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COVID-19 updates: Vienna-Based UN Organizations

​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​UN.png         IAEA.png          UNIDO.png         CTBTO.png

For the latest numbers of COVID-19 infection and recovery rates click here

Read more information relating to the return to the VIC premises in the VBO updates, which can be found by scrolling to the bottom of the page.


Advice from the VIC Medical Service

  • If you have travelled during the last 14 days to one of the affected countries, then call the Austrian COVID-19 hotline: 1450.
  • If you have not travelled and are still worried call your GP or 1450.
  • If the symptoms are mild and you would be considered a suspected case, then 1450 will inform the Aerztefunkdienst, the mobile doctor service, and you will be tested at your home. Results are back normally within 24 hours, sometimes earlier.
  • You can also contact Medical Service which is able to assist with the assessment for any suspected case and can facilitate the process with the Austrian health line 1450.

If you are tested positive for COVID-19 you will be monitored and asked to stay in home quarantine by the Austrian authorities. Most of the time (more than 80 percent of cases) the illness will be a mild disease (flu-like, common cold-like illness).

Your family members have a potential chance to be infected during your 14-day home quarantine. The principles of avoiding close contact still apply at home. If possible, you should have your own room to separate you physically from the rest of the family. If that is not possible direct or close contact should be avoided, in line with the general respiratory illness prevention measures. This procedure would apply if a family member tests positive rather than you.

In case of any severe illness you call 144 and the emergency ambulance service will attend to you.

You must notify the VIC Medical Service about the positive test result. This will allow the Medical Service to monitor and assist with any questions regarding healthcare matters.

Insights on how to get the support you need

Around the world, social distancing, quarantine or isolation measures are part of the global effort to slow COVID 19’s spread. But cutting regular social contact and interrupting daily routines, combined with the stress of family and work responsibilities and the exposure to worrying news, can take a toll on your emotional and mental wellbeing.

What to Expect

During a period of social distancing, quarantine or isolation, you or your family members may experience:

  • Fear and anxiety: Feeling anxious or worried about contracting COVID-19 or spreading it to others, having concerns about obtaining food and personal supplies, taking time off work or fulfilling family care obligations.
  • Lack of energy and sadness: Interrupting your daily routine may result in feelings of sadness, apathy or boredom.
  • Anger, frustration or irritability: Loss of personal freedom can be frustrating. You may also experience anger or resentment leading you to get easily upset with those close to you.
  • Stigmatization: If you are sick or have been exposed to someone who has COVID-19, you may feel stigmatized by others.

How to Cope Better

It is important to recognize these emotions and to know that there are tools to help you cope better in this difficult situation.

Limit news consumption to reliable sources

It’s important to obtain accurate and timely public health information regarding COVID-19. Trusted organizations—including the World Health Organization, U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control are ideal sources of information on the virus. Remember that too much exposure to media coverage of the virus can lead to increased feelings of fear and anxiety. Psychologists recommend balancing time spent on news and social media with other activities unrelated to quarantine or isolation, such as reading, listening to music or learning a new language.

Create and follow a daily routine

Maintaining a daily routine can help both adults and children preserve a sense of order and purpose in their lives despite the unfamiliarity of isolation and quarantine. Try to include regular daily activities, such as work, exercise or learning, even if they must be executed remotely. Integrate other healthy pastimes as needed.

Stay virtually connected with others

Your face-to-face interactions may be limited, but psychologists suggest using phone calls, text messages, video chat and social media to access social support networks. If you’re feeling sad or anxious, use these conversations as an opportunity to discuss your experience and associated emotions. Reach out to those you know who are in a similar situation.

Maintain a healthy lifestyle seek professional support when needed

Get enough sleep, eat well and exercise in your home when you are physically capable of doing so. Try to avoid using alcohol or drugs as a way to cope with the stresses of isolation and quarantine. If needed, consider telehealth options for psychotherapy. If you already have a psychologist, contact her or him to see if they can continue your sessions online.

Use psychological strategies to manage stress and stay positive

Aim to make a realistic assessment of your concerns and your ability to cope. Accept that there are things beyond your control, which cannot be changed, and focus on the positive elements in your life and the things you can do. One way to do this is to keep a daily gratitude journal. You may also choose to download smartphone applications and online videos that deliver mindfulness and relaxation exercises(see for example20 Minute Connection Practice and Guided Meditation) and coping and resilience resources such as exercises for deep breathing, positive imagery, muscle relaxation and more.

https://www.headspace.com/covid-19 offers an excellent compilation of resources on meditation, stress management and other coping techniques for individuals, managers and children.

Focusing on the altruistic reasons for social distancing, quarantine or isolation can also help mitigate psychological distress. Remember that by following these measures, you and your family are protecting yourselves and your community, particularly those who are most vulnerable.

Helping your children cope with stress

Keep in mind that children may experience stress in different ways, such as being more clingy, anxious, withdrawing, angry or agitated, bedwetting etc. It is important to listen to their concerns and reassure them, providing age-appropriate factual information about the situation and the protective measures that should be followed. Keep to regular routines and schedules as much as possible, or help create new ones in a new environment, including school/learning as well as time for safely playing and relaxing.

Adapted from:

www.apa.org;

www.apa.org/practice/programs/dmhi/research-information/social-distancing

www.who.int

Other helpful resources:

https://www.mindful.org/connection-practice-remedy-feelings-isolation/

www.mindful.org/category/meditation/guided-meditation/

For people who have seasonal allergies, springtime this year coincides with the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic. Because both conditions affect the respiratory tract, it is understandable that a person who has seasonal allergies would get anxious this year. Keep in mind that the main difference between both conditions is that seasonal allergies generally don’t cause fever or gastro-intestinal symptoms, and they respond to treatment with an antihistamine or similar medications.

Below are some tips to help distinguish the two conditions:

Symptom Covid-19 Allergy
Fever Yes No
Chills Yes No
Body aches Yes No
Shortness of breath Yes Rarely (asthma, bronchitis)
Fatigue Yes Generally no
Cough Yes (dry, persistent) Yes (dry/productive)
Sore/itchy throat Yes Yes
Sneezing Rarely Yes
Running nose Yes, sometimes Yes, commonly
Congested nose Yes Yes, very much so
Red eye Yes - rarely, not itchy Yes common, itchy
Headache Yes Yes, sometimes
Nausea and Vomiting Yes No
Diarrhoea yes No

If you suffer from seasonal allergies and you are not sure whether your symptoms are due to one or the other condition, please contact your doctor or the VIC Medical Service for assistance.


Updates from the main Vienna Based Organizations ​​in the VIC

Vienna International Centre COVID-19 update – 25 May 2022

In today's update:

  • Message from the four main Vienna International Centre (VIC)-based organizations
  • Latest Austrian Developments and Measures

NOTE: New items in bold

MESSAGE FROM THE MAIN VIC-BASED ORGANIZATIONS (VBOs)

UNOV/UNODC – IAEA – UNIDO – CTBTO

  • In line with the announced changes to regulations in our Host Country and Host City effective 1 June (see section on Latest Austrian Developments and Measures), FFP2 masks will continue to be mandatory in the following places at the Vienna International Centre (VIC) from 1 June:
    • VIC Medical Centre
    • Pharmacy
  • From 1 June, masks will no longer be mandatory in the banks, post office and commissary.
  • In keeping with the Austrian authorities' guidance and VIC Medical Service advice, it is still recommended that personnel wear FFP2 masks at the VIC, especially indoors in crowded situations.
  • In line with VIC Medical Service advice, the COVID-19-specific capacity limits in elevators at the VIC are lifted with immediate effect.
  • Based on Medical Service recommendations, the Guidance for organizing in-person meetings at the VIC was adjusted and is available here. In alignment with the above, FFP2 masks will continue to be generally recommended in meeting rooms. The meeting guidelines will be updated on 1 June to reflect the lifting of the mask requirement for banks, the post office and the commissary.
  • Updates will be issued whenever there is fresh information from the VBOs, the Host Country or the Host City.
  • Between updates, you can keep up to date and refer to previous material and reminders by visiting our VBO COVID-19 website.
  • On the site you can find all past updates and guidelines, including on the procedure for obtaining EU Digital COVID Certificates, as well as useful links including to official information in English and other languages.
  • No log-in is needed.
  • Link to the site:

https://nucleus.iaea.org/sites/covid19/SitePages/Home.aspx

LATEST AUSTRIAN DEVELOPMENTS AND MEASURES:

  • As of 1 June, the nationwide rules will no longer require wearing masks in some settings where they are currently required, the Health Minister and the Constitution Minister announced on Tuesday, referring to a “pause" in the mask requirement.
  • The changes will not be the same in all provinces, as each province, including Vienna, can implement additional rules.
  • The Mayor of Vienna announced on Tuesday that in Vienna, the mask requirement would remain on public transport (whereas this will be lifted in the nationwide rules), as well as in healthcare settings, including pharmacies, and residential care facilities. Both in Vienna and outside Vienna the mask requirement will be lifted in essential retail.
  • The mandatory weekly PCR tests in schools will be discontinued as of 1 June.
  • The mandatory COVID-19 vaccination will continue to be suspended during the summer months.
  • The legal texts on the above are not yet published. The legal text on the national rules valid since 16 April is available here in German. The City of Vienna's legal text is here, also in German.
  • Mandatory vaccination in Austria is suspended. The legal texts are available here, here and here.
  • From Monday 16 May 2022, evidence of low epidemiological risk (COVID-19 vaccinated, recovered or tested) is no longer required for entry to Austria from abroad. Currently, no countries or territories are classified as areas with very high epidemiological risk, for travellers from which there would be special rules on entering Austria. The legal text on entry to Austria is available here.
  • Legal texts are mostly in German, but the official Vienna Tourist Board provides regularly updated arrival and departure COVID-19 information in English as well as an overview of the rules in place in the city. More here.
  • There is information on Austria's overall vaccination programme in German and on Vienna's programme in German with links to other languages, including English.
  • There is a wide range of information on COVID-19 measures, vaccination and testing in 17 different languages, including English, here.
  • The official Austrian dashboard has the latest data on COVID-19. It is available in English as well as German and is updated each day at 14:00.
  • Austria's national vaccination dashboard is online here in English and German. It works best using Firefox or Google Chrome.
  • DISCLAIMER: The VBOs cannot vouch for legal accuracy or completeness of the summaries in this update. Personnel are advised to refer to the original legal texts and to make their own checks before travelling.

COVID-19 WEBSITE FOR ALL UN SYSTEM PERSONNEL (includes 24/7 COVID-19 helpline):

https://www.un.org/en/coronavirus/info-for-un-staff

FEEDBACK/SUGGESTIONS:

Please write to sonja.wintersberger@un.org

​ 

Vienna International Centre Crisis Mana​​gement Team COVID-19 update – 18 May 2022
 
 In today's update:
 
1. Latest Austrian Developments and Measures

 
NOTE: New items in bold 
 
· Updates will be issued whenever there is fresh information from the VBOs, the Host Country or the Host City.

· Between updates, you can keep up to date and refer to previous material and reminders by visiting our VBO COVID-19 website.

· On the site you can find all past updates and guidelines, including on the procedure for obtaining EU Digital COVID Certificates, as well as useful links including to official information in English and other languages.

· No log-in is needed.

· Link to the site:

https://nucleus.iaea.org/sites/covid19/SitePages/Home.aspx
  

LATEST AUSTRIAN DEVELOPMENTS AND MEASURES:
 
· From Monday 16 May 2022, evidence of low epidemiological risk (COVID-19 vaccinated, recovered or tested) is no longer required for entry to Austria from abroad. Currently, no countries or territories are classified as areas with very high epidemiological risk, for travellers from which there would be special rules on entering Austria. The legal text on entry to Austria is available here.

· The legal text on the national rules valid since 16 April is available here in German. The City of Vienna's legal text is here, also in German.

· Mandatory vaccination in Austria is suspended. The legal texts are available here, here and here.

· Legal texts are mostly in German, but the official Vienna Tourist Board provides regularly updated arrival and departure COVID-19 information in English as well as an overview of the rules in place in the city. More here.

· There is information on Austria's overall vaccination programme in German and on Vienna's programme in German with links to other languages, including English.

· There is a wide range of information on COVID-19 measures, vaccination and testing in 17 different languages, including English, here.

· The official Austrian dashboard has the latest data on COVID-19. It is available in English as well as German and is updated each day at 14:00.

· Austria's national vaccination dashboard is online here in English and German. It works best using Firefox or Google Chrome.

· DISCLAIMER: The CMT cannot vouch for legal accuracy or completeness of the summaries in this update. Personnel are advised to refer to the original legal texts and to make their own checks before travelling.
 
 
COVID-19 WEBSITE FOR ALL UN SYSTEM PERSONNEL (includes 24/7 COVID-19 helpline):
 
https://www.un.org/en/coronavirus/info-for-un-staff
 
 
FEEDBACK/SUGGESTIONS:
 
Please write to sonja.wintersberger@un.org
​​​

Vienna International Centre COVID-19 update – 28 April 2022

 In today's update:

  • Update from the VIC Medical Service

NOTE: New items in bold

VIC Medical Service update and reminders:

The Austrian national vaccination commission has issued updated guidelines on COVID-19 vaccination. According to these, the commission considers that generally, people need a total of 3 vaccination doses for the best possible and long-term vaccination protection. From an immunological point of view, these vaccinations are to be regarded as a basic immunization, which is therefore administered in a “2+1 scheme" (2 initial vaccinations plus a further vaccination after 6 months). Past infections with SARS-CoV-2 only lead to a postponement of these vaccinations and to an improved immunity situation, but in no way replace individual vaccinations.

A fourth vaccination dose is recommended for people aged 80 and above or people aged 65 and above with prior medical conditions. The commission stated that people not falling into these categories may be vaccinated with a fourth dose upon personal request.

In the updated guidelines, the commission recommends a third vaccination dose “booster" also for children aged 5-11. The third dose is recommended no sooner than 6 months after the second dose and before the start of the school year in autumn.

The updated Austrian national vaccination commission guidelines (Version 10.0, 25.04.2022, in German) are available here.

Information on the number of cases of SARS CoV-2 involving VBO personnel is available here.

