The new Austrian rules

Sahar a Hassan

With the new regulation to contain the CoV pandemic, there are numerous intensifications that affect the everyday life of all Austrians. Among other things, the duty to wear mouth-nose protection (MNS) is greatly expanded, the maximum number of people at events is greatly reduced, and the distance rule is again mandatory. The new measures have been in force since 25. October.
Allowed number of people at events and celebrations
Six adults (instead of ten) are allowed for indoor events and without assigned seats. For open-air events without a seat, the border is 100 adults (so far 100). In addition, six minor children are allowed.
This rule applies to all gatherings – including private parties – outside your own living space, for example Christmas parties, wedding and birthday parties. These limits include planned gatherings in the park and recreational sports.
There is an exception for funerals, here a maximum of 100 participants are allowed (so far 500).
What’s new is that for every event with more than six or more. Twelve people must report to the health department, the obligation to authorize remains with 250 participants.
De facto excluded from the restrictions – i.e. it is not controlled by police – are meetings in the private housing area. The appeal here is, of course, to reduce social contacts as much as possible.
New rules at major events
At large organized events, a maximum of 1.000 people (so far 1.500) are allowed inside and a maximum of 1.500 people (so far 3.000) are allowed outside.
Opera houses, theaters and football fields are also affected, for example the football league is affected.
There is also a ban on food and drinks. Exceptions are only available here for events lasting more than three hours.
Distance again mandatory
It is again mandatory that you have to keep a meter distance in public spaces. Since the end of July, the one-meter rule (′′ baby elephant ′′) has only existed as a recommendation.
What’s new is that when entering all publicly accessible closed spaces you also have to wear mouth-nose protection – this is true when entering an underground passage.
In sports, the distance has to be maintained again – apart from contact sports and, for example, overtaking runners.
Excluding persons living together in the household as well as persons living in the same household temporarily (e.g. couples or parents with shared parenting). Nor does the rule apply within groups of up to six people (plus a maximum of six minor children).
Carers for people with disabilities are also excluded.
In many other areas, the one-meter rule applies as usual. This is prescribed in public transport (′′ if possible ′′), in all customer areas, in all professional activities, in the gastronomy (opposite those not part of their own group of visitors) and in accommodation establishments in general accessible areas.
You also have to keep a meter distance from other people at all events, during religious practice and at extracurricular events (such as holiday camps).
Mask duty expanded, visors before off
Wearing a mouth-nose mask (MNS mask) is mandatory in almost all publicly accessible indoor areas and also at numerous outdoor events.
What’s new is that the MNS mandatory is now explicitly applied in metro stations, on platforms, at stops, in stations and airports.
Face visors and chin visors are banned. A short transitional period applies here until November 7. th – from then on only a tight mouth-nose protection is allowed.
The mask must now be worn throughout all events with an assigned seat (with more than six people inside and more than twelve people outside). This also applies to visits to opera and theatre, where the mask has so far been placed in place.
New is also the continuous MNS duty at indoor events. In the gastronomy (apart from the seat), in schools outside their own class, in accommodation companies (in general accessible interiors), when visiting administrative authorities and administrative courts, mask duty continues to apply.
As before, such a protective mask has to be worn in public transport (including cable cars, planes, coaches, excursion ships).
The mask duty is also valid when shopping and any service with customer contact.
MNS protection must also be worn when visiting nursing homes, bathrooms (except for wet rooms like showers and swimming pools), sports facilities (excluding exercise), museums, exhibitions, libraries, archives and other leisure facilities in enclosed spaces.
Mask duty continues to apply in markets – indoors and outdoors.
If you can’t wear a mask for health reasons, you have to carry a medical certificate with you.
Consequences for gastronomy
In the gastronomy, the general mask duty remains maintained – as usual apart from the seat. Consumption is still only allowed while sitting.
What’s new is that instead of the maximum limit of ten people per visit group, only six adults plus a maximum of six minor children are allowed to visit the restaurant together. The guest garden has a ceiling of twelve people (plus six children).
New is a restriction in the consumption of alcoholic beverages: After the curfew within a radius of 50 meters, they can no longer be consumed around a catering business – this also applies to gas station shops and snack stands.
Curfew stays at midnight in general. However, individual states have moved these forward. For the time being, the obligation to register remains a country thing.
Choirs and music chapels
The new rules also mean a wide restriction for amateurs and music chapels. The maximum number of persons in six (inside) and twelve (outside) applies to them. This can’t be practiced at all or only in small groups.
Professional music groups must present a prevention concept. For more than 50 people or more than 100 (outside) is also a covid-19 agent to order.