While many positive developments are expected in June, with the cold spring weather finally giving way to summer, sadly one of the first events of June will be the flight ban imposed on the UK by Austria.
Flight ban for UK
The flight ban has been introduced due to the spread of the so-called “Indian” variant – the mutation of the virus which was first detected in India – in parts of the UK.
From June 1st, direct flight between Austria and the UK will be banned until further notice.
The UK will join South Africa, Brazil and India on a register of country where variants of the coronavirus are a concern in Austria
READ MORE: Austria announces further easing of coronavirus measures in June and July
In addition, entry into Austria from the UK will be prohibited, apart from in the case of Austrian or EU/EEA or Swiss citizens or those resident in the EU or EEA. You can find a comprehensive list of people allowed into Austria from the UK here.
If you are allowed to enter Austria from the UK you must fill out a pre-travel Clearance form, and have proof of a negative PCR test result done not more than 72 hours before departure.
Residents of Austria as well as Austrian and EU or EEA citizens are permitted to provide proof of a negative test result up to 24 hours after arrival. In this case the person must quarantine until the negative test result is obtained.
This will be followed by quarantine for 10 days, with the option of ending quarantine early with another negative PCR test taken no earlier than on day five of quarantine.
The flight ban is in place until June 20th 2021.
Relaxation of pandemic restrictions
On a more positive note, many relaxations of the coronavirus pandemic restrictions will take place on June 10th.
From this day:
- Austria’s curfew will be moved from 10pm to midnight. This means people in Austria will be able to watch European Football Championship games in bars from June 11th.
- Groups of up to eight adults can meet up indoors and up to 16 outdoors.
- The maximum occupancy of cultural venues will be increased to 75 percent (previously it was 50 percent).
- The ten-square-meter rule per person now applies in the leisure, sports and wellness sectors, allowing more people to use facilities at once.
- In retail, too, it will be reduced from 20 to ten square meters per customer, meaning more people can enter shops.
- People will be asked to keep one metre apart, rather than two metres.
- Mandatory testing will only be in place for children aged 12 and up, releasing 10 and 11 year-olds from mandatory testing.
- People will no longer be asked to wear masks outdoors.
READ MORE: Austria announces further easing of coronavirus measures in June and July
Austria’s continued lockdown reopening has been accompanied by the so-called ‘3G Rule’.
The 3G Rule refers to ‘Getestet, Geimpft, Genesen’ (Tested, Vaccinated, Recovered) and describes the three ways someone can provide evidence they are immune to the virus.
From mid-June, you should be able to do this with Austria’s Green Pass digital certificate, which should allow you to prove your 3G status with a QR code.
- 3G rule: How to prove you have been vaccinated, tested or recovered from Covid in Austria
- What’s the latest on the EU Covid passports and how will they work in practice.
Last chance to exchange your British driving licence
People living in Austria who have a British driving licence should note the deadline for exchanging British for Austrian driving licenses remains June 30th, 2021.
READ MORE: What Britons in Austria need to know about exchanging driving licences
The amount of vaccines delivered to Austria will rise again in June. In May, 500,000 vaccine doses per week were delivered to Austria, in June it should be up to 700,000 per week.
This could mean children aged twelve could be vaccinated as early as June in some states such as Lower Austria, especially if they belong to a risk group, according to ORF.
By the end of June, Vienna plans to have 55 to 60 percent of the total population living in Vienna vaccinated, and 70 percent by mid-July.
Time to plan that wedding
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Any news about when fully vaccinated US citizens be allowed to visit their vacation residences? We have been fully vaccinated since mid March of this year and live in Colorado. I am born & raised in Zell am See, Austria and miss going home.