed under quarantine.

Except for Altenmarkt im Pongau, this was lifted as of 14 April. The quarantine for the municipality of Altenmarkt im Pongau was finally lifted on 16 April.

As of 17 October, an ordinance with additional measures to combat the spread of COVID-19 came into force for the province of Salzburg. This extended the advance of the curfew to 10 p.m. for the province of Salzburg and tightened restrictions at events. For the district of Hallein (Tennengau), additional measures were imposed due to the sharp increase in infections and the resulting red switching of the Corona traffic lights.

With the ordinance, the municipality of Kuchl (Tennengau) was quarantined from 17 October 2020. In Kuchl, the curfew was already brought forward to 5 pm from 12 October.

As of 23 October, a further ordinance came into force imposing the additional measures not only for the Hallein district but also for the districts of Salzburg-Umgebung (Flachgau), Sankt Johann im Pongau (Pongau) and Zell am See (Pinzgau), for which the Corona traffic light was switched to red due to the sharp increase in infections. The ordinance also amended, extended or specified measures for the entire province.

The quarantine in Kuchl ended as planned on 2 November.

On 2 March 2021, due to very high infection rates, an exit test obligation was decided for 14 days for the two municipalities of Radstadt and Bad Hofgastein in the district of Sankt Johann im Pongau (Pongau), which applied from 5 March. The tests were not allowed to be older than 48 hours at the time of departure. This was to avoid a compulsory exit test for the whole district of Sankt Johann im Pongau, which had a 7-day incidence of 454 on 2 March. As of 11 March, the maximum validity for PCR tests was increased to 72 hours.

On 11 March it was decided to extend the exit test obligation to the entire Gastein Valley, i.e. also to the municipalities of Dorfgastein and Bad Gastein, from 15 March until probably 28 March.

In Radstadt, the restrictions were lifted on 14 March due to a strong improvement in the situation.

On 9 March, an exit test obligation was decided for the municipality of Muhr in the district of Tamsweg (Lungau) as of 11 March. The exit test obligation was valid until 24 March.

Due to the still very high infection figures, the exit test obligation in the Gastein Valley was extended on 24 March by 10 days until Easter Monday (5 April) and an entry test obligation was also introduced. The exit and entry tests expired on 5 April.

In addition, it was decided to carry out increased quarantine controls in municipalities with above-average infection rates; this applied to the following municipalities: Abtenau (Tennengau), Faistenau and Straßwalchen (Flachgau), Altenmarkt, Großarl and Schwarzach (Pongau), Rauris and Fusch (Pinzgau) and Muhr (Lungau).

On 19 April, the municipalities of Großarl and Hüttschlag in the Grossarl Valley in the district of Sankt Johann im Pongau (Pongau) were subject to a mandatory exit test as of 21 April, and the municipality of Straßwalchen in the district of Salzburg Umgebung (Flachgau) was subject to a mandatory exit test as of 22 April.

On 27 April, a compulsory exit test for the town of Hallein in the district of Hallein (Tennengau) was decided, effective from 30 April. In the neighbouring municipalities of Kuchl, Puch and Oberalm there were intensified controls due to equally high infection figures.

In the municipalities of Großarl and Hüttschlag (Großarltal) and Straßwalchen the exit test ended on 2 May.

On 6 May, an exit-test obligation valid as of 8 May was imposed on the municipality of Oberalm in the district of Hallein (Tennengau), which borders on the city of Hallein, and the exit-test obligation for the city of Hallein was extended.

On 16 May, the exit test obligation for the city of Hallein and the municipality of Oberalm ended.

Carinthia

From 14 March 2020, a quarantine also came into force for the Carinthian municipality of Heiligenblut. This was terminated again on 29 March.

On 4 March 2021, due to the high incidence of infection in the district of Hermagor, a compulsory exit test was decided as of 9 March. The prerequisite for leaving the country was a negative COVID-19 test, which could not be more than 48 hours old. The compulsory exit test ended on 21 March.

On 19 March, it was decided to impose an exit test obligation from 21 March until 26 March for the village of Zlan in the municipality of Stockenboi in the district of Villach-Land. On 22 March, an additional exit test obligation was decided from 24 March at 12 noon for the village of Hochegg, the neighbouring village of Zlan, also in the municipality of Stockenboi. The exit test obligation for both villages ended on 26 March.

Lower Austria

On 8 March 2021, due to the high incidence of infection in the district of Wiener Neustadt (city), an exit test obligation was decided as of 10 March. The prerequisite for leaving the country was a negative COVID-19 antigen test no more than 48 hours old or a negative COVID-19 PCR test no more than 72 hours old.

On 23 March, a decision was taken to impose an exit test obligation for the districts of Wiener Neustadt-Land and Neunkirchen, effective as of 25 March.

On 8 April, due to an incidence of more than 400 over 7 days, an exit test obligation was decided for the district of Scheibbs as of 9 April.

The exit testing requirement for Neunkirchen County ended on April 21 after the seven-day incidence was 10 days below 200.

On 24 April, a new decree was issued by the Ministry of Health, according to which a seven-day incidence per 100,000 inhabitants of less than 200 was sufficient instead of a value of less than 200 over a period of ten days, or, under certain circumstances, a value of less than 300 was sufficient to lift the obligation to carry out exit tests. As a result, the exit test obligation for the districts of Wiener Neustadt, Scheibbs and the city of Wiener Neustadt was lifted as of midnight on 24 April.

