Measures in public

Measures to ease restrictions in Austria started on 1 May when the Covid-19 Lockerungsverordnung ordinance entered into force. Lockdown has now been lifted. However, the following restrictions are still in place:

• A distance of one meter must be maintained between people in public places. This does not apply to people who live in the same household.
• Masks must be worn in all indoor spaces in public areas.
• Masks must also be worn and a distance of one meter maintained in shops.
• In public/mass transport, a minimum distance of one meter is to be observed unless it is not possible to do so.

Opening of accommodations for tourists from May 29, 2020

From May 29, 2020 the city’s accommodations are open for tourism once again. The following rules for accommodations were published in the Ordinance of the Federal Ministry for Social Affairs, Health, Care and Consumer protection in which the Covid-19 Lockerungsverordnung is amended (second amendment regarding easing of Covid-19 restrictions):

• In principle, guests must maintain a minimum distance of one meter from other people at all times unless they are part of a group of guests, live in the same household or the space is arranged in such a way that the risk of infection is minimized through protective measures such as physical space separators.
• A group of guests refers to visitors who are staying in a shared unit of accommodation.
• Masks must be worn upon entering the building and at reception.
• Staff in contact with guests must wear some form of shield or mask that covers their mouth and nose at all times unless there is some other form of barrier that divides the space and provides the same level of protection.
• The rules which apply to hotel bars and restaurants are the same as for the rest of the F&B sector, with one exception: self service can be offered for overnight guests, provided that special hygiene measures are in place to minimize the risk of infection. This means that breakfast buffets are possible, in principle.
• Wellness and spa facilities can be used, provided that operators have aligned bathing regulations and hygiene measures to the recommendations issued by the Ministry for Social Affairs, Health, Care and Consumer Protection. Further information on guidelines and recommendations for accommodation providers can be found online at: sichere-gastfreundschaft.at/beherbergung/(German only)

Phased reopening of leisure sector and sights

The measures introduced by the federal government to halt the spread of Covid-19 are gradually being relaxed. An increasing number of leisure activities are now possible.

• A number of outdoor sports facilities were permitted to reopen on May 1.
• Museums, libraries, book stores, archives, animal parks, zoos, and other types of sports facilities reopened on May 15.
• Swimming pools and sights reopened on May 29.

The following general rules are in place for leisure facilities:

• Indoor visitor areas: visitors must wear masks and maintain a distance of one meter from people who do not live in the same household as them. An effective minimum of 10 square meters of space per guest is in place.
• Outdoor visitor areas: A distance of at least one meter must be kept between people who do not live in the same household.

Further details on opening times and rules for guests using leisure facilities as well as guidelines for sporting venues are published online at sichere-gastfreundschaft.at (German only).

• The Vienna Tourist Board’s tourist information office on Albertinaplatz in the first district has been open daily from 10am-6pm since May 18. The offices at Vienna International Airport and Hauptbahnhof will remain closed for the time being.
• You can find an overview of which museums and sights have reopened here.

Events with up to 100 participants are permitted from May 29, 2020

On May 27 the Minister of Social Affairs, Health, Care and Consumer Protection announced an amendment to the ordinance on easing Covid-19 restrictions which affects the meetings and events sector:

• Events with up to 100 participants are permitted from May 29, 2020
• From July 1, 2020 events with assigned and labeled seating are permitted for up to 250 participants in enclosed spaces and up to 500 participants in outdoor spaces.
• From August 1, 2020 seated events are permitted for up to 500 participants in enclosed spaces and up to 750 participants in outdoor spaces. Staff required to host the event are not included in these totals.
• In addition: from August 1, 2020 events with assigned and labeled seating are permitted for up to 1,000 participants in enclosed spaces and up to 1,250 participants in outdoor spaces, subject to approval by the district authority responsible for the location of the venue.
• All organizers of events with more than 100 participants must appoint a dedicated Covid-19 officer, and draw up and implement a Covid-19 prevention plan.

Additional information regarding guidelines for events are covered by the Ordinance of the Federal Ministry for Social Affairs, Health, Care and Consumer Protection in which the Covid-19 Lockerungsverordnung is amended (second amendment regarding easing of Covid-19 restrictions) (in effect until August 31, 2020)

• As a result of the measures introduced to stop the spread of Coronavirus, numerous events have been canceled or postponed. You can download the following file for details of canceled and postponed meetings sector events (last updated June 5, 2020):

Reopening of bars and restaurants on May 15, 2020

Bars and restaurants have been permitted to open between 6am and 11pm since May 15, provided they comply with the following rules (Ordinance by the Federal Ministry of Social Affairs, Health, Care and Consumer Protection as amended by the Covid-19 Lockerungsverordnung ordnance regarding the hospitality industry, status May 13, 2020):

• Guests must wear a mask in enclosed spaces upon entering an establishment until they reach their table. Masks do not have to be worn at the table.
• A group of visitors constitutes a maximum of four adults and their children (below the age of majority), or individuals who live together in a single household. A distance of at least one meter must be kept from people who are not part of the group of visitors at all times.
• Places where food and drinks are served (i.e. bistro tables or dining tables) must be arranged in such a way that a distance of one meter can be maintained between different visitor groups.
• Waiting staff must wear masks.
• Buffets are permitted, to the extent that the food is served by staff or that dishes are pre-portioned and that any food and drink on offer is covered.
• Other safety measures such as plexiglass screens or other space dividers are also possible.
• No items for communal use by guests can be provided on the tables.
• As a rule, tables should be reserved in advance, although there is no obligation for guests to do so. Group reservations of multiple tables are not permitted.

Visit sichere-gastfreundschaft.at for further information (German only).

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From the FAQs published by the Ministry of Health

If a visitor, meeting participant, employee or other individual displays symptoms or has any concerns that they might be infected with Covid-19 they should:

• stay at home or in their hotel room
• avoid contact with others
• call the Health Hotline on 1450 (no area code required when calling from land lines and cell phones within Austria) and precisely follow the advice given.

Recommended preventive measures

• Wash your hands several times a day with soap or an alcohol-based disinfectant. Watch the World Health Organization (WHO) video for tips on how to protect yourself against COVID-19: https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=89&v=1APwq1df6Mw
• Cover your mouth and nose with a paper tissue (not your hands) whenever you cough or sneeze.
• Dispose of used paper tissues immediately and wash your hands afterwards.
• Maintain a minimum distance of 1-2 meters from anyone suspected of having the virus
• At present, neither the WHO nor the European Center for Disease Prevention and Control are recommending face masks for the healthy general population.

World Health Organization (WHO) recommendations: https://www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019/advice-for-public