From Thursday, April 29th, only Austrian citizens and residents will be allowed to enter from India. 

There will also be a ban on direct flights. Similar bans on flights from Brazil and South Africa will also be extended until May 19th. 

UPDATED: Which countries are now on Austria’s quarantine list?

Arrivals will also need to take a PCR test and complete a quarantine once on Austrian soil, which must be between 10 and 14 days depending on the rules in place in the respective Austrian state. 

OE24 reports that there are currently no scheduled commercial flights to take place from India to Austria in this time, however the government believes it is necessary in order to prevent charter flights and private planes from landing. 

One major concern is that the mutation may be able to infect vaccinated people. 

Fresh in the minds of Austrian authorities will be the outbreak of the South African variant in Tyrol, which was believed to be imported by people from Zillertal who took a private plane to play golf in South Africa in February. 

Austria: How did the South African coronavirus mutation come to Tyrol?

The effects of the new virus variant that has emerged in India still need to be researched. However, there are first indications that vaccinated people could also be infected with this variant,” said Austrian health minister Wolfgang Mückstein on Wednesday. 

Austria to provide financial support for India

Despite the flight bans, Austria has indicated it will provide financial support for India to help it through the crisis. 

UPDATED: Everything you need to know about Austria’s quarantine rules

Austria will provide two million euros worth of coronavirus medication, through the Austrian Red Cross. 

Support and solidarity for India in this serious emergency situation is a matter of course for Austria,” said Federal Chancellor Sebastian Kurz.