  • Updates will be issued whenever there is fresh information from the VBOs, the Host Country or the Host City.
  • Between updates, you can keep up to date and refer to previous material and reminders by visiting our VBO COVID-19 website.
  • On the site you can find all past updates and guidelines, including on the procedure for obtaining EU Digital COVID Certificates, as well as useful links including to official information in English and other languages.
  • No log-in is needed.
  • Link to the site:

https://nucleus.iaea.org/sites/covid19/SitePages/Home.aspx

LATEST AUSTRIAN DEVELOPMENTS AND MEASURES:

  • The legal text on the national rules valid since 16 April is available here in German. The City of Vienna's legal text is here, also in German.
  • Mandatory vaccination in Austria is suspended. The legal texts are available here, here and here.
  • The legal text (in German) on entering Austria is available here.
  • Legal texts are mostly in German, but the official Vienna Tourist Board provides regularly updated arrival and departure COVID-19 information in English as well as an overview of the rules in place in the city. More here.
  • There is information on Austria's overall vaccination programme in German and on Vienna's programme in German with links to other languages, including English.
  • There is a wide range of information on COVID-19 measures, vaccination and testing in 17 different languages, including English, here.
  • The official Austrian dashboard has the latest data on COVID-19. It is available in English as well as German and is updated each day at 14:00.
  • Austria's national vaccination dashboard is online here in English and German. It works best using Firefox or Google Chrome.
  • DISCLAIMER: The VBOs cannot vouch for legal accuracy or completeness of the summaries in this update. Personnel are advised to refer to the original legal texts and to make their own checks before travelling.

COVID-19 WEBSITE FOR ALL UN SYSTEM PERSONNEL (includes 24/7 COVID-19 helpline):

https://www.un.org/en/coronavirus/info-for-un-staff

FEEDBACK/SUGGESTIONS:

Please write to sonja.wintersberger@un.org

COVID-19 update – 21 April 2022

 In today's update:

  • Message from the four main Vienna International Centre (VIC)-based organizations 
  • Latest Austrian Developments and Measures

NOTE: New items in bold​

MESSAGE FROM THE MAIN VIC-BASED ORGANIZATIONS (VBOs)

UNOV/UNODC – IAEA – UNIDO – CTBTO

In line with the latest regulations in our Host Country and Host City (see update from 14 April), FFP2 masks are mandatory with immediate effect only in the following places at the Vienna International Centre:

  • VIC Medical Centre
  • Banks
  • Post Office
  • Pharmacy
  • Commissary

In keeping with the Austrian authorities' guidance and VIC Medical Service advice, it is still recommended that personnel wear FFP2 masks indoors at the VIC.

Guidelines for meetings at the VIC have been updated to reflect the latest guidance and are available here.

VIC Medical Service update and reminders:

The Austrian national vaccination commission has recommended a fourth vaccination dose for people aged 80 and above or people aged 65 and above with prior medical conditions. The commission stated that people not falling into these categories may be vaccinated with a fourth dose upon personal request. Details (in German) are available here.

Information on the number of cases of SARS CoV-2 involving VBO personnel is available here.

  • Updates will be issued whenever there is fresh information from the VBOs, the Host Country or the Host City.
  • Between updates, you can keep up to date and refer to previous material and reminders by visiting our VBO COVID-19 website.
  • On the site you can find all past updates and guidelines, including on the procedure for obtaining EU Digital COVID Certificates, as well as useful links including to official information in English and other languages.
  • No log-in is needed.
  • Link to the site:

https://nucleus.iaea.org/sites/covid19/SitePages/Home.aspx

​ LATEST AUSTRIAN DEVELOPMENTS AND MEASURES:

  • The legal text on the national rules valid since 16 April is available here in German. The City of Vienna's legal text is here, also in German.
  • Mandatory vaccination in Austria is suspended. The legal texts are available here, here and here.
  • Legal texts are mostly in German, but the official Vienna Tourist Board provides regularly updated arrival and departure COVID-19 information in English as well as an overview of the rules in place in the city. More here.
  • There is information on Austria's overall vaccination programme in German and on Vienna's programme in German with links to other languages, including English.
  • There is a wide range of information on COVID-19 measures, vaccination and testing in 17 different languages, including English, here.
  • The official Austrian dashboard has the latest data on COVID-19. It is available in English as well as German and is updated each day at 14:00.
  • Austria's national vaccination dashboard is online here in English and German. It works best using Firefox or Google Chrome.
  • DISCLAIMER: The VBOs cannot vouch for legal accuracy or completeness of the summaries in this update. Personnel are advised to refer to the original legal texts and to make their own checks before travelling.

COVID-19 WEBSITE FOR ALL UN SYSTEM PERSONNEL (includes 24/7 COVID-19 helpline):

https://www.un.org/en/coronavirus/info-for-un-staff

FEEDBACK/SUGGESTIONS:

Please write to martin.nesirky@un.org

COVID-19 update – 14 April 2022

In today's update:

  • Message from the four main Vienna International Centre (VIC)-based organizations 
  • Latest Austrian Developments and Measures

NOTE: New items in bold

MESSAGE FROM THE MAIN VIC-BASED ORGANIZATIONS (VBOs)

UNOV/UNODC – IAEA – UNIDO – CTBTO

VIC Medical Service update and reminders:

The Austrian national vaccination commission has recommended a fourth vaccination dose for people aged 80 and above or people aged 65 and above with prior medical conditions. The commission stated that people not falling into these categories may be vaccinated with a fourth dose upon personal request. Details (in German) are available here.

COVID-19 testing programme:

The Host Country has adopted a new COVID-19 testing strategy as of 1 April. Generally, there will continue to be unlimited free tests for people with symptoms and for people in vulnerable settings such as hospitals, residential care and kindergartens. In addition, there will be five PCR-tests (from 1 April) and five antigen tests (from 9 April) per month available to each person free of charge. Schools will continue to apply separate testing programmes. The legal document (in German) is available here.

Each province, including Vienna, has specific arrangements on how and where tests are available. The City of Vienna has published some information on its testing programme from 1 April here (in German). According to this information:

  • On-site testing facilities (eg testing centres, testing containers) as well as the “Alles Gurgelt" programme will remain available in Vienna. The availability of on-site testing will be further evaluated during the month of April based on demand.
  • Five PCR tests per person per month will be available free of charge. People who still have “Alles Gurgelt" test kits at home can use up to ten in total free of charge during the month of April.
  • Additional free tests will be available for people with symptoms or testing to end quarantine, and for one of the reasons listed in the national regulations (eg. people in vulnerable settings such as hospitals, residential care and kindergartens). These additional tests can be done either at one of the on-site testing facilities, through the “Alles Gurgelt" programme by checking the applying exemption on the list displayed, or also by calling 1450 in the case of symptoms.

The “Alles Gurgelt" programme has published information on the arrangements for “Alles Gurgelt" testing from 1 April here (partly available in English). According to this:

  • Five tests can be collected per person per month using a single-use QR code that will be newly generated and expire after each collection.
  • Arrangements for people testing as part of a school or institutional programme will remain the same
  • Identification documents need to be scanned again

Quarantine/mobility reduction requirements:

The Host Country has issued new quarantine guidelines that in some situations replace quarantine with mobility reduction requirements. People subject to mobility reduction requirements may leave their home, go to work, shopping, on errands and walks, but may not go to restaurants, attend events or visit vulnerable settings, and must wear an FFP2 mask during any contact with other people during that time.  

Each province, including Vienna, applies specific rules based on these guidelines that differ in some details of quarantine and mobility reduction. The current practice in Vienna is:

Positive persons: quarantine for 10 days. Quarantine can be ended at any time after Day 5 if the person had no symptoms for the past 48 hours and has a negative PCR test or a test with CT above 30.

Contact Persons (K1): Mobility reduction for 10 days that can be ended with a negative PCR test at any time after Day 5.

The personal quarantine notice from the local health authority is what applies in each individual case.

VIC Medical Service recommends personnel work from home – subject to their work functions -during periods that they are placed under mobility reduction requirements by local health authorities.

Following the latest information received from the Austrian authorities regarding COVID-19 vaccination/boosters personnel are advised as follows:

  • Personnel who are not yet vaccinated against COVID-19 and are eligible to receive a vaccine are advised to do so as soon as possible. COVID-19 vaccines work, as they offer protection against severe disease and death from the virus. More information on how to receive a COVID-19 vaccine and the types of vaccines available can be found here.

Information on the number of cases of SARS CoV-2 involving VBO personnel is available here.

  • Updates will be issued whenever there is fresh information from the VBOs, the Host Country or the Host City.
  • Between updates, you can keep up to date and refer to previous material and reminders by visiting our VBO COVID-19 website.
  • On the site you can find all past updates and guidelines, including on the procedure for obtaining EU Digital COVID Certificates, as well as useful links including to official information in English and other languages.
  • No log-in is needed.
  • Link to the site:

https://nucleus.iaea.org/sites/covid19/SitePages/Home.aspx

LATEST AUSTRIAN DEVELOPMENTS AND MEASURES:

  • Health Minister Johannes Rauch on Thursday announced planned changes to the COVID-19 rules at national level from 16 April:
    • FFP2 masks will continue to be required in essential retail, banks, post offices, on public transport and in healthcare and residential care settings. The general mask requirement in indoor public places will be lifted. 
    • The “3G" access requirement (access only for people vaccinated, recovered or tested) will remain for visitors in hospitals and residential care facilities.
    • The validity of the third vaccination dose where proof of low epidemiological risk is required for access (“Green Pass") will be extended to 12 months, said the Health Minister. The validity of the second dose or recovery will remain as is.
  • The City of Vienna has in place additional measures specific to Vienna. Vienna`s City Councillor for Health said on Thursday that Vienna would follow most of the opening steps at national level as of 16 April:
    • The “2G" access requirement (access only for people vaccinated or recovered) would be lifted in Vienna in settings where it is currently in place, including in restaurants, bars and nightclubs and indoor sports.
    • In Vienna, all visitors and patients in hospitals and residential care facilities would require a PCR test, including those vaccinated and recovered (rather than the “3G" rule at national level)
  • The legal texts on the new rules at national and Vienna level are not yet published.
  • The legal text of the general rules on COVID-19 currently in force in Austria (until 16 April) is available here.
  • The legal text on the rules currently in force in Vienna (until 16 April) is available here.
  • Mandatory vaccination in Austria is suspended. The legal texts are available here, here and here.
  • The legal text in force on travelling to Austria is available here. The “3G" rule generally applies for entering Austria, except for travel from countries and territories categorized as “virus variant areas", which are published in an Annex to the legislation. No such areas are listed now. The Pre-travel Clearance Form, for those who require it, is available here. Generally, those with a legitimation card do not need to fill out this form to enter Austria. But staff should check themselves before travelling.
  • Legal texts are mostly in German, but the official Vienna Tourist Board provides regularly updated arrival and departure COVID-19 information in English as well as an overview of the rules in place in the city. More here.
  • There is information on Austria's overall vaccination programme in German and on Vienna's programme in German with links to other languages, including English.
  • There is a wide range of information on COVID-19 measures, vaccination and testing in 17 different languages, including English, here.
  • The official Austrian dashboard has the latest data on COVID-19. It is available in English as well as German and is updated each day at 14:00.
  • Austria's national vaccination dashboard is online here in English and German. It works best using Firefox or Google Chrome.
  • DISCLAIMER: The VBOs cannot vouch for legal accuracy or completeness of the summaries in this update. Personnel are advised to refer to the original legal texts and to make their own checks before travelling.

COVID-19 WEBSITE FOR ALL UN SYSTEM PERSONNEL (includes 24/7 COVID-19 helpline):

https://www.un.org/en/coronavirus/info-for-un-staff

FEEDBACK/SUGGESTIONS:

Please write to sonja.wintersberger@un.org


In today's update:

  • Message from the four main Vienna International Centre (VIC)-based organizations 
  • Latest Austrian Developments and Measures

NOTE: New items in bold

MESSAGE FROM THE MAIN VIC-BASED ORGANIZATIONS (VBOs)

UNOV/UNODC – IAEA – UNIDO – CTBTO

  • The test kit drop-off service of the “Alles Gurgelt" programme will no longer be available in the VIC from Monday, 11 April.  Tests can currently be dropped off at any REWE outlet in Vienna (BILLA, BILLA PLUS, BIPA and PENNY), at several ÖBB train stations – Wien Hauptbahnhof/Vienna Central Station, Wien Meidling, as well as at the petrol station shops of BP, JET, SHELL, ENI & OMV. Details and updates are available here.

VIC Medical Service update and reminders:

COVID-19 testing programme:

The Host Country has adopted a new COVID-19 testing strategy as of 1 April. Generally, there will continue to be unlimited free tests for people with symptoms and for people in vulnerable settings such as hospitals, residential care and kindergartens. In addition, there will be five PCR-tests (from 1 April) and five antigen tests (from 9 April) per month available to each person free of charge. Schools will continue to apply separate testing programmes. The legal document (in German) is available here.

Each province, including Vienna, has specific arrangements on how and where tests are available. The City of Vienna has published some information on its testing programme from 1 April here (in German). According to this information:

  • On-site testing facilities (eg testing centres, testing containers) as well as the “Alles Gurgelt" programme will remain available in Vienna. The availability of on-site testing will be further evaluated during the month of April based on demand.
  • Five PCR tests per person per month will be available free of charge. People who still have “Alles Gurgelt" test kits at home can use up to ten in total free of charge during the month of April.
  • Additional free tests will be available for people with symptoms or testing to end quarantine, and for one of the reasons listed in the national regulations (eg. people in vulnerable settings such as hospitals, residential care and kindergartens). These additional tests can be done either at one of the on-site testing facilities, through the “Alles Gurgelt" programme by checking the applying exemption on the list displayed, or also by calling 1450 in the case of symptoms.

The “Alles Gurgelt" programme has published information on the arrangements for “Alles Gurgelt" testing from 1 April here (partly available in English). According to this:

  • Five tests can be collected per person per month using a single-use QR code that will be newly generated and expire after each collection.
  • Arrangements for people testing as part of a school or institutional programme will remain the same
  • Identification documents need to be scanned again

Quarantine/mobility reduction requirements:

The Host Country has issued new quarantine guidelines that in some situations replace quarantine with mobility reduction requirements. People subject to mobility reduction requirements may leave their home, go to work, shopping, on errands and walks, but may not go to restaurants, attend events or visit vulnerable settings, and must wear an FFP2 mask during any contact with other people during that time.  

