Coronavirus Updates in English

This page is updated on a daily basis.

If you suspect that you might be infected, please call the health hotline 1450.

General information regarding transmission, symptoms and prevention of coronavirus is provided around the clock by the AGES information hotline +43 800 555 621.

The numbers for Austria

(Sources: Health Ministry)

Tested: 411,185
Infected: 16,510
Recoveries: 15,182
Deaths: 643

New Developments

On Wednesday, May 27, the government announced that cinemas may reopen as early as May 29.
On Monday, May 25, the regulations concerning cultural events were amended:
- From May 29, events up to 100 people are allowed
- From July 1, events up to 250 people are allowed
- From August 1, events up to 500 people are allowed and up to 1000, when specific criteria are met
On Monday, May 25, graduating high school students are taking their final Matura examinations.
As of Wednesday, May 20, fewer than 40 people are in intensive care in Austria.
On Monday, May 18, 700,000 students in Austria return to school, after a nine-week hiatus due to the corona measures.
On Friday, May 15, Sate Secretary for Cultural Affairs Ulrike Lunacek resigned in a press conference.
On Friday, May 15, restaurants, bars and cafes re-open, albeit with new hygiene guidelines.
On Wednesday, May 13, Mayor of Vienna Michael Ludwig announced that the city will send vouchers for use in local bars and restaurants to every household. One-person households will get a voucher for €25, two people will get €50 in total. The city will start sending out the vouchers to the 950,000 Viennese households in mid-June.
On Wednesday, May 13, the federal government announced that the border to Germany will open June 15.

See past developments.

What’s open?

As of Friday, May 15, restaurants, bars and cafes are open.
As of Saturday, May 2, all stores as well as beauty salons and hairdressers can re-open. Opening times will be restricted to 7:40-19:00.

What can you do?

As of May 1, there are no longer any restrictions on movement. This means you may leave the house without an excuse. However, gatherings are restricted to groups of under 10 people and you must still stay one meter away from one another.
Do some home maintenance you’ve been putting off. Follow the tips from our fashion editor Philipp Rossmann.

Information for restaurant owners:

Restaurant staff that has contact with guests must wear face masks.
Opening hours are restricted to 6:00-23:00.
No decorations or salt and pepper shakers allowed on the tables.
Tables, chairs and surfaces must be disinfected when guests leave. Tables must be placed at least one meter apart from each other.
No buffets or seating at the bar allowed.

Travel, Transportation & Border News

For an overview of current border opening, go here.
On Wednesday, May 13, the federal government announced that the border to Germany will open June 15.
In a press conference on Wednesday, April 8, Minister of Tourism Elisabeth Köstinger (ÖVP) warned that international travel restrictions will remain in place, despite first first steps back to normality in Austria and urged Austrian residents to spend their summer holidays at home.
For up-to-date information on flights, trains and travel restrictions, visit the page of the Austria’s Federal Ministry of European and International Affairs.

Education, Daycare & Family

On Friday, April 24, Minister of Education Heinz Faßmann (ÖVP) presented the government’s plan for incrementally reopening schools in 14-day steps. Detailed information here.
On Thursday, April 9, Minister for Families Christine Aschbacher (ÖVP) and Minister of Education Heinz Faßmann (ÖVP) announced a special fund for families that are hit hardest by the corona crisis. Among other things, the fund will disburse extra payments and provide over 12,000 electronic devices to make “distance learning” easier for pupils.

Coronavirus symptoms — Source: WHO/NHS/CDC/ecdc.europa.eu/New Scientist

Healthcare & Hospitals

As of Wednesday, May 27, at 9:30, 16,510 people have been diagnosed as having COVID-19, altogether 411,185 have been tested, 15,182 people have recovered and 643 people have died from the virus in Austria. (Source: Social Ministry)
Health Minister Rudolf Anschober (Greens) announced in a press conference on Friday, April 17, that hospitals will cautiously begin the process of returning to normal procedures. How fast this happens will be determined region by region.
Austria’s first coronavirus death was on March 12th in Vienna. The victim was a 69-year-old man who had recently traveled to Italy. He died at Kaiser-Franz-Josephs Spital. (Source: orf.at)
Hospital bed capacity update: Scientists from the Complexity Science Hub of Vienna calculated that across Austria, we will have reached the limit in intensive care units (ICUs) on March 29th (without self-isolation measures: March 26th). Even if we adhere to all the measures, all hospitals in Austria will be out of beds by April 8th (without measure April 1st) In Vienna the news calculations show that thje intensive care beds would be full by March 28th (without measures: March 25th), all hospital beds in Vienna would be full by April 4th (without measures March 29th). (Source: derstandard.at & CSH)
Hospitals do not accept visitors at this time. A visit might be granted in exceptional cases only.
If you are sick and think it’s NOT coronavirus, contact your doctor (Hausarzt) and they can send a prescription to a pharmacy near you. Do NOT go to the doctor’s office unless they ask you to.

