Austria has announced it will take steps to further relax existing measures from June 10th and then July 1st, with Chancellor Sebastian Kurz announcing he will keep the promise he made that there would be a “return to normal” in the summer.
Kurz said the progress in the vaccination campaign meant there was an “ideal basis” for the next opening steps.
Gatherings
From July 1st the group restrictions for celebrations such as weddings and birthdays will no longer apply. Currently, food and drink may not be served at weddings and a maximum of 50 people are allowed to attend. However, there will be obligation to notify the authorities for gatherings of 100 guests or more and to get authorisation for gatherings of 500 or more people.
The curfew will be moved from 10pm to midnight on June 10th. This means people in Austria will be able to watch European Football Championship games in bars from June 11th.
Retail, leisure and cultural venues
On June 10th the maximum occupancy of cultural venues will be increased to 75 percent (previously it was 50 percent). The ten-square-meter rule per person now applies in the leisure, sports and wellness sectors, allowing more people to use facilities at once. In retail, too, will be reduced from 20 to ten square meters per customer, meaning more people can enter shops.
From July 1st full occupancy at cultural and sporting venues will be possible both inside and outside.
Border rules
Pre-travel clearance will only be required if you are coming from a high-risk area. Discussions are ongoing over how to reduce traffic jams at Austria’s border crossings.
Restaurants
From June 10th, the mandatory closing time for restaurants will be increase from 10pm to midnight.
In addition, the number of people who may sit at a table will be doubled from four to eight people inside and up to 16 adults outdoors in the restaurant.
From July 1st there will also no longer any be any restrictions on group sizes in restaurants, pubs and cafes, but you will still have to provide evidence of having been vaccinated, recovered from or tested negative for Covid-19 to go there.
Clubs
Discos and clubs are expected to reopen from 1st July.
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From June 10th, the mask mandate will be relaxed for outdoor areas for people who have been vaccinated, have tested negative all those who have recently recovered from the virus.
Masks have been required in outdoor areas where the mandatory two-metre distance has been difficult to maintain, for example at protests or in public spaces where large amounts of people congregate.