Summer holidays are about to start, and many people are going to take vacations and travel around Europe. So if you are heading to Austria, here’s what you need to know to enjoy the nice weather without (so many) concerns.

Covid rules in Austria

First things first: are you following the country’s entry rules? Austria has significantly eased its restrictions and now you don’t need to show any proof that you were vaccinated, recovered or tested negative to Covid-19. There is also no need to fill out any forms.

Additionally, it has removed most of its local restrictions, including contact restrictions and mandatory mask mandate. You only need to wear an FFP2 mask in Vienna’s public transport, and if you are going to a hospital or another health or care facility. 

READ ALSO: LATEST: These are the Covid rules in Austria and Vienna from June 2022

What is the current Covid-19 situation in Austria?

The number of new infections is on the rise in Austria, but authorities are not bringing back any restriction at the moment. The Austrian government says that numbers were expected to rise as new variants are more infectious, but cause a less severe course of the disease.

On Monday, June 27th, Austria reported 6,398 new coronavirus infections after 65,830 PCR tests. There were 777 people hospitalised with Covid-19 and 48 in intensive care units. 

READ ALSO: Is Austria heading for a summer Covid wave and could face masks return?

What do I do if I suspect I have Covid-19?

Even if you just suspect it you should get tested. There are several ways to get tested for free in Austria, but if you have symptoms, you should call the Austrian health line on number 1450.

A nurse will be able to assess your symptoms and either classify you as a suspected case or give you further information on how to reach a general practitioner – or even go to a hospital if necessary.

If you are a suspected case, you could be referred to a specific test facility, or someone will be sent to the place where you are staying for a PCR test.

You can check a list of Vienna testing centres here.

READ ALSO: Covid-19: What to do if you test positive in Austria

How can I get tested for free?

Since April 1st, Austria has changed its testing policy, and free Covid-19 tests are no longer unlimited in the country.

People will be entitled to five PCR and five antigen tests a month, though testing as a suspected case does not fall into that limit.

One of the easiest ways to get a free Covid PCR test, especially for people who don’t speak German, is using the Alles Gurgelt offers. For this, you need to sign up to the website.

When you click “jetzt registrieren“, you are taken to the partner company website. There are several languages to pick from, including English, Spanish, Italian, Turkish, Portuguese, and Romanian.

When asked for a social security number, you can just enter the digit 0000 together with your date of birth, as instructed by the website.

Tourists can also use test streets and “test boxes”, as you only need to bring a registration confirmation and an official ID and wear an FFP2 mask. The registration is made online, and you can check a box stating that you don’t have an Austrian social security number (Sozialversicherungsnummer).

READ ALSO: Vienna: How tourists, visitors (and residents) can get free Covid tests

What if my test comes back positive?

If you have tested positive for Covid-19, you are required to stay in isolation, which can be done in a hotel room, rented property, or in the house of the people you are staying with. In the latter case, your friends and family staying in the same place as you won’t have to go into quarantine.

If they are fully vaccinated, they are not considered contact persons. However, they should still get tested.

While in isolation, you are not allowed to leave the place you are staying for any other reason than health and safety emergencies.

You need to stay at home quarantined for 10 days. The quarantine can be ended automatically after five days if a PCR test comes back negative or with a CT value above 30 if you don’t have any symptoms for at least 48h.

Can I return home if I test positive?

Public health officers can decide whether individuals are allowed to travel home. Usually, this is allowed when travelling by private car. Train or plane journeys are not permitted with suspected or confirmed cases.

Useful vocabulary

Absonderungsbescheid: A segregation notice obliges a person to isolate himself from other people as much as possible. This is often referred to as quarantine.
Kontaktpersonen: Contact persons are persons who have been in contact (shake hands, conversation,…) with a person who tested positive.
Ansteckung: Infection.
Verdachtsfall: Suspected case.
Testergebnis: Test result.