Each province, including Vienna, applies specific rules based on these guidelines that differ in some details of quarantine and mobility reduction. The current practice in Vienna is:

Positive persons: quarantine for 10 days. Quarantine can be ended at any time after Day 5 if the person had no symptoms for the past 48 hours and has a negative PCR test or a test with CT above 30.

Contact Persons (K1): Mobility reduction for 10 days that can be ended with a negative PCR test at any time after Day 5.

The personal quarantine notice from the local health authority is what applies in each individual case.

VIC Medical Service recommends personnel work from home – subject to their work functions -during periods that they are placed under mobility reduction requirements by local health authorities.

Following the latest information received from the Austrian authorities regarding COVID-19 vaccination/boosters personnel are advised as follows:

  • Personnel who are not yet vaccinated against COVID-19 and are eligible to receive a vaccine are advised to do so as soon as possible. COVID-19 vaccines work, as they offer protection against severe disease and death from the virus. More information on how to receive a COVID-19 vaccine and the types of vaccines available can be found here.
  • Information on the number of cases of SARS CoV-2 involving VBO personnel is available here.
  • Updates will be issued whenever there is fresh information from the VBOs, the Host Country or the Host City.
  • Between updates, you can keep up to date and refer to previous material and reminders by visiting our VBO COVID-19 website.
  • On the site you can find all past updates and guidelines, including on the procedure for obtaining EU Digital COVID Certificates, as well as useful links including to official information in English and other languages.
  • No log-in is needed.
  • Link to the site: https://nucleus.iaea.org/sites/covid19/SitePages/Home.aspx

LATEST AUSTRIAN DEVELOPMENTS AND MEASURES:

  • The Host Country has adopted a new COVID-19 testing strategy as of 1 April. From this date, the availability of free tests is limited to a certain number per person per month, with some exceptions. The legal text is available here. Details are outlined in the VIC Medical Service section above.
  • The Host Country has issued new quarantine guidelines replacing quarantine with mobility reduction requirements under certain circumstances. Details are outlined in the VIC Medical Service section above.
  • The legal text of the general rules on COVID-19 currently in force in Austria is available here.
  • The City of Vienna has in place additional measures specific to Vienna. The legal text is available here.
  • Mandatory vaccination in Austria is suspended. The legal texts are available here, here and here.
  • The legal text in force on travelling to Austria is available here. The “3G" rule generally applies for entering Austria, except for travel from countries and territories categorized as “virus variant areas", which are published in an Annex to the legislation. No such areas are listed now. The Pre-travel Clearance Form, for those who require it, is available here. Generally, those with a legitimation card do not need to fill out this form to enter Austria. But staff should check themselves before travelling.
  • Legal texts are mostly in German, but the official Vienna Tourist Board provides regularly updated arrival and departure COVID-19 information in English as well as an overview of the rules in place in the city. More here.
  • There is information on Austria's overall vaccination programme in German and on Vienna's programme in German with links to other languages, including English.
  • There is a wide range of information on COVID-19 measures, vaccination and testing in 17 different languages, including English, here.
  • The official Austrian dashboard has the latest data on COVID-19. It is available in English as well as German and is updated each day at 14:00.
  • Austria's national vaccination dashboard is online here in English and German. It works best using Firefox or Google Chrome.
  • DISCLAIMER: The VBOs cannot vouch for legal accuracy or completeness of the summaries in this update. Personnel are advised to refer to the original legal texts and to make their own checks before travelling.

COVID-19 WEBSITE FOR ALL UN SYSTEM PERSONNEL (includes 24/7 COVID-19 helpline):

https://www.un.org/en/coronavirus/info-for-un-staff

FEEDBACK/SUGGESTIONS:

Please write to sonja.wintersberger@un.org

 In today's update:
 

  • Message from the four main Vienna International Centre (VIC)-based organizations  
  • Latest Austrian Developments and Measures

 
NOTE: New items in bold 
 
MESSAGE FROM THE MAIN VIC-BASED ORGANIZATIONS (VBOs)
UNOV/UNODC – IAEA – UNIDO – CTBTO
 
· Bearing in mind the measures implemented by the Austrian authorities to address the high caseload in our Host Country and advice from the VIC Medical Service, the presence of personnel at the VIC will be in accordance with each individual organization's mandate and operational needs.
· All personnel can play an important role in reducing the risk of transmission at the VIC and in our Host Country.
· Personnel are reminded to:
· Wear FFP2 masks in common areas at the VIC.
· Wear FFP2 masks during meetings and conferences.
· Keep at least one metre away from others; this is particularly important when meeting for lunch or coffee because masks are not worn.
· Stay home if you feel ill or have respiratory symptoms.
· Make use of the testing programmes provided, including the free Alles Gurgelt programme with collection points at the VIC.
· Stay at home and do not come to the VIC if you have tested positive or been placed under quarantine by the local health authorities. It is recommended that personnel work from home  – subject to their work functions - during periods when they are placed under the new mobility reduction requirements by the local health authorities.


VIC Medical Service update and reminders:

The Host Country has issued new quarantine guidelines for contact persons, who are no longer placed under quarantine but subject to mobility reduction requirements for a period of ten days or five days with a negative PCR test after five days. People subject to these requirements may leave their home, go to work, shopping, on errands and walks, but may not go to restaurants, attend events or visit vulnerable settings, and must wear an FFP2 mask during any contact with other people during that time.

The Host Country has also announced new quarantine guidelines for people who tested positive, allowing them to end quarantine after five days if they had no symptoms for 48 hours. For a further five days, they will be subject to mobility reduction requirements. People subject to these requirements may leave their home, go to work, shopping, on errands and walks, but may not go to restaurants, attend events or visit vulnerable settings, and must wear an FFP2 mask during any contact with other people during that time.  The mobility reduction requirements can be ended between days 5-10 with a PCR test that is negative or at CT value 30 or above.

VIC Medical Service recommends personnel work from home – subject to their work functions -during periods that they are placed under mobility reduction requirements by local health authorities.

Following the latest information received from the Austrian authorities regarding COVID-19 vaccination/boosters personnel are advised as follows:

· Personnel who are not yet vaccinated against COVID-19 and are eligible to receive a vaccine are advised to do so as soon as possible. COVID-19 vaccines work, as they offer protection against severe disease and death from the virus. More information on how to receive a COVID-19 vaccine and the types of vaccines available can be found here.

Information on the number of cases of SARS CoV-2 involving VBO personnel is available here. This underscores the importance of following the prevention measures below. 

· Updates will be issued whenever there is fresh information from the VBOs, the Host Country or the Host City.
· Between updates, you can keep up to date and refer to previous material and reminders by visiting our VBO COVID-19 website.
· On the site you can find all past updates and guidelines, including on the procedure for obtaining EU Digital COVID Certificates, as well as useful links including to official information in English and other languages.
· No log-in is needed.
· Link to the site:
 
https://nucleus.iaea.org/sites/covid19/SitePages/Home.aspx
  
LATEST AUSTRIAN DEVELOPMENTS AND MEASURES:
 
· From Thursday, 24 March, FFP2 masks are required in all indoor public spaces everywhere in Austria. This measure was already in place in Vienna.
· There are specific rules for nightclubs and events without assigned seating with more than 100 people, where organizers can require “3G" access in lieu of masks.
· Also from this date, the Austrian Government recommends telecommuting where this is feasible.
· The legal texts of the regulations and the changes are available here and here.
· The City of Vienna has in place additional measures specific to Vienna. The legal text is available here.
· The Host Country has issued new quarantine guidelines replacing quarantine with mobility reduction requirements under certain circumstances. Details are outlined in the VIC Medical Service section above.
· The aim of the revised guidelines is to address staff shortages in the health and social care sector. While the number of patients in intensive care is relatively low and stable, the number of COVID-19 patients in regular hospital beds continues to rise.
· Mandatory vaccination in Austria is suspended. The legal texts are available here, here and here.
· The legal text in force on travelling to Austria is available here. The “3G" rule generally applies for entering Austria, except for travel from countries and territories categorized as “virus variant areas", which are published in an Annex to the legislation. No such areas are listed now. The Pre-travel Clearance Form, for those who require it, is available here. Generally, those with a legitimation card do not need to fill out this form to enter Austria. But staff should check themselves before travelling.
· Legal texts are mostly in German, but the official Vienna Tourist Board provides regularly updated arrival and departure COVID-19 information in English as well as an overview of the rules in place in the city. More here.
· There is information on Austria's overall vaccination programme in German and on Vienna's programme in German with links to other languages, including English.
· There is a wide range of information on COVID-19 measures, vaccination and testing in 17 different languages, including English, here.
· The official Austrian dashboard has the latest data on COVID-19. It is available in English as well as German and is updated each day at 14:00.
· Austria's national vaccination dashboard is online here in English and German. It works best using Firefox or Google Chrome.
· DISCLAIMER: The CMT cannot vouch for legal accuracy or completeness of the summaries in this update. Personnel are advised to refer to the original legal texts and to make their own checks before travelling. 

COVID-19 WEBSITE FOR ALL UN SYSTEM PERSONNEL (includes 24/7 COVID-19 helpline):
 
https://www.un.org/en/coronavirus/info-for-un-staff
 
FEEDBACK/SUGGESTIONS:
 
Please write to martin.nesirky@un.org



 In today's update:

  • Message from the four main Vienna International Centre (VIC)-based organizations 
  • Latest Austrian Developments and Measures

NOTE: New items in bold

MESSAGE FROM THE MAIN VIC-BASED ORGANIZATIONS (VBOs)

UNOV/UNODC – IAEA – UNIDO – CTBTO

  • Personnel are reminded of the following updates to measures in the VIC announced in the VIC update dated 8 March:
  • Bearing in mind the measures implemented by the Austrian authorities and advice from the VIC Medical Service, the presence of personnel at the VIC will continue to be increased, in accordance with each individual organization's mandate and operational needs.
  • Effective immediately, proof of low epidemiological risk will not be needed to enter the VIC. This means proof of vaccination or recovery, or a negative PCR test are no longer required.
  • The rules on wearing FFP2 masks in common areas at the VIC remain in place.
  • Effective immediately, participants at meetings or conferences at the VIC will not be required to hold proof of low epidemiological risk.
  • FFP2 masks continue to be required during meetings and conferences.
  • Personnel are reminded to stay home if they feel ill or have respiratory symptoms, and are encouraged to continue to make use of the testing programmes provided, including the free Alles Gurgelt programme with collection points at the VIC.
  • Personnel must stay at home and may not come to the VIC if they have tested positive or have been placed under quarantine by the local health authorities.
  • A minimal distance of one metre must be kept to others in the VIC. A maximum number of eight people at a time is allowed in elevators.

VIC Medical Service update and reminders:

In response to questions, the VIC Medical Service advises that:

  • Offices in the VIC have an air conditioning system using fresh air that exchanges the total room air two to three times an hour on average. A build-up of aerosol droplets is therefore very unlikely. The risk in shared offices is considered low.
  • Office furniture should be arranged if possible so that personnel do not sit across a table face to face at a distance of less than one metre.
  • If the minimum distance of one metre cannot be met, then a plexiglass or similar shield, alternate work schedules or wearing FFP2 face masks in the office could be used as mitigation measures.
  • The vaccination rate among VIC personnel is above 80 per cent, which also reduces the risk of any workplace cluster of cases significantly.
  • In Austria as elsewhere, clusters typically originate in home, family or friend settings, at gatherings and in schools.

Following the latest information received from the Austrian authorities regarding COVID-19 vaccination/boosters personnel are advised as follows:

  • Personnel who are not yet vaccinated against COVID-19 and are eligible to receive a vaccine are advised to do so as soon as possible. COVID-19 vaccines work, as they offer protection against severe disease and death from the virus. More information on how to receive a COVID-19 vaccine and the types of vaccines available can be found here.

Information on the number of cases of SARS CoV-2 involving VBO personnel is available here. This underscores the importance of following the prevention measures below.

To reduce the risk of workplace transmission, the VIC Medical Service strongly reminds personnel to adhere to the following prevention measures. This remains important, especially as measures are eased in our Host Country.

  • Stay home if you feel ill or have respiratory symptoms. Get tested.
  • Do not to come to work if you have tested positive.
  • Conduct in-person meetings wearing an FFP2 mask.
  • Adhere to the physical distancing measure – this is now one metre.
  • Stick to basic measures such as hand washing, distancing, wearing FFP2 masks and regular PCR testing.
  • The holding of receptions is discouraged.
  • Coffee breaks at conferences/meetings may be held. Please follow EUREST's guidance on this.
  • Updates will be issued whenever there is fresh information from the VBOs, the Host Country or the Host City.
  • Between updates, you can keep up to date and refer to previous material and reminders by visiting our VBO COVID-19 website.
  • On the site you can find all past updates and guidelines, including on the procedure for obtaining EU Digital COVID Certificates, as well as useful links including to official information in English and other languages.
  • No log-in is needed.
  • Link to the site:

https://nucleus.iaea.org/sites/covid19/SitePages/Home.aspx

LATEST AUSTRIAN DEVELOPMENTS AND MEASURES:

  • Health Minister Johannes Rauch announced on Tuesday Austria`s new testing strategy from 1 April, with the following main elements:
    • Every person in Austria to receive five PCR tests and five antigen tests free of charge every month. More free tests will be available for people in vulnerable settings such as nursing homes.
    • Free tests available for people with symptoms.
    • The Health Minister also announced that there would be changes to quarantine requirements from 1 April: Contact persons not completely protected (in other words not vaccinated or recovered) would be able to work, shop, undertake errands and go for walks wearing an FFP2 mask. But such contact persons would not be allowed to go to restaurants or participate in events and social gatherings.
  • The legal text on these changes is not yet published. The legal text on the Austrian measures in force as of 5 March is available here. FFP2 masks continue to be required in a number of settings, including public transport.
  • The Mayor of Vienna, Michael Ludwig, said on Thursday that he saw no sign yet of a flattening of the wave of record infection numbers. The situation in hospitals was serious, and a high number of healthcare personnel were sick.
  • Vienna would retain the additional measures in place in the city, including “2-G" access (only for people who are vaccinated or recovered) in restaurants and nightclubs, and mandatory FFP2 masks in all shops.
  • In addition, in Vienna there would be new limits on visitors in hospitals and residential care facilities from early next week:
    • Hospitals: one visitor per patient per day, “2-G plus" access (only for people vaccinated or recovered, and additionally PCR-tested) for visitors;
    • Residential care and nursing homes: two visitors per resident per day, “2-G plus" access for visitors.
  • In response to a question, the Mayor said a number of details of the new national testing strategy from 1 April were yet to be clarified, and Vienna would announce any specific plans for Vienna once these details were available.
  • The City of Vienna has in place additional measures specific to Vienna. The legal text on the new measures announced is yet to be published, the legal text on measures already in force is available here.
  • Mandatory vaccination in Austria is suspended. The legal texts are available here, here and here.
  • The legal text in force on travelling to Austria is available here. The “3G" rule generally applies for entering Austria, except for travel from countries and territories categorized as “virus variant areas", which are published in an Annex to the legislation. No such areas are listed now. The Pre-travel Clearance Form, for those who require it, is available here. Generally, those with a legitimation card do not need to fill out this form to enter Austria. But staff should check themselves before travelling.
  • Legal texts are mostly in German, but the official Vienna Tourist Board provides regularly updated arrival and departure COVID-19 information in English as well as an overview of the rules in place in the city. More here.
  • There is information on Austria's overall vaccination programme in German and on Vienna's programme in German with links to other languages, including English.
  • There is a wide range of information on COVID-19 measures, vaccination and testing in 17 different languages, including English, here.
  • The official Austrian dashboard has the latest data on COVID-19. It is available in English as well as German and is updated each day at 14:00.
  • Austria's national vaccination dashboard is online here in English and German. It works best using Firefox or Google Chrome.
  • DISCLAIMER: The VBOs  cannot vouch for legal accuracy or completeness of the summaries in this update. Personnel are advised to refer to the original legal texts and to make their own checks before travelling.

