The fourth wave is racing towards Austria. In order to avoid further restrictions, a new warning level system is effective immediately.

The seven-day incidence is increasing faster than the vaccination rate in Austria. Time and again the country had to struggle with sources of infection. In order not to have to restrict public life again, new conditions were agreed, such as those based on intensive care bed occupancy RND reported. The requirements apply mainly to unvaccinated people.

No focus on incidence

The vaccination quotas in Germany and Austria do not differ significantly. While the seven-day incidence is falling again in Germany, it is increasing in Austria and is even more than twice as high as that of the neighbors. High time for the country’s government to interrupt the fourth wave and prevent further restrictions. Further measures were decided at the beginning of the week. Since September 15, an FFP2 mask has been mandatory in all Austrian mass transport vehicles. This also includes all flights with Austrian Airlines and all Austrian airports. In addition, the corona requirements in the country are also being tightened. To this end, a new warning level system was introduced, which is based on the bed occupancy in Austria’s intensive care units.

If this is ten percent occupied, the so-called 3G rules come into force. For a visit to the restaurant or stay in the hotel, all persons must immediately present proof of a complete vaccination, survived infection or a negative corona test. Rapid antigen tests are still allowed, but are only valid for 24 hours. Already in level 2 with an occupancy of 15 percent, unvaccinated and non-convalescent people are denied access to the catering trade at certain times. In level 3, the 3G regulation still applies – in areas where access is still permitted to unvaccinated people, a negative PCR test must be proven.

Stage 1 has already been implemented. If the next tests are reached in the intensive care units, the respective requirements are automatically implemented one week later. Like wie die Schweiz, Austria still chooses the 3G model. In Germany, things already look different to a large extent. Baden-Württemberg has introduced the 2G model and is also based on a new warning level system. Here, too, the occupancy of the intensive care units is monitored. If certain values ​​are exceeded, however, unvaccinated or non-convalescents are completely excluded.

Conclusion on the tightening of the requirements

The infection situation is coming to a head again in Austria. In order to take appropriate measures in good time and to prevent lockdown, a new tier system was introduced, which is based on the occupancy of the intensive care beds. Unvaccinated people should not be completely excluded, but the test requirements and access restrictions are massively tightened.