New Covid-19 Rules Introduced in Austria as Cases Rise

16th September 2021

Cases are rising with the number of people in intensive care growing, though the figures remain relatively low compared to other European nations. Worries are growing as the ski season approaches with some resorts already open and others firing up lifts in the coming weeks. NEW

Hintertux and Soelden ski resorts in the Tirol are already open with a handful of glacier resorts opening later this month and into October.

The new measures have come into force this week:

Antigen tests are only valid for 24 -hours instead of 48- hours after the test was taken.
Hospital grade FFP2 masks must be worn instead of normal facemarks in essential retail shops and on public transport. Ski lifts are classed as public transport.
For those who have not been vaccinated, wearing an FFP2 mask is also mandatory in non-essential retail and in cultural institutions.
Proof of vaccination, negative test or recovery from Covid-19 is required for events and gatherings of 25 people or more.

FFP2 mask on the ski slopes of Austria

The police and health authorities have been authorised to make spot checks.

The Austrian government has stricter measures will be introduced as winter approaches if hospitals are threatened.

Austria’s federal states are free to put in place tighter rules if they consider they are required.

The Austrian Chancellor, Sebastian Kurz, said “the answer has to be vaccination and not lockdown”.

Switzerland has also introduced new measures recently as cases rise:

Here are the current case levels in the main ski nations of Europe, with the figures from a week ago in brackets:

Switzerland has 259 (173) confirmed cases per 100,000 of population over a 7-day period, where in Austria it remains at 147 (123).

Of the other alpine and skiing nations France is on 102 (140) with Italy at 58 68).

In the Pyrenees, Spain is on 63 97) and Andorra 36 (38).

In Scandinavia, Norway us at 169 (189) with Finland on 64 72) and Sweden at 72 (68).

The UK remains one of the worst affected country in Europe with 373 confirmed cases per 100,000 people over 7-days.

Here at PlanetSKI we are keeping a close eye on the situation in all the ski nations in Europe and will be reporting on the situation on a regular basis as winter approaches.