COVID-19 WEBSITE FOR ALL UN SYSTEM PERSONNEL (includes 24/7 COVID-19 helpline):

https://www.un.org/en/coronavirus/info-for-un-staff

FEEDBACK/SUGGESTIONS:

Please write to martin.nesirky@un.org

 In today's update:

  • Message from the four main Vienna International Centre (VIC)-based organizations 
  • Latest Austrian Developments and Measures

NOTE: New items in bold

MESSAGE FROM THE MAIN VIC-BASED ORGANIZATIONS (VBOs)

UNOV/UNODC – IAEA – UNIDO – CTBTO

  • Personnel are reminded of the following updates to measures in the VIC announced in the VIC update dated 8 March:
  • Bearing in mind the measures implemented by the Austrian authorities and advice from the VIC Medical Service, the presence of personnel at the VIC will continue to be increased, in accordance with each individual organization's mandate and operational needs.
  • Effective immediately, proof of low epidemiological risk will not be needed to enter the VIC. This means proof of vaccination or recovery, or a negative PCR test are no longer required.
  • The rules on wearing FFP2 masks in common areas at the VIC remain in place.
  • Effective immediately, participants at meetings or conferences at the VIC will not be required to hold proof of low epidemiological risk.
  • FFP2 masks continue to be required during meetings and conferences.
  • Personnel are reminded to stay home if they feel ill or have respiratory symptoms, and are encouraged to continue to make use of the testing programmes provided, including the free Alles Gurgelt programme with collection points at the VIC.
  • Personnel must stay at home and may not come to the VIC if they have tested positive or have been placed under quarantine by the local health authorities.
  • A minimal distance of one metre must be kept to others in the VIC. A maximum number of eight people at a time is allowed in elevators.

VIC Medical Service update and reminders:

Following the latest information received from the Austrian authorities regarding COVID-19 vaccination/boosters personnel are advised as follows:

  • Personnel who are not yet vaccinated against COVID-19 and are eligible to receive a vaccine are advised to do so as soon as possible. COVID-19 vaccines work, as they offer protection against severe disease and death from the virus. More information on how to receive a COVID-19 vaccine and the types of vaccines available can be found here.

Information on the number of cases of SARS CoV-2 involving VBO personnel is available here. This underscores the importance of following the prevention measures below.

To reduce the risk of workplace transmission, the VIC Medical Service strongly reminds personnel to adhere to the following prevention measures. This remains important, especially as measures are eased in our Host Country.

  • Stay home if you feel ill or have respiratory symptoms. Get tested.
  • Do not to come to work if you have tested positive.
  • Conduct in-person meetings wearing an FFP2 mask.
  • Adhere to the physical distancing measure – this is now one metre.
  • Stick to basic measures such as hand washing, distancing, wearing FFP2 masks and regular PCR testing.
  • The holding of receptions is discouraged.
  • Coffee breaks at conferences/meetings may be held. Please follow EUREST's guidance on this.
  • Updates will be issued whenever there is fresh information from the VBOs, the Host Country or the Host City.
  • Between updates, you can keep up to date and refer to previous material and reminders by visiting our VBO COVID-19 website.
  • On the site you can find all past updates and guidelines, including on the procedure for obtaining EU Digital COVID Certificates, as well as useful links including to official information in English and other languages.
  • No log-in is needed.
  • Link to the site:

https://nucleus.iaea.org/sites/covid19/SitePages/Home.aspx

LATEST AUSTRIAN DEVELOPMENTS AND MEASURES:

  • In a televised briefing after the weekly cabinet meeting, Constitution Minister Karoline Edtstadler and Health Minister Johannes Rauch briefed on the Government's plans on the mandatory vaccination law, following the completion of a report by an advisory commission.
  • The Government would follow the recommendation of the commission, said Edtstadler and Rauch, and suspend mandatory vaccination.
  • The vaccination mandate would be suspended by ministerial decree. The underlying law would remain in force, and the situation further monitored. The commission would present another report within the next three months.
  • The ministers said the law was always intended to be flexible and to be adapted to the epidemiological situation.
  • The Health Minister reiterated the effectiveness of vaccination in fighting the pandemic and offering protection and appealed to all to get vaccinated.
  • The legal text on the Austrian measures in force as of 5 March is available here. FFP2 masks continue to be required in a number of settings, including public transport.
  • The City of Vienna has in place additional measures specific to Vienna. The legal text is available here. FFP2 masks continue to be required in all shops in Vienna. Access to restaurants and indoor sports facilities in Vienna continues to be subject to the “2-G" rule (access only for people vaccinated or recovered).
  • The legal texts on mandatory COVID-19 vaccination in Austria are available here and here.
  • The legal text in force on travelling to Austria is available here. The “3G" rule generally applies for entering Austria, except for travel from countries and territories categorized as “virus variant areas", which are published in an Annex to the legislation. No such areas are listed now. The Pre-travel Clearance Form, for those who require it, is available here. Generally, those with a legitimation card do not need to fill out this form to enter Austria. But staff should check themselves before travelling.
  • Legal texts are mostly in German, but the official Vienna Tourist Board provides regularly updated arrival and departure COVID-19 information in English as well as an overview of the rules in place in the city. More here.
  • There is information on Austria's overall vaccination programme in German and on Vienna's programme in German with links to other languages, including English.
  • There is a wide range of information on COVID-19 measures, vaccination and testing in 17 different languages, including English, here.
  • The official Austrian dashboard has the latest data on COVID-19. It is available in English as well as German and is updated each day at 14:00.
  • Austria's national vaccination dashboard is online here in English and German. It works best using Firefox or Google Chrome.
  • DISCLAIMER: The VBOs cannot vouch for legal accuracy or completeness of the summaries in this update. Personnel are advised to refer to the original legal texts and to make their own checks before travelling.

 COVID-19 WEBSITE FOR ALL UN SYSTEM PERSONNEL (includes 24/7 COVID-19 helpline):

https://www.un.org/en/coronavirus/info-for-un-staff

FEEDBACK/SUGGESTIONS:

Please write to martin.nesirky@un.org

 In today's update:

  • Message from the four main Vienna International Centre (VIC)-based organizations 
  • Latest Austrian Developments and Measures

NOTE: New items in bold

MESSAGE FROM THE MAIN VIC-BASED ORGANIZATIONS (VBOs)

UNOV/UNODC – IAEA – UNIDO – CTBTO

  • Bearing in mind the measures implemented by the Austrian authorities and advice from the VIC Medical Service, the presence of personnel at the VIC will continue to be gradually increased, in accordance with each individual organization's mandate and operational needs.
  • Effective immediately, proof of low epidemiological risk will not be needed to enter the VIC.
  • The rules on wearing FFP2 masks in common areas at the VIC remain in place.
  • Effective immediately, participants at meetings or conferences at the VIC will not be required to hold proof of low epidemiological risk.
  • FFP2 masks continue to be required during meetings and conferences.
  • Personnel are reminded to stay home if they feel ill or have respiratory symptoms, and are encouraged to continue to make use of the testing programmes provided, including the free Alles Gurgelt programme with collection points at the VIC.
  • Personnel must stay at home and may not come to the VIC if they have tested positive or have been placed under quarantine by the local health authorities.
  • A minimal distance of one metre must be kept to others in the VIC. A maximum number of eight people at a time is allowed in elevators.

VIC Medical Service update and reminders:

Following the latest information received from the Austrian authorities regarding COVID-19 vaccination/boosters personnel are advised as follows:

  • Personnel who are not yet vaccinated against COVID-19 and are eligible to receive a vaccine are advised to do so as soon as possible. COVID-19 vaccines work, as they offer protection against severe disease and death from the virus. More information on how to receive a COVID-19 vaccine and the types of vaccines available can be found here.

Information on the number of cases of SARS CoV-2 involving VBO personnel is available here. This underscores the importance of following the prevention measures below.

To reduce the risk of workplace transmission, the VIC Medical Service strongly reminds personnel to adhere to the following prevention measures. This remains important, especially as measures are eased in our Host Country.

  • Stay home if you feel ill or have respiratory symptoms. Get tested.
  • Do not to come to work if you have tested positive.
  • Conduct in-person meetings wearing an FFP2 mask.
  • Adhere to the physical distancing measure – this is now one metre.
  • Stick to basic measures such as hand washing, distancing, wearing FFP2 masks and regular PCR testing.
  • The holding of receptions is discouraged.
  • Coffee breaks at conferences/meetings may be held. Please follow EUREST's guidance on this.
  • Updates will be issued whenever there is fresh information from the VBOs, the Host Country or the Host City.
  • Between updates, you can keep up to date and refer to previous material and reminders by visiting our VBO COVID-19 website.
  • On the site you can find all past updates and guidelines, including on the procedure for obtaining EU Digital COVID Certificates, as well as useful links including to official information in English and other languages.
  • No log-in is needed.
  • Link to the site:

https://nucleus.iaea.org/sites/covid19/SitePages/Home.aspx

LATEST AUSTRIAN DEVELOPMENTS AND MEASURES:

  • The new Minister for Social Affairs and Health, Johannes Rauch, was sworn in by President Alexander Van der Bellen on Tuesday, following the resignation of Rauch's predecessor Wolfgang Mückstein last week.
  • The legal text on the Austrian measures in force as of 5 March is available here. FFP2 masks continue to be required in a number of settings, including public transport.
  • The City of Vienna has in place additional measures specific to Vienna. The legal text is available here. FFP2 masks continue to be required in all shops in Vienna. Access to restaurants and indoor sports facilities in Vienna continues to be subject to the “2-G" rule (access only for people vaccinated or recovered).
  • The legal texts on mandatory COVID-19 vaccination in Austria are available here and here.
  • The legal text in force on travelling to Austria is available here. The “3G" rule generally applies for entering Austria, except for travel from countries and territories categorized as “virus variant areas", which are published in an Annex to the legislation. No such areas are listed now. The Pre-travel Clearance Form, for those who require it, is available here. Generally, those with a legitimation card do not need to fill out this form to enter Austria. But staff should check themselves before travelling.
  • Legal texts are mostly in German, but the official Vienna Tourist Board provides regularly updated arrival and departure COVID-19 information in English as well as an overview of the rules in place in the city. More here.
  • There is information on Austria's overall vaccination programme in German and on Vienna's programme in German with links to other languages, including English.
  • There is a wide range of information on COVID-19 measures, vaccination and testing in 17 different languages, including English, here.
  • The official Austrian dashboard has the latest data on COVID-19. It is available in English as well as German and is updated each day at 14:00.
  • Austria's national vaccination dashboard is online here in English and German. It works best using Firefox or Google Chrome.
  • DISCLAIMER: The VBOs cannot vouch for legal accuracy or completeness of the summaries in this update. Personnel are advised to refer to the original legal texts and to make their own checks before travelling.

   COVID-19 WEBSITE FOR ALL UN SYSTEM PERSONNEL (includes 24/7 COVID-19 helpline):

https://www.un.org/en/coronavirus/info-for-un-staff

FEEDBACK/SUGGESTIONS:

​Please write to martin.nesirky@un.org

 In today's update:

  • Message from the four main Vienna International Centre (VIC)-based organizations 
  • Latest Austrian Developments and Measures

NOTE: New items in bold

MESSAGE FROM THE MAIN VIC-BASED ORGANIZATIONS (VBOs)

UNOV/UNODC – IAEA – UNIDO – CTBTO

  • Bearing in mind the measures announced by the Austrian authorities and advice from the VIC Medical Service, the presence of personnel at the VIC will be gradually increased from 5 March, in accordance with each individual organization's mandate and operational needs.
  • All personnel are reminded that anyone entering the VIC must continue to comply with the 2.5G rule (vaccinated, recovered or PCR test no older than 48 hours).
  • The rules on distancing and wearing of FFP2 masks in common areas at the VIC remain in place.
  • Until 5 March, all participants at meetings and conferences with more than 25 participants at the VIC must continue to show proof of a valid PCR test not older than 48 hours, even if they are vaccinated or recovered. However, after 5 March meeting participants who are vaccinated or recovered will no longer be required to show proof of a valid PCR test. 

VIC Medical Service update and reminders:

Following the latest information received from the Austrian authorities regarding COVID-19 vaccination/boosters personnel are advised as follows:

  • Personnel who are not yet vaccinated against COVID-19 and are eligible to receive a vaccine are advised to do so as soon as possible. COVID-19 vaccines work, as they offer protection against severe disease and death from the virus. More information on how to receive a COVID-19 vaccine and the types of vaccines available can be found here.

Information on the number of cases of SARS CoV-2 involving VBO personnel is available here. This underscores the importance of following the prevention measures below.

