• A minimum distance of 1 metre must be maintained in the workplace if the risk of infection cannot be minimised through suitable protective measures.
• If the minimum distance cannot be maintained due to the specific nature of the occupational activity, other suitable protective measures must be taken to minimise the risk of infection (e.g. through the formation of fixed teams, the installation of partitions or Plexiglas walls).
• The mandatory wearing of nose-mouth protection in areas where not prescribed by law is permitted only where an agreement has been reached between employer and employee.

Measures for Risk Groups:

Persons with previous illnesses receive special protection at their workplace:

• High-risk patients can either directly contact their doctor or obtain a letter from their social insurance agency, which they can take to their doctor.
• On the basis of a checklist, the doctor produces a certificate which the employee gives to the employer in order to receive protection.
• The employee has three options:
  • They can arrange their own safety at work, for instance a larger room or a specific work environment to minimise the risk of infection.
  • If this is not possible, working from home should be considered.
  • If this is also not possible, the employee should be released from employment; the costs of the refinancing are borne at federal level.
     

A visit to the doctor is not obligatory, nevertheless persons with previous illnesses have a right to special protection.

Safe travel by public transport requires clear rules, therefore the following applies to passengers:

• The minimum distance of 1 metre must also be kept inside public means of transport as well as in stations and waiting areas. This rule may be deviated from by way of exception if the number of passengers makes it impossible to maintain a distance of at least 1 metre, including when boarding and alighting.
• Wearing nose-mouth protection for the entire journey is mandatory.
• According to the house rules of Wiener Linien, nose-mouth protection must also be worn in underground stations after passing the ticket validator barrier.

• Information sheet for kindergartens
• Information sheet on starting school in autumn 2020

• A distance of at least 1 metre must be kept between people who do not live in the same household when entering customer areas. This also applies to open-air markets.
• When entering the customer area in enclosed spaces of retail business, nose-mouth protection must be worn. This also applies to physically connected premises (e.g. malls) and open-air markets.
• The operators of these businesses and their employees must wear nose-mouth protection when in contact with customers, unless another suitable form of protection for spatial separation which guarantees the same level of safety between the individuals concerned is available.
• If the nature of the service means that the minimum distance of 1 metre between customer and service provider cannot be kept, the infection risk must be minimised by taking appropriate safety measures.

• Nose-mouth protection must be worn or another suitable protective measure taken when visiting care homes, hospitals and health spas as well as places providing health and care services, but only when in enclosed spaces (in addition to keeping the minimum distance of 1 metre).

• Nose-mouth protection must be worn when attending administrative authorities and administrative courts in person.

• The permitted opening times are fixed from 5 a.m. to 1 a.m., including for private parties (e.g. weddings).
• Groups of visitors may be admitted if these consist of a maximum of 10 adults plus under-age children or persons living in the same household.
• The operators of these businesses and their employees must wear nose-mouth protection when in contact with customers in enclosed spaces, unless another suitable form of protection for spatial separation which guarantees the same level of safety between the individuals concerned is available.
• A minimum distance of 1 metre must be kept between the groups of visitors or other suitable protective measures must be put in place to ensure spatial separation. This does not apply to persons sitting at the same table.
• A minimum distance of 1 metre must be kept from other people (who do not belong to the group of visitors) and nose-mouth protection must be worn when entering the restaurant until the table is reached and when leaving the table.
• Customers are recommended to reserve a table in advance, so as to enable the restaurant operators to plan properly.
• Food and drink must not be consumed in the immediate vicinity of the serving point (i.e. no consumption at the counter). In enclosed spaces, consumption is only permitted when seated at the designated tables.
• Night-time catering establishments (discotheques, clubs and bars with customer seating areas) will remain closed until further notice.
  • If bars have suitable seating and can adhere to the required rules on distance, they may also reopen provided that they close business at 1 a.m.
• Accommodation establishments may be entered under the following conditions:
  • A distance of at least 1 metre must be kept in generally accessibly areas between people who do not live in the same household or do not belong to the group of guests in the shared residential unit.
  • When entering generally accessible areas in enclosed spaces of retail business, nose-mouth protection must be worn.
  • The operators of these businesses and their employees must wear nose-mouth protection when in contact with customers, unless another suitable form of protection for spatial separation which guarantees the same level of safety between the individuals concerned is available.
  • The regulations for dining apply in the dining area of accommodation establishments.
  • Keep a minimum distance of 1.5 metres in shared bedrooms or use another form of technical protective measure for spatial separation.

