Corona in Austria: From now on, FFP2 masks are mandatory almost everywhere

Created: 03/25/2022, 05:25

By: Martina Lippl

What a mask mess in Austria!

Since this Thursday, the FFP2 mask requirement has been in force again almost everywhere.

At the beginning of March everything was different.

Vienna – The zigzag course in Austria has actually been apparent for a long time.

Experts warned of this corona development.

Austria celebrated its “Freedom Day” too early.

Loosened in the middle of a high level of infection.

Vaccinated, recovered or without vaccination protection - the status suddenly played little role.

After a two-year forced break, clubs and discos were allowed to open again from March 5th.

Without a mask, the party people stormed the dance floor.

Only Vienna remained tough from the start.

Stricter corona rules applied and continue to apply in the capital - now also called the "Vienna model" in Austria.

FFP2 mask requirement in Austria is back - the new Corona regulation applies from today

It's fixed: FFP2 masks are again compulsory in closed rooms in Austria.

The mask must be worn in public places (indoors), in public transport, in retail, in physical services, in hotels, in sports facilities (except when exercising), at work, in cultural and leisure facilities as well as in hospitals, retirement and nursing homes will.

Masks are not compulsory in private living areas.

There are exceptions in bars and night restaurants.

Also for artistic performances or rehearsals with a permanent cast, such as theater groups, choirs and brass bands.

In the opera, theater and cinema, there is an FFP2 mask requirement for 100 or more people, despite assigned seats.

However, for indoor events with more than 100 people without a fixed seat, organizers can choose between a mask requirement and the 3G rule.

The new regulation will initially apply until April 16, 2022 (Easter Saturday).

Actually, the new Corona regulation should come into force on Wednesday.

But there was a lot of trouble in advance about the FFP2 mask requirement and the planned 3G rule.

Corona: FFP2 mask requirement in Austria - These are the new rules from March 24, 2022

• FFP2 mask requirement in Austria from March 24, 2022

• FFP2 mask requirement in closed rooms (indoors), in public transport and at work.

• FFP2 mask requirement in retail.

• FFP2 mask requirement for services close to the body.

• For events of 100 or more people with assigned seats - theatre, opera, cinema - an FFP2 mask is mandatory.

• In gastronomy, the FFP2 mask can be removed at the seat.

Corona: Austria is reintroducing 3G

3G should be possible again in bars, clubs and at larger events.

An FFP2 mask should then not be a must.

In Vienna, however, the 2G rule will continue to apply in night gastronomy.

New quarantine rules in Austria - no more free testing

Austria is relaxing the corona quarantine: After five days, a quarantine should automatically end if the infected person has not had any symptoms for two days.

According to Health Minister Johannes Rauch (Greens), there is no free testing.

There should be so-called “traffic restrictions” for this.

Corona infected people should continue to wear an FFP2 mask for five days.

Health facilities, restaurants, fitness studios or events are taboo for them.

Anyone can free themselves from these "traffic restrictions" with a PCR test.

A Ct value greater than or equal to 30 is required.

The shortened quarantine rules should also apply to health workers in the event of an “acute shortage of staff”.

They can return to work after five days if they have been symptom-free for 48 hours.

Protective clothing should be worn when in contact with patients.

However, Vienna remains skeptical on this issue.

Vienna's City Councilor for Health Peter Hacker (SPÖ) said at the weekend that it was "definitely out of the question" to let infected employees work again, reports the

.

Hacker referred to the question of liability for hospital employees if they infect patients with corona.

Corona situation in Austria - 41,607 new infections on March 24, 2022

In Austria*, 41,607 new infections with the corona virus were recently recorded within one day.

In addition, 49 corona deaths were reported.

The nationwide seven-day incidence is 3,424.3 (as of Wednesday, 2 p.m.).

• The incidences by federal state:

• Vienna: 8,593

• Vorarlberg: 2,386

• Tyrol: 1,896

• Styria: 7,135

• Salzburg: 2,471

• Upper Austria: 7,057

• Lower Austria: 8,091

• Carinthia: 2,542

• Burgenland: 1,436

Austria: "The peak of the wave passed"

The corona numbers in Austria have been extremely high for weeks.

However, a trend reversal is emerging.

The values ​​are down compared to the previous week.

The peak of the current Omikron BA.2 wave in Austria seems to have passed, said the forecast calculator Niki Popper on ORF.

But how quickly the number of infections is going down now depends “a bit on what measures are taken now,” says Popper.

The scientist appealed to urgently develop a plan for the fall.

This is the only way that strategies can be understood by the population.

Last-minute decisions annoyed people tremendously.

In Germany, the corona measures are only now being relaxed.