Aid for Businesses

On Monday, May 11, the government announced a €500 million support package for restaurants and bars in Austria, acknowledging that the sector was hit particularly hard by the crisis. Chancellor Sebastian Kurz called the Gasthäuserkultur (the tradition of meeting up and eating out at restaurants and bars) “a part of the Austrian soul.”
On Thursday, April 16, Finance Minister Margarete Schramböck (ÖVP) announced that the federal government has created an aid package for startups. The package consists of two funds, a COVID-19 Hilfsfonds (€100 million) and a Venture-Capital-Fonds (€50 million).
As of Monday, April 6, the government has allocated a total of €3 billion to fund short-time working schemes (Kurzarbeit).
On Sunday, April 5, the City of Vienna set up an investment fund of €50 million called “Stolz auf Wien” (“Proud of Vienna”) for Viennese businesses to provide investment of up 20% of a company’s equity for up to seven years if the business is deemed essential for the city’s life. The fund will launch mid-May.
As of Friday, March 27, the government’s economic security package for independent workers, creatives and small companies – the Härtefallfonds, administered by the WKÖ – is open for applications.
- If granted, a first payment of €1,000 should be released quickly.
- For the next three months (April, May, June), an additional maximum payment of €2,000 per month can be disbursed.
In a press conference on Wednesday, March 18 at 13:00, Chancellor Sebastian Kurz announced the emergency package will be increased to €38 billion. Vice-Chancellor Werner Kogler underlined that saying, “Whatever’s necessary, no matter the cost.” (Source: orf.at)
On Monday March 16, Finance Minister Gernot Blümel stated that the government has made an aid package to the amount of €4 Billion not only to take care of healthcare needs but to make sure people can sustain their livelihoods.
- Relief on loans, with guarantees on deferred payment
- Unnecessary bureaucracy will be avoided at all cost to ensure for flexibility during this crisis.
- It was also stressed that the public coverage of liability when it comes to these loans is an important instrument.
- When it comes to delaying tax payments, Blüml said it was important to make applying for this very easy. Applications for delaying tax payments can be made in minutes in 2 lines. Initial filtering will be done by computer.
The Austrian Government has various measures to support businesses:
- Tourism companies can claim support from the “Maßnahmenpaket.” The Austrian government guarantees bridge financing up to €100 million for the domestic tourism industry. The aid package (Maßnahmenpaket) starts taking effect on March 11th. (More information (in German): wko.at)
- There are also bridge loans available for companies outside the tourism industry, made possible through the AWS (Austria Wirtschaftservice). The program is called “Überbrückungsfinanzierungen für EPU/KMU” (More information (in German): wko.at)
- Self-employed people and entrepreneurs have the possibility to postpone payment of SVA insurance contributions. The forms are in German and you get both get your rate lowered (less income) and/or apply to delay payment or pay in smaller instalments.
- Owners of bars and restaurants of people in the event industry can check industry-specific support and recommendations by the WKO Austrian Chamber of Commerce.
- You can apply for tax relief in form of a suspension or paying in instalments at the Ministry of Finance.

Metropole – Corona Aid for Businesses Overview

Information for non-Austrians

Mayor of Vienna Michael Ludwig (SPÖ) announced on Thursday, April 23, that starting on May 15, Vienna’s administrative offices (Magistrate) will again resume regular work and be available during regular opening times. Protection for mouth and nose (e.g. masks) and 1 meter distance will be mandatory.
All public offices (Magistrate) are closed for the time being. If you urgently need to file an application there are letterboxes to drop off documents. However, it is advised to send in documents by post or contact the office by email to make an appointment for the future.
Applications do still have to be made on time, as the public offices cannot simply exceed legal deadlines.
For further assistance and questions you can also contact the Expat Center by phone or email.

Note sure you know enough about coronavirus?

Here’s a great explanation video from our friends at Kurzgesagt.

The Austrian Integration Fund (ÖIF) now offers an information sheet in 11 languages. Visit the ÖIF website or scroll down to download from this page.

General information regarding transmission, symptoms and prevention of coronavirus is provided around the clock by the AGES information hotline +43 800 555 621.

Information in 11 languages on reducing risks from the Chamber of Pharmacists (ÖAK), made available by the Austrian Integration Fund (ÖIF).

Information in 11 languages about hygiene and protective measures from the Interior and Social Ministries made available by the Austrian Integration Fund (ÖIF).

If you suspect that you might be infected, please call the health hotline 1450.

The City of Vienna has established a 24-hour hotline for vulnerable groups. Elderly people and people with existing conditions can call +43 1 4000 4001 for assistance with grocery shopping or accessing medication.

The City of Vienna offers updates in English

The Austrian Ministry of Social Affairs has an FAQ page in English.

Coronavirus, COVID-19 Flatten the curve. (c)Thomas Splettstößer

Avoiding social contact for a few days/weeks makes all the difference when it comes to how fast the virus spreads.

If you’re in Vienna and want to help out, connect, ask questions, request help or volunteer your assistance within your Grätzl or Bezirk, join the Metropole coronavirus support board.

Stay safe, Metropolitans.

❤️