To reduce the risk of workplace transmission, the VIC Medical Service strongly reminds personnel to adhere to the following prevention measures. This remains important, especially as measures are eased in our Host Country.

  • Stay home if you feel ill or have respiratory symptoms. Get tested.
  • Do not to come to work if you have tested positive.
  • Conduct in-person meetings wearing an FFP2 mask.
  • Adhere to the physical distancing measure – this is now two metres.
  • Stick to basic measures such as hand washing, distancing, wearing FFP2 masks and regular PCR testing.
  • Wear an FFP2 mask outdoors at the VIC if two-metre distancing is not possible.
  • Updates will be issued whenever there is fresh information from the VBOs, the Host Country or the Host City.
  • Between updates, you can keep up to date and refer to previous material and reminders by visiting our VBO COVID-19 website.
  • On the site you can find all past updates and guidelines, including on the procedure for obtaining EU Digital COVID Certificates, as well as useful links including to official information in English and other languages.
  • No log-in is needed.
  • Link to the site:

https://nucleus.iaea.org/sites/covid19/SitePages/Home.aspx

LATEST AUSTRIAN DEVELOPMENTS AND MEASURES:

  • Further to the announcements made on Wednesday by the Host Country government, the new rules on travelling to Austria will be effective from 22 February.
  • The “3G" rule will generally apply for entering Austria, except for travel from countries and territories categorized as “virus variant areas", which are published in an Annex to the legislation. No such areas are listed now.
  • The legal text on the changes to the rules on entering Austria is not yet published. The legal text in force on travelling to Austria is available here. The Pre-travel Clearance Form, for those who require it, is available here. Generally, those with a legitimation card do not need to fill out this form to enter Austria. But staff should check themselves before travelling.
  • The legal texts on the changes to the Host Country and Host City measures as of 19 February and 5 March are not yet published.
  • The legal text on the Austrian measures in force is available here.
  • The City of Vienna has in place additional measures specific to Vienna. The legal text on specific measures in force in Vienna is available here.
  • The legal texts on mandatory COVID-19 vaccination in Austria are available here and here.
  • Legal texts are mostly in German, but the official Vienna Tourist Board provides regularly updated arrival and departure COVID-19 information in English as well as an overview of the rules in place in the city. More here.
  • There is information on Austria's overall vaccination programme in German and on Vienna's programme in German with links to other languages, including English.
  • There is a wide range of information on COVID-19 measures, vaccination and testing in 17 different languages, including English, here.
  • The official Austrian dashboard has the latest data on COVID-19. It is available in English as well as German and is updated each day at 14:00.
  • Austria's national vaccination dashboard is online here in English and German. It works best using Firefox or Google Chrome.
  • DISCLAIMER: The VBOs cannot vouch for legal accuracy or completeness of the summaries in this update. Personnel are advised to refer to the original legal texts and to make their own checks before travelling.

COVID-19 WEBSITE FOR ALL UN SYSTEM PERSONNEL (includes 24/7 COVID-19 helpline):

https://www.un.org/en/coronavirus/info-for-un-staff

FEEDBACK/SUGGESTIONS:

​Please write to martin.nesirky@un.org

In today's update:

  • Message from the four main Vienna International Centre (VIC)-based organizations 
  • Latest Austrian Developments and Measures

NOTE: New items in bold

MESSAGE FROM THE MAIN VIC-BASED ORGANIZATIONS (VBOs)

UNOV/UNODC – IAEA – UNIDO – CTBTO

  • The VBOs have taken note of the plans announced by the Host Country and Host City and will advise on any impact at the VIC.
  • All personnel are reminded that anyone entering the VIC must comply with the 2.5G rule (vaccinated, recovered or PCR test no older than 48 hours).

VIC Medical Service update and reminders:

Following the latest information received from the Austrian authorities regarding COVID-19 vaccination/boosters personnel are advised as follows:

  • Personnel who are not yet vaccinated against COVID-19 and are eligible to receive a vaccine are advised to do so as soon as possible. COVID-19 vaccines work, as they offer protection against severe disease and death from the virus. More information on how to receive a COVID-19 vaccine and the types of vaccines available can be found here.

Information on the number of cases of SARS CoV-2 involving VBO personnel is available here. This underscores the importance of following the prevention measures below.

To reduce the risk of workplace transmission, the VIC Medical Service strongly reminds personnel to adhere to the following prevention measures. This is especially important at this time:

Stay home if you feel ill or have respiratory symptoms. Get tested.

Do not to come to work if you have tested positive.

Conduct in-person meetings wearing an FFP2 mask.

Adhere to the physical distancing measure – this is now two metres.

Stick to basic measures such as hand washing, distancing, FFP2 mask and regular PCR testing.

Wear an FFP2 mask outdoors at the VIC if two-metre distancing is not possible.

  • Updates will be issued whenever there is fresh information from the VBOs, the Host Country or the Host City.
  • Between updates, you can keep up to date and refer to previous material and reminders by visiting our VBO COVID-19 website.
  • On the site you can find all past updates and guidelines, including on the procedure for obtaining EU Digital COVID Certificates, as well as useful links including to official information in English and other languages.
  • No log-in is needed.
  • Link to the site:

https://nucleus.iaea.org/sites/covid19/SitePages/Home.aspx

LATEST AUSTRIAN DEVELOPMENTS AND MEASURES:

  • In a televised briefing on Wednesday following consultations with experts and representatives of the provinces, Chancellor Karl Nehammer, Health Minister Wolfgang Mückstein and representatives of the crisis coordination board GECKO announced plans for changes to the Austrian COVID-19 measures.
  • The Chancellor said the pandemic was not over, the COVID-19 virus would continue to be a part of life, but it was now possible to start carefully lifting many of the rules that have burdened people.
  • Caution would continue to be the guiding principle because no expert could say at this stage what would happen in the autumn, said Nehammer.
  • Health Minister Wolfgang Mückstein said step by step restrictive measures could now be put in stand-by mode, although that did not mean the pandemic was over. The following Austria-wide changes were announced:
    • From 19 February:
      • In those settings where “2G" (access only for people vaccinated or recovered) has applied to date, “3G" access would generally apply (in other words, for people vaccinated, recovered or tested)
      • FFP2 masks will continue to be mandatory in indoor public spaces.
      • The “3G" rule will generally apply for entry to Austria, except for travel from some high-risk areas that will be communicated.
    • From 5 March:
  • Access rules will be generally lifted, except in specific situations such as for employees and visitors of nursing homes and of hospitals.
      • FFP2 masks would continue to be mandatory in essential retail and on public transport.
      • The closing hour will be lifted, and nightclubs will be able to open.
    • The above points apply across the country. See below additional information on the plans subsequently announced by the City of Vienna.
  • Tests will continue to be available free of charge until 31 March. The future testing strategy is being reviewed by experts and would be adjusted based on this advice, said the Health Minister.
  • An expert commission to continuously evaluate the law on mandatory vaccination is being formed and was expected to be presented within the coming days. The law on mandatory vaccination was a long-term instrument that offered flexibility, said Mückstein. The Health Minister emphasized that a high vaccination rate was needed to fight the pandemic in the long run and reiterated the appeal to get vaccinated.
  • In response to a question on the rules at schools, the Health Minister referred to the Education Minister who would decide on the rules for schools in the coming days.
  • City of Vienna
    • In a televised briefing following the briefing by the national government, the Mayor of Vienna, Michael Ludwig, said hospitalization numbers and pressure on healthcare personnel continued to be high. Wednesday had seen high numbers of new infections, and the end of the school semester break for Vienna in the last week had led to a rise in cases.
    • It was important to retain habits such as wearing FFP2 masks in indoor public spaces. In areas where FFP2 masks could not be worn, particular caution was needed, said the Mayor.
    • The City of Vienna would therefore not lift the “2G" rule (access only for people vaccinated or recovered) in restaurants as of 19 February, as announced by the government at federal level. The Mayor expressed hope that this could be changed at a later stage, as Vienna continued to monitor the situation.
    • He said Vienna could also envisage opening nightclubs from 5 March as planned at the federal level, although with “2G" or “2G plus" access rules for the time being.
    • In response to a question, the Mayor added that FFP2 masks may remain mandatory in Vienna in all shops (rather than just essential retail) beyond 5 March.
    • The Medical Director of the city's hospitals, Michael Binder, said the BA.2 variant could become dominant next week and lead to a further rise in cases in March. While a decline in this wave over the coming weeks was expected, it could be delayed by BA.2.
  • The legal texts on the changes to the Host Country and Host City measures as of 19 February and 5 March are not yet published.
  • The legal text on the Austrian measures in force is available here.
  • The City of Vienna has in place additional measures specific to Vienna. The legal text on specific measures in force in Vienna is available here.
  • The legal texts on mandatory COVID-19 vaccination in Austria are available here and here.
  • The legal text in force on travelling to Austria is available here. The Pre-travel Clearance Form, for those who require it, is available here. Generally, those with a legitimation card do not need to fill out this form to enter Austria. But staff should check themselves before travelling.
  • The official Vienna Tourist Board provides arrival and departure COVID-19 information in English as well as an overview of the rules in place in the city. More here.
  • There is information on Austria's overall vaccination programme in German and on Vienna's programme in German with links to other languages, including English.
  • There is a wide range of information on COVID-19 measures, vaccination and testing in 17 different languages, including English, here.
  • The official Austrian dashboard has the latest data on COVID-19. It is available in English as well as German and is updated each day at 14:00.
  • Austria's national vaccination dashboard is online here in English and German. It works best using Firefox or Google Chrome.
  • DISCLAIMER: The VBOs cannot vouch for legal accuracy or completeness of the summaries in this update. Personnel are advised to refer to the original legal texts and to make their own checks before travelling.

 COVID-19 WEBSITE FOR ALL UN SYSTEM PERSONNEL (includes 24/7 COVID-19 helpline):

https://www.un.org/en/coronavirus/info-for-un-staff

FEEDBACK/SUGGESTIONS:

Please write to martin.nesirky@un.org​​

In today's update:

  • Message from the four main Vienna International Centre (VIC)-based organizations 
  • Latest Austrian Developments and Measures

NOTE: New items in bold

MESSAGE FROM THE MAIN VIC-BASED ORGANIZATIONS (VBOs)

UNOV/UNODC – IAEA – UNIDO – CTBTO

  • The VBOs have taken note of the legislation that came into force in Austria effective 5 February, making vaccination against COVID-19 mandatory for individuals above the age of 18 whose place of living is in Austria, with some exceptions, as described in the law, which is set to expire on 31 January 2024.
  • The law in German is available here.
  • Information in English and several other languages can be found here.
  • All personnel of the VBOs are reminded that their status as international civil servants or other personnel does not exempt them from observing local laws and paying any fines resulting from their breach.
  • Failure to do so can be considered an act or omission in conflict with their general obligations as staff and other personnel and may be addressed by VBOs under their respective regulations and rules, or relevant agreement through which personnel other than staff members are engaged. 
  • All personnel are reminded that anyone entering the VIC must comply with the 2.5G rule (vaccinated, recovered or PCR test no older than 48 hours).

VIC Medical Service update and reminders:

Following the latest information received from the Austrian authorities regarding COVID-19 vaccination/boosters personnel are advised as follows:

  • Personnel who are not yet vaccinated against COVID-19 and are eligible to receive a vaccine are advised to do so as soon as possible. COVID-19 vaccines work, as they offer protection against severe disease and death from the virus. More information on how to receive a COVID-19 vaccine and the types of vaccines available can be found here.

Information on the number of cases of SARS CoV-2 involving VBO personnel is available here. This underscores the importance of following the prevention measures below.

To reduce the risk of workplace transmission, the VIC Medical Service strongly reminds personnel to adhere to the following prevention measures. This is especially important at this time:

  • Stay home if you feel ill or have respiratory symptoms. Get tested.
  • Do not to come to work if you have tested positive.
  • Conduct in-person meetings wearing an FFP2 mask.
  • Adhere to the physical distancing measure – this is now two metres.
  • Stick to basic measures such as hand washing, distancing, FFP2 mask and regular PCR testing.
  • Wear an FFP2 mask outdoors at the VIC if two-metre distancing is not possible.
  • Updates will be issued whenever there is fresh information from the VBOs, the Host Country or the Host City.
  • Between updates, you can keep up to date and refer to previous material and reminders by visiting our VBO COVID-19 website.
  • On the site you can find all past updates and guidelines, including on the procedure for obtaining EU Digital COVID Certificates, as well as useful links including to official information in English and other languages.
  • No log-in is needed.
  • Link to the site:

https://nucleus.iaea.org/sites/covid19/SitePages/Home.aspx

LATEST AUSTRIAN DEVELOPMENTS AND MEASURES:

  • On Monday evening, Austria's lower house of parliament approved the Health Ministry regulations that cover the mandatory vaccination law now in force. The text of the regulations, which outline exceptions and other provisions, will be made available as soon as it is published.
  • The parliamentary website provides some details in German, for example on which vaccines are accepted.
  • From 12 February, events without assigned seating will be able to have more than 50 participants, Tourism Minister Elisabeth Köstinger announced on Tuesday. “2G" proof and FFP2 masks will still be required throughout, meaning drinks and food cannot be consumed.
  • Köstinger also said that from the same date personal services that require close contact such as hairdressers would require “3G" rather than “2G", meaning antigen tests will also be accepted in lieu of a PCR test or proof of vaccination or recovery. FFP2 masks will still be needed.
  • The legal text on travelling to Austria is available here. The Pre-travel Clearance Form, for those who require it, is available here. Generally, those with a legitimation card do not need to fill out this form to enter Austria. But staff should check themselves before travelling.
  • The official Vienna Tourist Board provides arrival and departure COVID-19 information in English as well as an overview of the rules in place in the city. More here.
  • There is information on Austria's overall vaccination programme in German and on Vienna's programme in German with links to other languages, including English.
  • There is a wide range of information on COVID-19 measures, vaccination and testing in 17 different languages, including English, here.
  • The official Austrian dashboard has the latest data on COVID-19. It is available in English as well as German and is updated each day at 14:00.
  • Austria's national vaccination dashboard is online here in English and German. It works best using Firefox or Google Chrome.
  • DISCLAIMER: The VBOs cannot vouch for legal accuracy or completeness of the summaries in this update. Personnel are advised to refer to the original legal texts and to make their own checks before travelling.

