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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: 92,190
Infected: 10,809
Recoveries: 1,436 
Deaths: 146

New Developments

• Health Minister Rudolf Anschober (Greens) announced on Thursday, April 2, that particularly vulnerable people should work from home or will receive paid leave. 
• The government announced on Thursday, April 2, that tenants who cannot afford to pay rent will not be evicted and will have until the end of the year (December 2020) to pay the arrears. 
• On Wednesday, April 1, public broadcaster ORF reported that in March unemployment in Austria rose by more than 50%, from 4,7% to 12,2%. 
• On Tuesday, March 31, Austrian research institute Sora announced that it will be doing a case study of coronavirus prevalence in Austria by testing 2,000 statistically representative but randomized households, starting tomorrow. Such studies have long been recommended to get a better picture of the true extent of the virus.
• On Monday, March 30, Chancellor Sebastian Kurz announced new measures in a press conference: wearing of face masks covering the mouth and nose will be mandatory in supermarkets starting Wednesday, more protection for vulnerable groups, and ensuring that existing measures are consistently followed across the country. The supermarkets will be responsible for providing customers with masks. 
• On Sunday, March 29, a first delivery of 10 million pairs of protective gloves landed in Austria from Malaysia, with 5 more such deliveries planned. 
• On Saturday, March 28, Austrian research institute SORA announced that the rate of new positively tested cases of coronavirus in Austria decreased, for the first time markedly, in the last 4-day period, to 14% per day.
• On Friday, March 27, the government’s economic security package for independent workers, creatives and small companies – the Härtefallfonds, administered by the WKÖ – will open for applications starting at 17:00.

See past developments.

What’s open?

• Grocery stores, pharmacies, post offices, gas stations, banks, tobacconists and animal feed stores.
• Authorities stress that there is no need to buy en masse (“hamster purchases”)

What can you do?

• Stay isolated and at home as much as possible.
• You can go out, for a walk for example, but only anyone or with people you live with. The government is urging to keep excursions to an absolute minimum.
• Do some home maintenance you’ve been putting off. Follow the tips from our fashion editor Philipp Rossmann. 

The possible penalties

• The Austrian government is tasked with enforcing these rules and penalties can reach up tot €2,180.

No Bars, No Restaurants, No Sports

• Restaurants and bars will be completely closed from Tuesday, March 17, onwards.
• Playgrounds and sports facilities are closed

Travel & Border News

• The borders with Germany, Hungary, the Czech Republic and Slovakia are closed and no entry is permitted for people from Italy, Switzerland and Liechtenstein, unless you have a medical certificate. 
• Austrian Airlines and Laudamotion have grounded their fleets, while Wizz Air is no longer operating flights to and from Vienna. 
• 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. 
• Travelers coming from the Netherlands, UK, Russia and Ukraine are banned from entering the country.

Education & Daycare

• Kindergartens, primary and secondary schools are closed. Parents are encouraged to school their children at home unless they are unable to do so for work reasons. 
• The government is offering daycare for kindergarten and primary school children.
• On Saturday, March 14, Education Minister Heinz Faßmann announced that Austrian high school examinations, which were planned for May 5-13, will be postponed (source: orf.at)

Healthcare & Hospitals

• As of Tuesday, March 31 at 17:00, 10,711 people have been diagnosed as having COVID-19, altogether 52,344 have been tested and 1,436 people have recovered from the virus in Austria. On Wednesday March 11, there were only 245 diagnosed cases in Austria. There have been 146 deaths from Coronavirus (Source: Social Ministry)
• 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

• 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.
  • For more information see “Aid for Businesses” below.
• 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.

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). 

• Infoblatt der Österreichischen Apothekerkammer (ÖAK) (Arabisch)
• Infoblatt der Österreichischen Apothekerkammer (ÖAK) (BKS)
• Infoblatt der Österreichischen Apothekerkammer (ÖAK) (Chinesisch)
• Infoblatt der Österreichischen Apothekerkammer (ÖAK) (Dari/Farsi)
• Infoblatt der Österreichischen Apothekerkammer (ÖAK) (Englisch)
• Infoblatt der Österreichischen Apothekerkammer (ÖAK) (Französisch)
• Infoblatt der Österreichischen Apothekerkammer (ÖAK) (Paschtu)
• Infoblatt der Österreichischen Apothekerkammer (ÖAK) (Polnisch)
• Infoblatt der Österreichischen Apothekerkammer (ÖAK) (Russisch)
• Infoblatt der Österreichischen Apothekerkammer (ÖAK) (Somali)
• Infoblatt der Österreichischen Apothekerkammer (ÖAK) (Türkisch)

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

• Infoblatt des BMI und des BMGSPK (Arabisch)
• Infoblatt des BMI und des BMGSPK (BKS)
• Infoblatt des BMI und des BMGSPK (Chinesisch)
• Infoblatt des BMI und des BMGSPK (Dari/Farsi)
• Infoblatt des BMI und des BMGSPK (Englisch)
• Infoblatt des BMI und des BMGSPK (Französisch)
• Infoblatt des BMI und des BMGSPK (Paschtu)
• Infoblatt des BMI und des BMGSPK (Polnisch)
• Infoblatt des BMI und des BMGSPK (Russisch)
• Infoblatt des BMI und des BMGSPK (Somali)
• Infoblatt des BMI und des BMGSPK (Türkisch)

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.