EU agrees on cross-border travel requirements

Countries across the EU have agreed to coordinate their requirements for travel across borders. From the beginning of the summer, those fully vaccinated or with proof they have recovered from Covid-19 will no longer be subject to any travel restrictions, Der Standard reports.

In addition, people travelling from states which are “green” according to the European Center for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC), will also be able to travel without restrictions. 

Currently, only the federal state of Salzburg is “green” according to the EU Commission and the rest of Austria is coloured orange. People travelling from areas designated “red” may be subject to quarantine.

The ECDC classification of the areas into the colours green, orange, red and dark red is based on the number of cases and the positive rate of tests.

Children no longer have to wear masks in schools

From Wednesday June 16th, it will be no longer be mandatory for children to wear masks in class and group rooms at all schools. Education Minister Heinz Faßmann (ÖVP) and Health Minister Wolfgang Mückstein (Greens) announced the new measure on Saturday. There will still be the requirement to wear a mask in the rest of the school building. 

Differences in vaccination for children between Austria’s states

Broadcaster ORF reports there are big differences in vaccinations for teenagers across Austria’s federal states. In Lower Austria over 2,800 children aged between twelve and 15 have been jabbed and in Vienna  there are plans to start vaccinating children before the holidays, and possibly together with their parents.

However, in Carinthia there is still no vaccination plan for young people, in Styria, only 3,300 children have registered out of 40,000 teenagers who are eligible. In Vorarlberg, paediatricians have even started to debate if younger teenagers should be vaccinated at all, which has been criticised by the federal government. Only about twelve percent of those under 25 have received at least one vaccination so far and less than four percent are fully immunised, figures from Austria’s Ministry of Health shows. 

Zero Covid-19 infections over 24 hours in Styria 

In Styria no new Covid-19 infections were reported over 24 hours on Monday, Der Standard newspaper reports. It is the first time in around a year this has been the case.

The seven-day incidence in this state is 9.9 per 100,000 population. 233 Styrians are still actively infected, 77,143 are considered to have recovered. So far, 2,073 people have died with or from Covid-19. Three patients are still in intensive care beds.

Many incorrect entries in Austria’s digital vaccination certificate system

Every 200th entry in Austria’s digital vaccination certificate system is incorrect, according to Die Presse  newspaper. The paper goes on to note that there is no portal set up to correct errors within the ELGA health system as yet.

Seven day incidence is 19 in Austria

The seven-day incidence, or the number of new infections with the coronavirus in the past seven days per 100,000 inhabitants, is 19.4. Only Vienna (30.7) currently has a value above 30, Salzburg is the only federal state with a value below 10.0 (8.8).

Test results available in Green Pass in Vienna

From Tuesday June 25th, in Vienna, the “Green Pass” will be used on a larger scale. All Covid-19 test results will be imported into the “Green Pass”. Certificates to prove people have recovered from a Covid-19 infection can also be called up via the Gesundheit.gv.at platform.

A mobile phone signature or citizen card is required to log in to the electronic health record (ELGA) and thus to retrieve the certificate.

You can find out how to get a mobile phone signature here.

EXPLAINED: What is Austria’s Covid-19 immunity card and how do I get it?