COVID-19 WEBSITE FOR ALL UN SYSTEM PERSONNEL (includes 24/7 COVID-19 helpline):

https://www.un.org/en/coronavirus/info-for-un-staff

FEEDBACK/SUGGESTIONS:

Please write to martin.nesirky@un.org

 In today's update:

  • ​Message from the four main Vienna International Centre (VIC)-based organizations 
  • Latest Austrian Developments and Measures

NOTE: New items in bold

MESSAGE FROM THE MAIN VIC-BASED ORGANIZATIONS (VBOs)

UNOV/UNODC – IAEA – UNIDO – CTBTO

The VBOs have taken note of the plans announced by the Host Country and Host City and will advise VIC personnel on any implications at the VIC.

Reminders

All those entering the VIC must continue to comply with 2.5G (vaccinated, recovered or PCR test no older than 48 hours).

By swiping their VIC grounds pass/badge, those entering the VIC confirm they are compliant and have 2.5G proof.

Note: Where meetings and conferences at the VIC do take place (with more than 25 participants), participants must show proof of a valid PCR test not older than 48 hours, even if they are vaccinated or recovered.

“Alles gurgelt" PCR test collection boxes remain available at the VIC. Please note test kits are not collected from the VIC on Austrian or UN holidays. Personnel should put their tests in the collection boxes by 09:00 at the latest. Tests deposited after 09:00 will be collected the following day. There is no afternoon collection at the VIC, although this service is available at collection points in retail outlets throughout the city.

VIC Medical Service update and reminders:

The current Host Country rules on contact persons and quarantine requirements are:

If below criteria are fulfilled, you and your children are not considered close contact and do not need to quarantine:

  • diligently applied protective measures (social distancing, wearing FFP2 mask) when you had contact with the confirmed case
  • adults had at least 3 immunological events (vaccination or recoveries), the latest at least 7 days before the contact with the confirmed case
  • children between 5-11 years had at least 2 immunological events (vaccinations or recoveries) at least 14 days before contact with the confirmed case

If the above criteria are not fulfilled, you are considered a close contact and need to quarantine for 10 days which can be ended with a negative PCR test on Day 5 if you have no symptoms. The requirements are:

  • People who live in the same household with a confirmed case, who are identified as close contacts and where the necessary isolation measures are not applied diligently, need to quarantine for 10 days from onset of symptoms or from the day of sampling in the case of asymptomatic cases. Quarantine can only be ended after 10 days. However, a PCR test should be carried out between Day 5 and Day 9.
  • People who live in the same household with a confirmed case, who are identified as close contacts and where the necessary isolation measures are applied diligently, still need to quarantine for 10 days, which can be ended with a negative PCR test on Day 5 if they have no symptoms.

The VIC Medical Service reminds personnel of the recommendation to get a booster vaccination dose as soon as eligible.

The Austrian national vaccination board has issued a recommendation for a third vaccination dose from six months after the second dose, or four months if indicated by epidemiological developments, for children aged 12-17 and for pregnant women (off-label).

Following the latest information received from the Austrian authorities regarding COVID-19 vaccination/boosters personnel are advised as follows:

  • Personnel who are not yet vaccinated against COVID-19 and are eligible to receive a vaccine are advised to do so as soon as possible. COVID-19 vaccines work, as they offer protection against severe disease and death from the virus. More information on how to receive a COVID-19 vaccine and the types of vaccines available is available here.
  • Personnel who already received a dose of the Johnson & Johnson (Janssen) vaccine at least 28 days ago, are advised to receive a second vaccination (preferably with an mRNA vaccine - BioNTech/Pfizer or Moderna) to remain fully vaccinated. Personnel who had not received a second shot by 2 January 2022 have lost their full vaccination status. Personnel can access a second shot vaccination without appointment at the Austria Centre or can register for an appointment here.
  • Personnel are reminded that those who have received two-shot vaccinations (AstraZeneca, BioNTech/Pfizer, Moderna or a dose of the Johnson & Johnson (Janssen) vaccine followed by a second vaccination) should be aware that the validity of their vaccination certificate within Austria will be reduced from 270 to 180 days on 1 February, according to announcements by the Host Country.  As of 1 February, it is possible to receive a booster (3rd shot) already after three months (previously four months). Personnel can get booster shots without an appointment at the Austria Centre or register for an appointment here.
  • With regard to the requirements to enter Austria, the Austrian authorities will retain the validity of two-shot vaccinations at 270 days but will require an additional PCR test. For persons that have received their third shot (“booster") there is no requirement for PCR test. A Johnson & Johnson (Janssen) shot followed by a second shot is also sufficient to enter without requiring an additional PCR test.
  • Personnel who received a non EMA approved vaccine (such as Sputnik, Sinovac, Covaxin) are informed that they are recognized as vaccinated by the VBOs based on the official UN guidance that "any COVID-19 vaccine that is recognized by the WHO or under routine approved use by a Member State national health authority is accepted". To be recognized as "vaccinated" by the Austrian authorities they need to take an antibody test followed by a booster with an EMA approved mRNA vaccine. For more information about this process please contact VIC Medical Services.

To reduce the risk of workplace transmission, the VIC Medical Service strongly reminds personnel to adhere to the following prevention measures. This is especially important at this time:

  • Stay home if you feel ill or have respiratory symptoms. Get tested.
  • Do not to come to work if you have tested positive.
  • Conduct in-person meetings wearing an FFP2 mask.
  • Adhere to the physical distancing measure – this is now two metres.
  • Stick to basic measures such as hand washing, distancing, FFP2 mask and regular PCR testing.
  • Wear an FFP2 mask outdoors at the VIC if two-metre distancing is not possible.

The VIC Medical Service encourages organizers to the limit the number of participants at any meetings.

Information on the number of cases of SARS CoV-2 involving VBO personnel is available here.

  • Updates will be issued whenever there is fresh information from the VBOs, the Host Country or the Host City.
  • Between updates, you can keep up to date and refer to previous material by visiting our VBO COVID-19 website.
  • On the site you can find all past updates and guidelines, including on the procedure for obtaining EU Digital COVID Certificates, as well as useful links including to official information in English and other languages.
  • No log-in is needed.
  • Link to the site: https://nucleus.iaea.org/sites/covid19/SitePages/Home.aspx

LATEST AUSTRIAN DEVELOPMENTS AND MEASURES:

  • The Upper House of Parliament (Bundesrat) is expected to vote on the draft law on compulsory vaccination on Thursday evening.
  • In a televised briefing Thursday on planned measures in Vienna, the Mayor of Vienna, Michael Ludwig, said it was not yet clear what impact the Omicron BA.2 sub-type would have on hospitals, including the impact of sickness or quarantine of healthcare personnel and their families.
  • Following consultations, the City of Vienna had therefore decided on the following measures:
    • The City would introduce the following steps already announced by the Federal Government:
      • From 5 February:
        • Extension of restaurant closing hours from 22:00 to 24:00
        • Events without assigned seating allowed for up to 50 participants (“2G" access only for people vaccinated or recovered plus FFP2 masks)
        • Events with assigned seating allowed for up to 2,000 participants (“2G" access only for people vaccinated or recovered plus FFP2 masks)
      • From 12 February the “2G" access rule (access only for people vaccinated or recovered) in non-essential retail to be lifted, FFP2 masks continue to be required.
    • However, access to restaurants in Vienna would continue to be subject to the “2G" rule, in other words access only for people vaccinated or recovered, said the Mayor.
  • The Medical Director of the City's hospitals emphasized that hospitals continued to be under pressure, and more COVID-19 patients were still being admitted than released. Although experts considered the Omicron BA.1 wave to be at a peak, it was possible that the Omicron BA.2 sub-type could extend the wave. At present Omicron BA.2 was responsible for some 15 percent of infections in Vienna.
  • In a televised briefing Wednesday, Minister for Education Martin Polaschek announced the following changes to measures at schools:
    • From 7 February masks can be removed during Physical Education classes.
    • From 14 February masks can be removed in the classroom at primary schools. 
  • The legal texts on the Austrian measures in force from 31 January and 1 February are available here.
  • Our Host City has in place additional rules specifically for Vienna, available here.
  • The legal texts of the changes to the measures planned by the Host Country and Host City as of 5 February will be made available once published.
  • The legal text on travelling to Austria is available here. The Pre-travel Clearance Form, for those who require it, is available here. Generally, those with a legitimation card do not need to fill out this form to enter Austria. But staff should check themselves before travelling.
  • The official Vienna Tourist Board provides arrival and departure COVID-19 information in English here.
  • There is information on Austria's overall vaccination programme in German and on Vienna's programme in German with links to other languages, including English.
  • There is a wide range of information on COVID-19 measures, vaccination and testing in 17 different languages, including English, here.
  • The official Austrian dashboard has the latest data on COVID-19. It is available in English as well as German and is updated each day at 14:00.
  • Austria's national vaccination dashboard is online here in English and German. It works best using Firefox or Google Chrome.
  • DISCLAIMER: The VBOs cannot vouch for legal accuracy or completeness of the summaries in this update. Personnel are advised to refer to the original legal texts and to make their own checks before travelling.

COVID-19 WEBSITE FOR ALL UN SYSTEM PERSONNEL (includes 24/7 COVID-19 helpline):

https://www.un.org/en/coronavirus/info-for-un-staff

FEEDBACK/SUGGESTIONS:

Please write to martin.nesirky@un.org

In today's update:

  • Message from the four main Vienna International Centre (VIC)-based organizations 
  • Latest Austrian Developments and Measures

NOTE: New items in bold

MESSAGE FROM THE MAIN VIC-BASED ORGANIZATIONS (VBOs)

UNOV/UNODC – IAEA – UNIDO – CTBTO

The health and wellbeing of all personnel at the VIC is the top priority for the VBOs.

The VBOs have taken note of the sharply rising number of COVID-19 cases in our Host Country, particularly in Vienna, and the Host Country's measures that are now in force.

The VBOs have agreed that the presence of personnel at the VIC will be further reduced, in accordance with each individual organization's mandate and operational needs, by using teleworking where possible.

The VBOs urge all personnel to study and follow the guidance and advice from the VIC Medical Service. By doing so, everyone can play an important role in minimising the risk of transmission at the VIC and in our Host City and Host Country.

The VBOs remind personnel to show respect, discretion and solidarity regarding COVID-19 diagnoses among colleagues.

All those entering the VIC must continue to comply with 2.5G (vaccinated, recovered or PCR test no older than 48 hours).

By swiping their VIC grounds pass/badge, those entering the VIC confirm they are compliant and have 2.5G proof.

Note: Where meetings and conferences at the VIC do take place (with more than 25 participants), participants must show proof of a valid PCR test not older than 48 hours, even if they are vaccinated or recovered.

The VBOs continue to monitor developments in our Host Country and will advise VIC personnel should further measures be required.

VIC Medical Service update and reminders:

The VIC Medical Service reminds personnel of the recommendation to get a booster vaccination dose as soon as eligible.

The Austrian national vaccination board has issued a recommendation for a third vaccination dose from six months after the second dose, or four months if indicated by epidemiological developments, for children aged 12-17 and for pregnant women (off-label).

Following the latest information received from the Austrian authorities regarding COVID-19 vaccination/boosters personnel are advised as follows:

  • Personnel who are not yet vaccinated against COVID-19 and are eligible to receive a vaccine are advised to do so as soon as possible. COVID-19 vaccines work, as they offer protection against severe disease and death from the virus. More information on how to receive a COVID-19 vaccine and the types of vaccines available is available here.
  • Personnel who already received a dose of the Johnson & Johnson (Janssen) vaccine at least 28 days ago, are advised to receive a second vaccination (preferably with an mRNA vaccine - BioNTech/Pfizer or Moderna) to remain fully vaccinated. Personnel who had not received a second shot by 2 January 2022 have lost their full vaccination status. Personnel can access a second shot vaccination without appointment at the Austria Centre or can register for an appointment here. A third shot would be required for “boostered" status.
  • Personnel are reminded that those who have received two-shot vaccinations (AstraZeneca, BioNTech/Pfizer, Moderna or a dose of the Johnson & Johnson (Janssen) vaccine followed by a second vaccination) should be aware that the validity of their vaccination certificate will be reduced from 270 to 180 days on 1 February, according to announcements by the Host Country.  A booster (3rd shot) is recommended for AstraZeneca after four months. For BioNTech/Pfizer and Moderna it is possible after four months and recommended after six months. Personnel can get booster shots for BioNTech/Pfizer, AstraZeneca and Moderna without an appointment at the Austria Centre or register for an appointment here.
  • Personnel who received a second shot after the Johnson & Johnson (Janssen) vaccine can receive a third shot (booster) 4 months after their second shot and should receive it no later than 6 months after their second shot. With regard to the requirements to enter Austria, the Austrian authorities consider a Johnson & Johnson (Janssen) shot followed by a second shot as sufficient without requiring an additional PCR test.
  • Personnel who received a non EMA approved vaccine (such as Sputnik, Sinovac, Covaxin) are informed that they are recognized as vaccinated by the VBOs based on the official UN guidance that "any COVID-19 vaccine that is recognized by the WHO or under routine approved use by a Member State national health authority is accepted". To be recognized as "vaccinated" by the Austrian authorities they need to take an antibody test followed by a booster with an EMA approved mRNA vaccine. For more information about this process please contact VIC Medical Services.

To reduce the risk of workplace transmission, the VIC Medical Service strongly reminds personnel to adhere to the following prevention measures. This is especially important at this time:

  • Stay home if you feel ill or have respiratory symptoms. Get tested.
  • Do not to come to work if you have tested positive.
  • Conduct in-person meetings wearing an FFP2 mask.
  • Adhere to the physical distancing measure – this is now two metres.
  • Stick to basic measures such as hand washing, distancing, FFP2 mask and regular PCR testing.
  • Wear an FFP2 mask outdoors at the VIC if two-metre distancing is not possible.

The VIC Medical Service encourages organizers to the limit the number of participants at any meetings.

Information on the number of cases of SARS CoV-2 involving VBO personnel is available here.

