Austria: Authorities to tighten COVID-19 restrictions nationwide from September 21 /update 21

Event

Austrian authorities will tighten coronavirus disease (COVID-19) restrictions nationwide from Monday, September 21, due to an increase in cases across the country. From Monday, the limit to indoor gatherings will be of ten people, except for those in private residences. Outdoor events must be limited to 100 people, while events with seating available will be permitted to hold up to 3000 people outdoors and 1500 indoors. Restaurants and bars must seat a maximum of ten people per table, only serve seated customers, and close by 01:00 (local time). Wearing face coverings is also mandatory in restaurants, bars, and open markets, unless seated. The face-covering requirement was already in place for all public spaces including retail shops, schools, government buildings, and supermarkets, as well as on public transportation.

The decision to tighten restrictions comes following an increase in confirmed cases of COVID-19 nationwide, specifically in Vienna.

As of Thursday, September 17, there have been 35,853 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Austria with 758 associated fatalities. Further international spread of the virus is to be expected in the near term.

Context

The first case of COVID-19 was reported on December 31 and the source of the outbreak has been linked to a wet market in Wuhan (Hubei province, China). Since then, human-to-human transmission of the virus has been confirmed.

Cases of the virus have been confirmed in numerous countries and territories worldwide. On March 11, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared the global outbreak a pandemic. Virus-screening and quarantining measures are being implemented at airports worldwide, as well as extensive travel restrictions.

The most common symptoms of COVID-19 are fever, dry cough, and tiredness. Some patients may experience other symptoms such as body pains, nasal congestion, headache, conjunctivitis, sore throat, diarrhea, loss of taste or smell or a rash on skin or discoloration of fingers or toes. These symptoms (in most cases mild) appear gradually. Generally, most patients (around 80 percent) recover from the disease without being hospitalized.

Advice

Measures adopted by local authorities evolve quickly and are usually effective immediately. Depending on the evolution of the outbreak in other countries, authorities are likely to modify, at very short notice, the list of countries whose travelers are subject to border control measures or entry restrictions upon their arrival to the territory in question. It is advised to postpone nonessential travel due to the risk that travelers may be refused entry or be subject to quarantine upon their arrival or during their stay.

To reduce the risk of transmission, travelers are advised to abide by the following measures:

• Frequently clean hands by applying an alcohol-based hand rub or washing with soap and water.
• When coughing and sneezing, cover mouth and nose with a flexed elbow or tissue; if used, throw the tissue away immediately and wash hands.
• If experiencing a fever, cough, difficulty breathing, or any other symptoms suggestive of respiratory illness, including pneumonia, call emergency services before going to the doctor or hospital to prevent the potential spread of the disease.