Austria introduces new COVID-19 measures to fight Omicron

Austria will implement new measures to fight the spread of the Omicron variant and rise in COVID-19 cases but will relax others due to Omicron being less dangerous than previous variants, the government has announced.

The new measures were announced after a meeting between the government and the Covid Crisis Coordination unit (GECKO), Austria’s main expert body on the pandemic.

One of the main updates regarding the COVID-19 restrictions includes introducing obligations to wear FFP2-masks outdoors. While Italy and Spain have long relied on such a measure, it is a first for Austria.

The government is also relaxing some measures, most notably the duration of quarantines. People who had received three jabs or were wearing FFP2-masks when they came in contact with infected persons do not have to quarantine anymore. Even those who test positive can end their quarantine after five days if they show a negative test.

According to the government, the relaxation of measures is justified because the new Omicron variant is less severe.

Health Minister Wolfgang Mückstein has stated that the Omicron variant is less dangerous than the formerly prevalent Delta variant. While one in four patients infected with the Delta variant end up in intensive care units, the same is true for just one in ten Omicron patients, Mückstein said.

The government also intends to increase the pressure on the unvaccinated. While they are already prohibited from entering bars and non-essential stores, there are currently no measures to control the adherence to this rule. The government thus wants to oblige store owners to control the vaccination status of their customers from next Tuesday onwards. If they are not complying, their store will be temporarily closed.

(Oliver Noyan | EURACTIV.de)