Christmas markets: Federal winter rules are there, details are still open
INNSBRUCK. The winter rules for safe winter tourism have been published. In addition to gastronomy, night gastronomy and après-ski, accommodation providers and cable cars, the Christmas markets are also subject to a set of rules in accordance with the 3-stage plan. Vice-BGM. Johannes Anzengruber is pleased with the rule. However, some questions about the processing are still open.
Set of rules
“Safe winter tourism in Austria – winter rules” is the name of an eleven-page work in which the various corona regulations relating to winter are recorded. Together with the federal states, experts and the association of cities and municipalities, the federal government has decided on a “3-stage plan” – which is based on the utilization of ICU capacities1. The guiding principle is that there will be hardly any restrictions for those who have been vaccinated or recovered. Reduced curfew, capacity restrictions or distance regulations are not to be reintroduced, with the exception of epidemiologically necessary curfew and pause for après-ski.
3-step plan
The 3-stage plan is based on the following occupancy: Stage 1: An occupancy of 200 intensive care beds is expected (Austria has been at this level since September 15). Stage 2 occurs after 300 occupied intensive care beds have been exceeded. Level 3 is reached after 400 occupied intensive care beds have been exceeded. The respective regulations for the individual levels as well as the example of night gastronomy and après-ski can be found at the end of the article.
Christmas markets
Step 1: The following rules apply to Advent and Christmas markets as occasional markets (not just pure goods markets):
- When entering the casual market or areas separated from it, guests must show a valid negative test result, proof of vaccination or proof of recovery (3-G rule). It should be noted that the period of validity of the antigen tests has been shortened from 48 to 24 hours.
- With regard to the obligations for the meeting or for the occasional market, the control obligations should not be overstretched. The obligations are therefore particularly taken into account IF, for example at Christmas markets, a control of the 3-G certificates on the occasion of a Output takes place at defined control points outside or within the market area and these tapes are subsequently checked on a random basis. This also applies to comparable meetings and control systems.
- From an expected number of visitors of more than 100 people, there is an obligation to notify the locally responsible district administrative authority.
- From an expected number of visitors of over 500 people, each occasional market must obtain approval from the locally responsible district administrative authority.
- The organizer of an occasional market with over 100 people has to develop and implement a prevention / hygiene concept and appoint a COVID-19 officer.
Registration obligation for visitors to occasional markets or areas separated from them, provided that not only goods, food and drinks are offered for sale (not for consumption!):
– The organizer is obliged to register the first and last name, telephone number and – if available – e-mail address of people who are expected to be at the location for more than 15 minutes.
– These data must be provided with the date and time of entering the occasional market or an area separated from it and – if available – with table numbers or the area of the specific stay.
– In the case of groups of visitors from the same household, disclosure of the data by only one adult is sufficient.
– Data must be kept for a period of 28 days and then deleted.
For occasional markets or areas separated from them, where only goods, food and drinks are offered for sale (not consumption), the following rules apply:
- The organizer of an occasional market with over 100 people has to develop and implement a prevention / hygiene concept and appoint a COVID-19 officer.
- Visitors do not have to provide 3-G proof – there is a gold-plated FFP2 mask requirement in closed rooms.
- There is no registration requirement for visitors.
- From November 1st, employees who have contact with other people at the place of work must present a valid negative test result, proof of vaccination or proof of recovery (3-G rule). (Exception: up to two contacts each outdoors and less than 15 minutes per day)
- Until November 15th, employees who do not have a 3-G certificate have the alternative of wearing an FFP-2 mask at work.
Level 2
For Advent and Christmas markets, antigen tests with self-acceptance (“living room tests”) as proof of entry from level 2 are no longer permitted. This regulation comes into force seven days after the intensive care bed occupancy rate of 15 percent (300 beds) has been exceeded.
level 3
For Advent and Christmas markets, any type of antigen test is no longer permitted as evidence of entry from level 3. Therefore, a valid negative PCR test result, proof of vaccination or proof of recovery (3-G rule) is now considered as proof of entry. This regulation comes into effect seven days after the intensive care bed occupancy rate of 20 percent (400 beds) has been exceeded.
Measures going beyond level 3 – in particular restrictions for the unvaccinated – will be carried out in accordance with the general measures.
Pleased
Vizebgm is pleased. Johannes Anzengruber: “The new federal rules for the Advent and Christkindl markets are exactly in line with our preparatory work and coordination.” Ordinances of measures are tailor-made for us in the Tyrolean capital. YOU agree precisely with our preparatory work and coordination for the Innsbruck Advent and Christmas Markets. Evidence and the admission ribbons are included in the federal ordinance. ”
Pioneer
“We are also pioneers for the South Tyrolean markets. The Christmas markets were threatened with cancellation from our southern neighbors. Now they want to hold the Christmas markets after all, the Innsbruck model is taking over all of South Tyrol, ”reports the Vice Mayor. “With this set of rules, we can start the winter season optimistically. The fact that the Christmas markets can take place this year can be seen as a real turbo for the through the pandemic.
3-step plan details
The corona regulations will be determined with immediate effect depending on the number of intensive care beds occupied by COVID-19 patients and patients in the hospitals: Orientation on the utilization of the ICU capacities (intensive care unit).
Step 1:
If a utilization of 200 intensive care beds is expected, the following measures take effect:
- Antigen tests are only valid for 24 hours after the test has been taken
- Wherever mouth and nose protection is currently provided (food retailers including sales outlets of food producers as well as petrol stations with associated sales outlets of banks, pharmacies, post offices, public transport), an FFP2 mask is mandatory
- In addition, the wearing of an FFP2 mask becomes an obligation for unvaccinated, non-recovered persons in the trade; For vaccinated and convalescent people, however, wearing an FFP2 mask is also recommended! The police will also carry out random checks.
- The 3-G rule applies to gatherings of 25 people or more (currently the limit is 100 people)
- Control of the fight against the measures
Level 2:
After exceeding 300 occupied intensive care beds, the following measures come into effect:
- In night-time catering and similar settings, as well as in meetings without assigned seats with more than 500 people, only vaccinated and / or recovered people are allowed (2-G rule)
- Antigen tests with self-acceptance (“living room tests”) are no longer valid for 3-G
Level 3:
After 400 occupied intensive care beds are exceeded, measures come into force: The access restrictions are extended. Wherever the 3-G rule applies, only vaccinated and / or recovered people or people who can show a negative PCR test have access.
Example night gastronomy and après-ski
Step 1: The following rules apply to catering establishments in which an increased mix of guests is to be expected (such as night restaurants and après-ski bars): – In level 1, when guests receive an additional valid negative PCR test result, proof of vaccination or proof of recovery ( medical confirmation or separation notice). Antibody detection or an antigen test are not sufficient.
Level 2 to 3: For night catering establishments and après-ski bars, the 2-G rule will be introduced from level 2 (vaccinated and recovered visitors get access – no testing). This regulation also comes into force seven days after the intensive care bed occupancy rate of 15 percent (300 beds) has been exceeded. In addition to the federal states and district administrative authorities, municipalities can also adopt more stringent measures in the future, but this only applies to curfew hours and break hours in the area of gastronomy at après-ski bars.
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