  • Updates will be issued whenever there is fresh information from the VBOs, the Host Country or the Host City.
  • Between updates, you can keep up to date and refer to previous material by visiting our VBO COVID-19 website.
  • On the site you can find all past updates and guidelines, including on the procedure for obtaining EU Digital COVID Certificates, as well as useful links including to official information in English and other languages.
  • No log-in is needed.
  • Link to the site:

https://nucleus.iaea.org/sites/covid19/SitePages/Home.aspx

LATEST AUSTRIAN DEVELOPMENTS AND MEASURES:

  • The number of people reported testing positive in Austria for COVID-19 was at more than 43,000 Thursday morning, a record. This number included several thousand cases from previous days reported with delay, according to a spokesman for the City of Vienna.
  • The official forecast released earlier this week projects further increases in infections.
  • In a televised briefing on Wednesday, Chancellor Karl Nehammer and Health Minister Wolfgang Mückstein announced that the lockdown for people not vaccinated or recovered would be lifted on Monday 31 January.
  • However, access to most areas of public life (including non-essential retail, restaurants, cultural and sports events and tourism) would continue to be limited to people meeting the “2G" criteria.
  • Booster (third) vaccination doses would be accepted for the Austrian digital COVID-19 certificate (Green Pass) already from 90 days after the second dose. The recommendation remained to leave an interval of at least four months between a second shot and a booster, said the Health Minister.
  • As previously announced, the validity of the second dose for the certificate within Austria would be reduced to 180 days on 1 February.
  • In response to a question on further steps, Chancellor Nehammer asked for patience as the specific effects of the Omicron wave still needed to be observed.
  • The legal text on the above is yet to be published. The legal text on the Austrian measures in force is available here.
  • Our Host City has in place additional rules specifically for Vienna, available here.
  • The legal text on travelling to Austria is available here. The Pre-travel Clearance Form, for those who require it, is available here. Generally, those with a legitimation card do not need to fill out this form to enter Austria. But staff should check themselves before travelling.
  • The official Vienna Tourist Board provides arrival and departure COVID-19 information in English here.
  • There is information on Austria's overall vaccination programme in German and on Vienna's programme in German with links to other languages, including English.
  • There is a wide range of information on COVID-19 measures, vaccination and testing in 17 different languages, including English, here.
  • The official Austrian dashboard has the latest data on COVID-19. It is available in English as well as German and is updated each day at 14:00.
  • Austria's national vaccination dashboard is online here in English and German. It works best using Firefox or Google Chrome.
  • DISCLAIMER: The VBOs cannot vouch for legal accuracy or completeness of the summaries in this update. Personnel are advised to refer to the original legal texts and to make their own checks before travelling.

COVID-19 WEBSITE FOR ALL UN SYSTEM PERSONNEL (includes 24/7 COVID-19 helpline):

https://www.un.org/en/coronavirus/info-for-un-staff

FEEDBACK/SUGGESTIONS:

Please write to martin.nesirky@un.org

 In today's update:

  • Message from the four main Vienna International Centre (VIC)-based organizations 
  • Latest Austrian Developments and Measures

NOTE: New items in bold

MESSAGE FROM THE MAIN VIC-BASED ORGANIZATIONS (VBOs)

UNOV/UNODC – IAEA – UNIDO – CTBTO

 The health and wellbeing of all personnel at the VIC is the top priority for the VBOs.

The VBOs have taken note of the sharply rising number of COVID-19 cases in our Host Country, particularly in Vienna, and the Host Country's measures that are now in force.

The VBOs have agreed that the presence of personnel at the VIC will be further reduced, in accordance with each individual organization's mandate and operational needs, by using teleworking where possible.

The VBOs urge all personnel to study and follow the guidance and advice from the VIC Medical Service. By doing so, everyone can play an important role in minimising the risk of transmission at the VIC and in our Host City and Host Country.

The VBOs remind personnel to show respect, discretion and solidarity regarding COVID-19 diagnoses among colleagues.

All those entering the VIC must continue to comply with 2.5G (vaccinated, recovered or PCR test no older than 48 hours).

By swiping their VIC grounds pass/badge, those entering the VIC confirm they are compliant and have 2.5G proof.

Note: Where meetings and conferences at the VIC do take place (with more than 25 participants), participants must show proof of a valid PCR test not older than 48 hours, even if they are vaccinated or recovered.

 The VBOs continue to monitor developments in our Host Country and will advise VIC personnel should further measures be required.

VIC Medical Service update and reminders:

The VIC Medical Service reminds personnel of the recommendation to get a booster vaccination dose as soon as eligible.

The Austrian national vaccination board has issued a recommendation for a third vaccination dose from six months after the second dose, or four months if indicated by epidemiological developments, for children aged 12-17 and for pregnant women (off-label).

Following the latest information received from the Austrian authorities regarding COVID-19 vaccination/boosters personnel are advised as follows:

  • Personnel who are not yet vaccinated against COVID-19 and are eligible to receive a vaccine are advised to do so as soon as possible. COVID-19 vaccines work, as they offer protection against severe disease and death from the virus. More information on how to receive a COVID-19 vaccine and the types of vaccines available is available here.
  • Personnel who already received a dose of the Johnson & Johnson (Janssen) vaccine at least 28 days ago, are advised to receive a second vaccination (preferably with an mRNA vaccine - BioNTech/Pfizer or Moderna) to remain fully vaccinated. Personnel who had not received a second shot by 2 January 2022 have lost their full vaccination status. Personnel can access a second shot vaccination without appointment at the Austria Centre or can register for an appointment here.
  • Personnel are reminded that those who have received two-shot vaccinations (AstraZeneca, BioNTech/Pfizer, Moderna) should be aware that from 6 December the validity of their vaccination was reduced to 270 days (from 360 days) after receiving the second dose. A booster (3rd shot) is recommended for AstraZeneca after four months. For BioNTech/Pfizer and Moderna it is possible after four months and recommended after six months. Personnel can get booster shots for BioNTech/Pfizer, AstraZeneca and Moderna without an appointment at the Austria Centre or register for an appointment here.
  • Personnel who received a non EMA approved vaccine (such as Sputnik, Sinovac, Covaxin) are informed that they are recognized as vaccinated by the VBOs based on the official UN guidance that "any COVID-19 vaccine that is recognized by the WHO or under routine approved use by a Member State national health authority is accepted". To be recognized as "vaccinated" by the Austrian authorities they need to take an antibody test followed by a booster with an EMA approved mRNA vaccine. For more information about this process please contact VIC Medical Services.

To reduce the risk of workplace transmission, the VIC Medical Service strongly reminds personnel to adhere to the following prevention measures. This is especially important at this time:

  • Stay home if you feel ill or have respiratory symptoms. Get tested.
  • Do not to come to work if you have tested positive.
  • Conduct in-person meetings wearing an FFP2 mask.
  • Adhere to the physical distancing measure – this is now two metres.
  • Stick to basic measures such as hand washing, distancing, FFP2 mask and regular PCR testing.
  • Wear an FFP2 mask outdoors at the VIC if two-metre distancing is not possible.

The VIC Medical Service encourages organizers to the limit the number of participants at any meetings.

Information on the number of cases of SARS CoV-2 involving VBO personnel is available here.

  • Updates will be issued whenever there is fresh information from the VBOs, the Host Country or the Host City.
  • Between updates, you can keep up to date and refer to previous material by visiting our VBO COVID-19 website.
  • On the site you can find all past updates and guidelines, including on the procedure for obtaining EU Digital COVID Certificates, as well as useful links including to official information in English and other languages.
  • No log-in is needed.
  • Link to the site:

https://nucleus.iaea.org/sites/covid19/SitePages/Home.aspx

LATEST AUSTRIAN DEVELOPMENTS AND MEASURES:

  • The most recent figure of people testing positive in Austria for COVID-19 is 24,914.
  • The latest forecast by the Austrian prognosis consortium predicts a further increase in daily cases for the next week to around 40,000.
  • The measures in Austria will be extended until 30 January. The legal text on the Austrian measures in force is available here.
  • Our Host City has in place additional rules specifically for Vienna, available here.
  • From Monday, 24 January, an amendment to the rules on entering Austria will come into force, according to which the “2G plus" rule will apply also to travellers from countries classified as “Virus variant areas" by Austria. People who have received a third vaccination dose are exempt from the requirement to provide a PCR test. The legal text on travelling to Austria is available here, the legal text of the latest amendment is available here. The Pre-travel Clearance Form, for those who require it, is available here. Generally, those with a legitimation card do not need to fill out this form to enter Austria. But staff should check themselves before travelling.
  • The lower house of parliament adopted a draft law on compulsory vaccination today. The upper house of parliament is scheduled to vote on the legislation on 3 February. According to the draft legislation, all people resident in Austria from the age of 18 would be required to be vaccinated against COVID-19, with exceptions for pregnant women and people who cannot be vaccinated for health reasons. The text of the draft bill and other details are available here (in German).
  • Chancellor Karl Nehammer announced on Thursday a package of measures to provide financial support to local councils and a lottery with 500-euro vouchers as potential prizes for all those who are vaccinated or get vaccinated. The scheme will start on 15 March.
  • The official Vienna Tourist Board provides arrival and departure COVID-19 information in English here.
  • There is information on Austria's overall vaccination programme in German and on Vienna's programme in German with links to other languages, including English.
  • There is a wide range of information on COVID-19 measures, vaccination and testing in 17 different languages, including English, here.
  • The official Austrian dashboard has the latest data on COVID-19. It is available in English as well as German and is updated each day at 14:00.
  • Austria's national vaccination dashboard is online here in English and German. It works best using Firefox or Google Chrome.
  • DISCLAIMER: The VBOs cannot vouch for legal accuracy or completeness of the summaries in this update. Personnel are advised to refer to the original legal texts and to make their own checks before travelling.

COVID-19 WEBSITE FOR ALL UN SYSTEM PERSONNEL (includes 24/7 COVID-19 helpline):

https://www.un.org/en/coronavirus/info-for-un-staff

FEEDBACK/SUGGESTIONS:

Please write to martin.nesirky@un.org

 In today's update:

  • Message from the four main Vienna International Centre (VIC)-based organizations 
  • Latest Austrian Developments and Measures

NOTE: New items in bold

MESSAGE FROM THE MAIN VIC-BASED ORGANIZATIONS (VBOs)

UNOV/UNODC – IAEA – UNIDO – CTBTO

The health and wellbeing of all personnel at the VIC is the top priority for the VBOs.

The VBOs have taken note of the sharply rising number of COVID-19 cases in our Host Country, particularly in Vienna, and the Host Country's measures that are now in force.

The VBOs have agreed that the presence of personnel at the VIC will be further reduced, in accordance with each individual organization's mandate and operational needs, by using teleworking where possible.

The VBOs urge all personnel to study and follow the guidance and advice from the VIC Medical Service. By doing so, everyone can play an important role in minimising the risk of transmission at the VIC and in our Host City and Host Country.

All those entering the VIC must continue to comply with 2.5G (vaccinated, recovered or PCR test no older than 48 hours).

By swiping their VIC grounds pass/badge, those entering the VIC confirm they are compliant and have 2.5G proof.

Note: Where meetings and conferences at the VIC do take place (with more than 25 participants), participants must show proof of a valid PCR test not older than 48 hours, even if they are vaccinated or recovered.

 The VBOs continue to monitor developments in our Host Country and will advise VIC personnel should further measures be required.

VIC Medical Service update and reminders:

The VIC Medical Service reminds personnel of the recommendation to get a booster vaccination dose as soon as eligible.

The Austrian national vaccination board has issued a recommendation for a third vaccination dose from six months after the second dose, or four months if indicated by epidemiological developments, for children aged 12-17 and for pregnant women (off-label).

Following the latest information received from the Austrian authorities regarding COVID-19 vaccination/boosters personnel are advised as follows:

  • Personnel who are not yet vaccinated against COVID-19 and are eligible to receive a vaccine are advised to do so as soon as possible. COVID-19 vaccines work, as they offer protection against severe disease and death from the virus. More information on how to receive a COVID-19 vaccine and the types of vaccines available is available here.
  • Personnel who already received a dose of the Johnson & Johnson (Janssen) vaccine at least 28 days ago, are advised to receive a second vaccination (preferably with an mRNA vaccine - BioNTech/Pfizer or Moderna) to remain fully vaccinated. Personnel who had not received a second shot by 2 January 2022 have lost their full vaccination status. Personnel can access a second shot vaccination without appointment at the Austria Centre or can register for an appointment here.
  • Personnel are reminded that those who have received two-shot vaccinations (AstraZeneca, BioNTech/Pfizer, Moderna) should be aware that from 6 December the validity of their vaccination was reduced to 270 days (from 360 days) after receiving the second dose. A booster (3rd shot) is recommended for AstraZeneca after four months. For BioNTech/Pfizer and Moderna it is possible after four months and recommended after six months. Personnel can get booster shots for BioNTech/Pfizer, AstraZeneca and Moderna without an appointment at the Austria Centre or register for an appointment here.
  • Personnel who received a non EMA approved vaccine (such as Sputnik, Sinovac, Covaxin) are informed that they are recognized as vaccinated by the VBOs based on the official UN guidance that "any COVID-19 vaccine that is recognized by the WHO or under routine approved use by a Member State national health authority is accepted". To be recognized as "vaccinated" by the Austrian authorities they need to take an antibody test followed by a booster with an EMA approved mRNA vaccine. For more information about this process please contact VIC Medical Services.

To reduce the risk of workplace transmission, the VIC Medical Service strongly reminds personnel to adhere to the following prevention measures. This is especially important at this time:

  • Stay home if you feel ill or have respiratory symptoms. Get tested.
  • Do not to come to work if you have tested positive.
  • Conduct in-person meetings wearing an FFP2 mask.
  • Adhere to the physical distancing measure – this is now two metres.
  • Stick to basic measures such as hand washing, distancing, FFP2 mask and regular PCR testing.
  • Wear an FFP2 mask outdoors at the VIC if two-metre distancing is not possible.

The VIC Medical Service encourages organizers to the limit the number of participants at any meetings.

Information on the number of cases of SARS CoV-2 involving VBO personnel is available here.