• Admission to enclosed spaces in places of worship is permitted under the following conditions:
  • A distance of at least 1 metre must be kept between people who do not, at least temporarily, live in the same household.
• During services of worship outdoors, a minimum distance of 1 metre must be kept from people who do not live in the same household.
• The requirement to keep to the minimum distance does not apply if the performance of religious acts is required.

• The visitor area of museums, exhibitions, archives and other leisure facilities may be entered if people who do not live in the same household keep a distance of at least 1 metre from each other. When entering the visitor area in enclosed spaces, nose-mouth protection must be worn.
• Events without allocated and identified seats involving up to 10 people in enclosed spaces and involving up to 100 people in the open air are possible from 21 September. For funerals, a maximum of 500 persons are allowed to attend.
• Events with exclusively allocated and identified seats involving up to 1500 people in enclosed spaces and involving up to 3000 people in the open air are possible. Events with more than 250 people (except funerals) require the competent district authority’s authorisation.
• The provisions governing events also apply to weddings.
• The following applies to (public) events and gatherings for vocational education and training purposes:
  • A distance of at least 1 metre must be kept between people who do not live in the same household.
  • Nose-mouth masks must be worn when entering and inside event venues in enclosed spaces – this does not apply to the allocated seat as long as a distance of 1 metre can be kept.
• At gatherings in accordance with the Assembly Act, nose-mouth protection must be worn if the minimum distance of 1 metre cannot be kept.
• Specialist and public trade fairs may be attended provided that:
  • A distance of at least 1 metre must be kept between people who do not live in the same household.
  • Nose-mouth protection must be worn.
  • The maximum number of people permitted to attend events also applies to presentations and seminars at specialist and public trade fairs.

• Admission to sports venues is permitted under the following conditions:
  • A minimum distance of 1 metre must be kept from people who do not live in the same household – except when practising sport.
  • When entering the customer area in enclosed spaces of sports venues, nose-mouth protection must be worn (this does not apply in wet areas such as showers and indoor swimming pools).
  • The operators of these businesses and their employees must wear nose-mouth protection when in contact with customers, unless another suitable form of protection for spatial separation which guarantees the same level of safety between the individuals concerned is available.
  • When practising sports involving body contact, either through clubs or in private sports facilities, the club or operator of the private sports facility must develop and implement a COVID-19 prevention plan.
• Extracurricular youth education and youth work programmes as well as supervised holiday camps may be utilised. The maximum number of people permitted to attend events applies.
• It has been possible to visit swimming pools, bathing ponds and sauna facilities since 29 May under the following conditions:
  • A distance of at least 1 metre must be kept between people who do not live in the same household.
  • The requirement to keep to the minimum distance does not apply under water.

There is no vaccine. Treatment is symptomatic, i.e. by alleviating the symptoms of the disease, for example by giving antipyretic agents.

Common coronavirus infections affecting humans are mostly mild and symptom-free. Frequent indicators of an infection with the novel coronavirus are, among others, fever, cough, shortness of breath, and difficulty breathing. In severe cases, the infection can cause pneumonia, severe acute respiratory syndrome, kidney failure, or even death. Mild illness courses (symptoms of a cold) as well as infections without any symptoms can occur. Some cases can progress mildly (symptoms of a cold) and some cases do not show any symptoms.

Currently, experts assume that the course of the illness for the novel coronavirus is less severe than for SARS and MERS.

Video "How does the illness manifest itself?" (AGES/Austrian Agency for Health and Food Safety)

As of today, there is no definitive information about how dangerous the virus is. For the time being, the novel coronavirus seems to be considerably less dangerous than MERS (with a mortality rate of up to 30 percent) and SARS (approx. 10 percent mortality rate). For the novel coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2), the assumed mortality rate is up to three percent. Just like for the seasonal flu caused by influenza viruses (mortality rate under 1 percent), especially elderly people and people with a weak immune system are affected.

Video "Wo dangerous is the novel coronavirus?" (AGES/Austrian Agency for Health and Food Safety)

Hygiene measures are to be followed, just like during the flu season. The most important and most effective measure to protect yourself and others from getting a respiratory infection are good hand hygiene, correct cough etiquette, and keeping a minimum distance (approx. 1 to 2 meters) to people who might be infected.

• A new and easier option for short-term working
• Available for up to six months for the time being

More answers to questions about “corona-related short-term working” is available in the latest publication of the Austrian Federal Ministry of Labor, Family and Youth.