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Austrian schools to reopen on January 25th

Schools in Austria - including compulsory and upper schools - will again allow face-to-face lessons to take place from January 25th.

Published: 13 January 2021 12:00 CET
Austrian schools to reopen on January 25th
Photo: PATRICK DOMINGO / AFP

NOTE: On Sunday, January 17th, Austria announced it would be extending the lockdown – including school closures – until February 7th. More information is available here. 

The announcement was made by Austria's Education Minister Heinz Faßmann on Wednesday, January 13th. 

Currently, face-to-face lessons are set to start again on Monday, January 18th, however this date has been extended by a week.

School started again in Austria on January 7th, but only through distance learning. 

'Triple safety net'

In order to minimise infections, Austria has adopted a 'triple safety net' comprising of three measures to cut infection risks. 

This includes requiring masks, carrying out regular testing and organising lessons in shifts. 

Schools will be organised in two shifts, with half of the students coming to school on Monday and the other half on Tuesday. Parents are urged to contact specific schools for more information. 

UPDATED: What does Austria's coronavirus lockdown mean for schools? 

Faßmann told Austrian media that the plan is for all schools – including both compulsory schools and upper schools – to go back on the 25th of January, but that things will not look normal. 

“We cannot open the doors wide on January 25th, the times are too uncertain for that.”

“We will look at who can deal more easily with a thinned-out school, possibly the older ones,” Faßmann told the Ö1 Mittagsjournal on Wednesday. 

While face-to-face classes took place in December in compulsory schools, distance learning has been taking place in upper schools since the start of November. 

Testing for all students

As part of the reopening plan, Austria is also set to test all students at least once a week. 

Initially, the reopening plan will include testing once per week on Monday for all students. 

Eventually, this will be increased to twice a week. 

The Austrian government has procured five million tests at €2.70 per test to enable the school testing scheme to go ahead. 

Faßmann said that while all students would be strongly encouraged to be tested, testing would not be compulsory. 

More information about the testing requirement is available at the following link. 

EXPLAINED: How Austria plans to test all school children to end coronavirus lockdown 

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HEALTH INSURANCE

How can I get an appointment with a physiotherapist in Austria?

If you are recovering from an injury, experiencing pain, or simply aiming to improve your physical function, visiting a physiotherapist is a good idea. Here is what you need to know about physiotherapy in Austria.

Published: 23 April 2024 11:02 CEST
How can I get an appointment with a physiotherapist in Austria?

Physiotherapy can be the key to improving mobility, managing pain, recovering from injuries, and optimising overall physical function. Many people will need such services at some point in their lives.

If you need a physiotherapist in Austria, you can choose between going to one who is contracted with your insurance company (Therapeut mit Kassenvertrag) or to a so-called elective therapist (Wahltherapeut). For both options, you will need a referral from a general practitioner, such as your family doctor (Hausarzt), if you want to access the service for free (with your e-card) or get a reimbursement for your treatment.

Physiotherapy through your health insurance company

If you want to go to a physiotherapist without having to pay for it, you can try to find a suitable physiotherapist who is contracted with your insurance company. 

Physiotherapy is free of charge if your therapist is contracted with large public insurance companies such as the Austrian Health Insurance Fund (ÖGK), Insurance Institution for Public Employees, Railways and Mines (BVAEB) or Social Insurance Institution for the Self-Employed (SVS).

These insurance companies settle directly with their contracted therapists and you do not need to pay anything out of pocket. However, accessing this kind of free treatment can sometimes be hard, as those with the most urgent needs are prioritised, which can result in long waiting times for appointments. 

Here you can find a list of physiotherapists who work privately but still have a contract with ÖGK, sorted by regions within Austria.

Physiotherapist of your choice

If you want to go to a therapist that is not contracted with your insurance company, you initially have to pay for the treatment yourself.

Once your treatment is completed and the treatment costs have been paid in full, you can apply to your health insurance company for reimbursement by submitting your confirmation of payment. Here you can find information on which other documents you may need to submit.

However, you will not be reimbursed the full amount. For example, with ÖGK, you usually receive about 80% of what contracted physiotherapists would get from ÖGK. If you are insured with SVS and BVAEB, the percentage is similar.

If you have another type of insurance, such as a private one, it is a good idea to check with them what their specific insurance covers.

Going to a physiotherapist can improve your quality of life. Photo by Sincerely Media on Unsplash

Where do I find a suitable therapist?

There are plenty of ways to find the right physiotherapist that fits your needs. Sometimes your family doctor may have a recommendation, or perhaps a friend can suggest one. If you prefer to explore on your own and consider more options, you can search for a therapist online.

Websites such as physioaustria offer useful search functions where you can find therapists based on specific criteria, such as specialisation or insurance contracts. You might also find physiotherapie.at helpful for your search.

READ MORE: Everything foreigners need to know about the Austrian healthcare system

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