Upper Austria

On 2 April 2021, due to a seven-day incidence above 400 in the district of Braunau, an exit test obligation was decided from 05 April (Easter Monday). The exit test obligation was valid until 11 April.

Research

On 31 March, a first prevalence study was started by the private social research institute SORA in cooperation with the Austrian Red Cross and the Medical University of Vienna. The aim was to test 2000 randomly selected Austrian residents for the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus. Until then, only the number of newly infected persons was known, but nothing was known about the exact distribution of the novel coronavirus. The PCR tests carried out should make it possible to draw conclusions about the number of unreported infections with the coronavirus. According to Science Minister Heinz Faßmann, antibody tests that had also been considered were not yet ready for use.

On April 10, the results of the first prevalence study were announced. In fact, only 1544 people were tested in the study. In the weighted sample, the proportion of those tested positive is 0.33 %. Extrapolation showed that it can be assumed that about 28,500 people were infected at the time of the survey. The 95% confidence interval ranges from 10,200 to 67,400 infected persons. As no antibody tests were carried out, it was not possible to assess how many people had already been infected previously.

On April 2, it was announced that in a series of tests independent of this first prevalence study, in which people in key occupations were tested, six out of 1,161 samples (0.52%) were positive.

The results of a second prevalence study were announced on 4 May. According to this study, a maximum of 10,823 people aged 16 and over living in a private household in Austria were infected in the period from 21 to 24 April 2020. One in 1,432 subjects tested positive. In addition, an experimental study was conducted to determine the prevalence of antibodies that indicate a previous infection with the virus. For this purpose, a representative sample of 269 people was tested in 27 selected at-risk communities, i.e. communities with an increased incidence of coronavirus infection. Antibodies were detected in about 4.71 percent of people aged 16 and older living in these communities.

There were only a few publications from Austria on the disease and related topics. The main reason cited by various scientists was the lack of access to data, which was available but not made available even to Austria's most renowned research institutions.

The first publication on COVID-19 by an Austrian team of authors took place on 8 April 2020, summarising the evidence on the effectiveness of quarantine measures in the form of a Rapid Cochrane Review. The work was commissioned by WHO and implemented by a team at Danube University Krems with support from the Tyrolean private university UMIT. It showed that quarantine of people who have had contact with infected cases is important to reduce the number of new cases and deaths during coronavirus outbreaks. When combined with other measures such as physical distancing, greater effects were shown. However, the validity of previous studies is limited because only mathematical modelling studies were available at the time on the effectiveness of quarantine for COVID-19.

For a study published in May 2020, a team led by pathology professor Sigurd Lax performed autopsies on eleven patients who had died of COVID-19. Despite preventive anticoagulation, all patients showed thromboses in the arteries of the lungs, which could be the direct cause of death. In addition, various other organ damage was found, for example in the liver and kidneys. However, the significance of the study is reduced by the small number of cases.

In November 2020, the results of a new antibody study were published showing that a projected 349,000 people (4.7% of the population) had been infected with COVID-19 by mid/late October 2020. The antibody study showed that around 60 % of the infections remained undetected.

Decisions of the Constitutional Court

In July 2020, the Constitutional Court had to examine the constitutionality of the legal basis of several ordinances adopted by the Minister of Health in response to various complaints submitted to it. In doing so, it ruled that the legal bases examined had been in conformity with the Constitution, but that individual provisions in the ordinances had been unlawful. This concerned, on the one hand, the provision which, in the context of the reopening in mid-April, allowed DIY stores and garden centres to operate again irrespective of their size, but not other larger commercial enterprises over 400 m². The Constitutional Court found this distinction to be unobjective, because the Minister of Health could not explain on what factual grounds it was based. For this reason, it found that these provisions, which had in the meantime expired, were unlawful. Equally unlawful was the provision which standardised a ban on entering all public places. He justified this, inter alia, by the fact that the statutory authorisation of the Ordinance only permitted the prohibition of entering certain places. This only included a limited number of places, which was why the provision prohibiting entry to all public places was not covered by the law. The relevant provisions of the ordinance were therefore unlawful and no longer applicable.

As a further reaction to the findings of the Constitutional Court, the obligation to keep a distance of one metre from persons not living in the same household in the entire public space was repealed by the Minister of Health. Numerous jurists had previously considered this provision to be equally unlawful, as it had not been limited to certain places either. At the same time, the Minister of Health appealed to the population to nevertheless continue to keep the minimum distance in public spaces.

In November, the ban on entering car washes and restaurants, the ban on events with more than 10 people, the obligation to wear masks in public places in enclosed spaces, and in December the obligation to wear masks and class divisions in schools were declared unlawful and no longer applicable.

From left to right: makeshift partition between driver and passenger compartment in the Vienna bus line 99A; professional partition with information sign in the line 89A; closed playground with information sign in the Vienna district Essling (pictures from March 2020)


Kultursommer Wien in July 2020, ­outdoor events with ­predefined ­areas for a maximum of two ­visitors­ each.


Red Foyer with Pamela Rendi-Wagner and artists at the SPÖ Parliamentary Club on May 14, 2020.


The adapted entrance to the emergency outpatient department of St. Pölten University Hospital with a COVID-19 pre-triage of patients (December 2020).


3rd major demonstration on 6 March 2021 in Vienna


Police presence at a banned "anti-Corona" demonstration in Innsbruck (February 2021)


Three decommissioned river cruise ships parked in Danube near Pyrawang until further notice (19 July 2020)


Note on 1-meter spacing (July 2020)


Deserted entrance of Schönbrunn Palace in Vienna due to protective measures, April 2020