Green pass gets green light

Austria’s Green Pass will be used digitally with a QR code as proof for corona-vaccinated, tested and convalescent people for access to restaurants and leisure facilities from June 4th, after legislation was passed yesterday.

READ MORE: Austria to implement nationwide immunity card by mid-May

Experts say infection rates in Austria will continue to decline

Experts assume the decline in infection rates will continue in all Austrian federal states despite the opening of restaurants, bars and sports, cultural and leisure facilities, Der Standard newspaper reports. The situation in the hospitals will also relax further and experts expect a significant decrease in the need for intensive care. 

Covid traffic light commission says no state in Austria is now red

Austria’s Covid traffic light commission said this week, for the first time in many months, there are no longer any federal states in the red zone, which is triggered at 100 new infections per 100,000 inhabitants. Vorarlberg has now also fallen well below this mark with a seven-day incidence of 75, according to the working paper of the responsible commission. Lower Austria and Burgenland will go into the yellow “medium risk” zone, as their incidences are below 50.

READ MORE: EXPLAINED: How does Austria’s coronavirus traffic light system work? 

Ministry of Health recommends vaccinating children

Austria’s Ministry of Health advises children should be vaccinated once the EMA approves the vaccine.

Vorarlberg to use “influencers” to persuade younger people to get vaccinated

It will soon be the turn of under 30s in Vorarlberg to be vaccinated, and the state will turn to three influencers from the Austrian state to persuade this group to go for the jab. It is hoped this will convince those aged under 16, who will soon be eligible, that they want to be vaccinated. 

Seven day incidence at 41

According AGES database, the seven-day incidence, or the number of new infections with the coronavirus in the past seven days per 100,000 inhabitants, is 41. In all federal states, the number is now well below 100 – with Vorarlberg (76.8) and Burgenland (23.8) having the highest and lowest values, respectively.

Terrorist register introduced in Austria 

A “terrorist register” will be introduced in Austria, meaning it will be recorded in the criminal record for life if someone has committed a terrorist offence. The ministerial office gave the green light on Wednesday.

Protest from ambassadors over Israeli flag

Seven Arab ambassadors in Vienna have protested against the raising of the Israel flag and say it is incompatible with Austria’s neutrality. The Foreign Minister said there could be no neutrality in the face of terror.