  • Updates will be issued whenever there is fresh information from the VBOs, the Host Country or the Host City.
  • Between updates, you can keep up to date and refer to previous material by visiting our VBO COVID-19 website.
  • On the site you can find all past updates and guidelines, including on the procedure for obtaining EU Digital COVID Certificates, as well as useful links including to official information in English and other languages.
  • No log-in is needed.
  • Link to the site:

https://nucleus.iaea.org/sites/covid19/SitePages/Home.aspx

LATEST AUSTRIAN DEVELOPMENTS AND MEASURES:

  • The number of people who have tested positive in Austria reached an all-time high at 16,680 on 11 January.
  • The current forecast by the Austrian prognosis consortium predicts a further strong increase in cases.
  • The legal text on the Austrian measures in force is available here.
  • Our Host City has in place additional rules specifically for Vienna, available here.
  • The legal text on travelling to Austria is available here. The Pre-travel Clearance Form, for those who require it, is available here. Generally, those with a legitimation card do not need to fill out this form to enter Austria. But staff should check themselves before travelling.
  • The official Vienna Tourist Board provides arrival and departure COVID-19 information in English here.
  • There is information on Austria's overall vaccination programme in German and on Vienna's programme in German with links to other languages, including English.
  • There is a wide range of information on COVID-19 measures, vaccination and testing in 17 different languages, including English, here.
  • Austrian officials encourage all those in Austria to download the Stopp Corona app to help with contact tracing. The app is available in English and German.
  • The official Austrian dashboard has the latest data on COVID-19. It is available in English as well as German and is updated each day at 14:00.
  • Austria's national vaccination dashboard is online here in English and German. It works best using Firefox or Google Chrome.
  • DISCLAIMER: The VBOs cannot vouch for legal accuracy or completeness of the summaries in this update. Personnel are advised to refer to the original legal texts and to make their own checks before travelling.

COVID-19 WEBSITE FOR ALL UN SYSTEM PERSONNEL (includes 24/7 COVID-19 helpline):

https://www.un.org/en/coronavirus/info-for-un-staff

FEEDBACK/SUGGESTIONS:

Please write to martin.nesirky@un.org

In today's update:

  • Message from the four main Vienna International Centre (VIC)-based organizations 
  • Latest Austrian Developments and Measures

NOTE: New items in bold

MESSAGE FROM THE MAIN VIC-BASED ORGANIZATIONS (VBOs)

UNOV/UNODC – IAEA – UNIDO – CTBTO

The VBOs have taken note of the latest Austrian measures announced on Thursday.

Presence at the VIC will be maintained at the reduced level, in accordance with each individual organization's mandate and operational needs, by using teleworking where possible.

All those entering the VIC must continue to comply with 2.5G (vaccinated, recovered or PCR test no older than 48 hours).

From 3 January, a single dose of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine is no longer accepted by the Host Country as meeting the criteria for low epidemiological risk. A second dose with an approved vaccination is now required to meet the criteria for low epidemiological risk.

From 6 December, the validity of the second dose of a two-dose vaccination for meeting the criteria for low epidemiological risk was reduced from 360 to 270 days.

By swiping their VIC grounds pass/badge, those entering the VIC confirm they are compliant and have 2.5G proof.

Note: Where meetings and conferences at the VIC do take place (with more than 25 participants), participants must show proof of a valid PCR test not older than 48 hours, even if they are vaccinated or recovered.

The VBOs continue to monitor developments in our Host Country and will advise VIC personnel should further measures be required.

VIC Medical Service update and reminders:

The Vienna health authorities have reintroduced the possibility to test out of quarantine after five days for contact persons of suspected Omicron cases, except for household contacts who cannot separate.

The Austrian national vaccination board has issued a recommendation for a third vaccination dose from six months after the second dose, or four months if indicated by epidemiological developments, for children aged 12-17 and for pregnant women (off-label).

The Medical Service encourages organizers to the limit the number of participants at any meetings.

PCR test kits and collection boxes remain available at the VIC. Please note test kits are not collected from the VIC on Austrian or UN holidays.

Following the latest information received from the Austrian authorities regarding COVID-19 vaccination/boosters personnel are advised as follows:

  • Personnel who are not yet vaccinated against COVID-19 and are eligible to receive a vaccine are advised to do so as soon as possible. COVID-19 vaccines work, as they offer protection against severe disease and death from the virus. More information on how to receive a COVID-19 vaccine and the types of vaccines available is available here.
  • Personnel who already received a dose of the Johnson & Johnson (Janssen) vaccine at least 28 days ago are advised to receive a second vaccination (preferably with an mRNA vaccine BioNTech/Pfizer or Moderna) to remain fully vaccinated. Personnel who have not received a second shot by 2 January 2022 have lost their full vaccination status. Personnel can access a second shot vaccination without appointment at the Austria Centre or can register for an appointment here.
  • Personnel who have received two-shot vaccinations (AstraZeneca, BioNTech/Pfizer, Moderna) should be aware that from 6 December the validity of their vaccination was reduced to 270 days (from 360 days) after receiving the second dose. A booster (3rd shot) is recommended for AstraZeneca after four months. For BioNTech/Pfizer and Moderna it is possible after four months and recommended after six months. Personnel can get booster shots for BioNTech/Pfizer, AstraZeneca and Moderna without an appointment at the Austria Centre or register for an appointment here.
  • Personnel who received a non EMA approved vaccine (such as Sputnik, Sinovac, Covaxin) are informed that they are recognized as vaccinated by the VBOs based on the official UN guidance that "any COVID-19 vaccine that is recognized by the WHO or under routine approved use by a Member State national health authority is accepted". To be recognized as "vaccinated" by the Austrian authorities they need to take an antibody test followed by a booster with an EMA approved mRNA vaccine. For more information about this process please contact VIC Medical Services.

To reduce the risk of workplace transmission, with or without a lockdown, Medical Service strongly reminds personnel to adhere to the following prevention measures:

  • Stay home if you feel ill or have respiratory symptoms. Get tested.
  • Do not to come to work if you have tested positive.
  • Conduct in-person meetings wearing an FPP2 mask.
  • Adhere to the physical distancing measure – this is now two metres.
  • Stick to basic measures such as hand washing, distancing, FFP2 mask and regular PCR testing.
  • Wear an FFP2 mask outdoors at the VIC if two-metre distancing is not possible.

Information on the number of cases of SARS CoV-2 involving VBO personnel is available here.

  • Updates will be issued whenever there is fresh information from the VBOs, the Host Country or the Host City.
  • Between updates, you can keep up to date and refer to previous material by visiting our VBO COVID-19 website.
  • On the site you can find all past updates and guidelines, including on the procedure for obtaining EU Digital COVID Certificates, as well as useful links including to official information in English and other languages.
  • No log-in is needed.
  • Link to the site:

https://nucleus.iaea.org/sites/covid19/SitePages/Home.aspx

LATEST AUSTRIAN DEVELOPMENTS AND MEASURES:

  • The Austrian authorities announced new measures on Thursday to deal with the rising number of Omicron cases in the country.
  • Austria is in a very serious situation, Chancellor Karl Nehammer said in a televised briefing after a meeting of the federal government with provincial governors and experts. He said there could be more than 20,000 cases a day in the coming weeks.
  • The main goals were to increase the vaccination rate, minimize the number of people needing hospital care and avoid a lockdown, Nehammer said.
  • This is an overview of the measures announced:
  • People should work from home wherever possible. Health Minister Wolfgang Mückstein said this was “a clear recommendation for home office". 
  • The green pass will be valid for only six months for those with two shots, with effect from 1 February. It remains valid for nine months for those who have received a booster shot.
  • Quarantine is being shortened to five days, from then it will be possible to “test out" of it with a negative test. Takes effect on 8 January. There will no longer be a distinction between K1 or K2 contact persons.
  • Those who have been vaccinated three times are not counted as contact persons. Takes effect on 8 January.
  • FFP2 masks will be mandatory outdoors where a two-meter distance cannot be kept, for example in shopping streets or queues. Takes effect on 11 January.
  • From 11 January there will be checks on 2G compliance in non-essential shops.
  • Lockdown for the unvaccinated will be extended beyond 10 January. Night catering will remain closed.
  • Schools will open on Monday, but attendance will not be compulsory. All students must present two PCR tests a week.
  • Mandatory vaccination is still planned and the goal, Nehammer said.
  • The legal text on the Austrian measures in force is available here. The text covering the measures announced today is expected to be available in the next couple of days.
  • Our Host City has in place additional rules specifically for Vienna, available here.
  • The legal text on travelling to Austria is available here. The Pre-travel Clearance Form, for those who require it, is available here. Generally, those with a legitimation card do not need to fill out this form to enter Austria. But staff should check themselves before travelling.
  • The official Vienna Tourist Board provides arrival and departure COVID-19 information in English here.
  • There is information on Austria's overall vaccination programme in German and on Vienna's programme in German with links to other languages, including English.
  • There is a wide range of information on COVID-19 measures, vaccination and testing in 17 different languages, including English, here.
  • Austrian officials encourage all those in Austria to download the Stopp Corona app to help with contact tracing. The app is available in English and German.
  • The official Austrian dashboard has the latest data on COVID-19. It is available in English as well as German and is updated each day at 14:00.
  • Austria's national vaccination dashboard is online here in English and German. It works best using Firefox or Google Chrome.
  • DISCLAIMER: The VBOs cannot vouch for legal accuracy or completeness of the summaries in this update. Personnel are advised to refer to the original legal texts and to make their own checks before travelling.

COVID-19 WEBSITE FOR ALL UN SYSTEM PERSONNEL (includes 24/7 COVID-19 helpline):

https://www.un.org/en/coronavirus/info-for-un-staff

FEEDBACK/SUGGESTIONS:

Please write to martin.nesirky@un.org

In today's update:

  • ​Message from the four main Vienna International Centre (VIC)-based organizations 
  • Latest Austrian Developments and Measures

NOTE: New items in bold

MESSAGE FROM THE MAIN VIC-BASED ORGANIZATIONS (VBOs)

UNOV/UNODC – IAEA – UNIDO – CTBTO

Presence at the VIC continues to be reduced, in accordance with each individual organization's mandate and operational needs, by using teleworking where possible.

All those entering the VIC must continue to comply with 2.5G (vaccinated, recovered or PCR test no older than 48 hours).

From 3 January, a single dose of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine is no longer accepted by the Host Country as meeting the criteria for low epidemiological risk. A second dose with an approved vaccination is now required to meet the criteria for low epidemiological risk.

From 6 December, the validity of the second dose of a two-dose vaccination for meeting the criteria for low epidemiological risk was reduced from 360 to 270 days.

By swiping their VIC grounds pass/badge, those entering the VIC confirm they are compliant and have 2.5G proof.

Note: Where meetings and conferences at the VIC do take place (with more than 25 participants), participants must show proof of a valid PCR test not older than 48 hours, even if they are vaccinated or recovered.

The VBOs continue to monitor developments in our Host Country and will advise VIC personnel should further measures be required.

VIC Medical Service update and reminders:

The Vienna health authorities have reintroduced the possibility to test out of quarantine after five days for contact persons of suspected Omicron cases, except for household contacts who cannot separate.

The Austrian national vaccination board has issued a recommendation for a third vaccination dose from six months after the second dose, or four months if indicated by epidemiological developments, for children aged 12-17 and for pregnant women (off-label).

The Medical Service encourages organizers to the limit the number of participants at any meetings.

Following the latest information received from the Austrian authorities regarding COVID-19 vaccination/boosters personnel are advised as follows:

  • Personnel who are not yet vaccinated against COVID-19 and are eligible to receive a vaccine are advised to do so as soon as possible. COVID-19 vaccines work, as they offer protection against severe disease and death from the virus. More information on how to receive a COVID-19 vaccine and the types of vaccines available is available here.
  • Personnel who already received a dose of the Johnson & Johnson (Janssen) vaccine at least 28 days ago, are advised to receive a second vaccination (preferably with an mRNA vaccine - BioNTech/Pfizer or Moderna) to remain fully vaccinated. Personnel who have not received a second shot by 2 January 2022 have lost their full vaccination status. Personnel can access a second shot vaccination without appointment at the Austria Centre or can register for an appointment here.
  • Personnel who have received two-shot vaccinations (AstraZeneca, BioNTech/Pfizer, Moderna) should be aware that from 6 December the validity of their vaccination was reduced to 270 days (from 360 days) after receiving the second dose. A booster (3rd shot) is recommended for AstraZeneca after four months. For BioNTech/Pfizer and Moderna it is possible after four months and recommended after six months. Personnel can get booster shots for BioNTech/Pfizer, AstraZeneca and Moderna without an appointment at the Austria Centre or register for an appointment here.
  • Personnel who received a non EMA approved vaccine (i.e. Sputnik, Sinovac, Covaxin) are informed that they are recognized as vaccinated by the VBOs based on the official UN guidance that "any COVID-19 vaccine that is recognized by the WHO or under routine approved use by a Member State national health authority is accepted". To be recognized as "vaccinated" by the Austrian authorities they need to take an antibody test followed by a booster with an EMA approved mRNA vaccine. For more information about this process please contact VIC Medical Services.

To reduce the risk of workplace transmission, with or without a lockdown, Medical Service strongly reminds personnel to adhere to the following prevention measures:

  • Stay home if you feel ill or have respiratory symptoms. Get tested.
  • Do not to come to work if you have tested positive.
  • Conduct in-person meetings wearing an FPP2 mask.
  • Adhere to the physical distancing measure – this is now two metres.
  • Stick to basic measures such as hand washing, distancing, FFP2 mask and regular PCR testing.

    Information on the number of cases of SARS CoV-2 involving VBO personnel is available here.
  • Updates will be issued whenever there is fresh information from the VBOs, the Host Country or the Host City.
  • Between updates, you can keep up to date and refer to previous material by visiting our VBO COVID-19 website.
  • On the site you can find all past updates and guidelines, including on the procedure for obtaining EU Digital COVID Certificates, as well as useful links including to official information in English and other languages.
  • No log-in is needed.
  • Link to the site: https://nucleus.iaea.org/sites/covid19/SitePages/Home.aspx

LATEST AUSTRIAN DEVELOPMENTS AND MEASURES:

  • The number of new infections reported rose sharply on Tuesday to 5,496. Omicron is now the most commonly detected variant in Austria.
  • The measures in place at national level, including the lockdown for people not vaccinated or recovered, were extended until 10 January. The legal text on the Austrian measures currently in force is available here.
  • On Thursday, 6 January, the Austrian Government is expected to announce plans for the way ahead after 10 January.
  • Vienna has in place additional rules specifically for Vienna, available here.
  • The legal text on travelling to Austria is available here. The Pre-travel Clearance Form, for those who require it, is available here.
  • There is information on Austria's overall vaccination programme in German and on Vienna's programme in German with links to other languages, including English.
  • There is a wide range of information on COVID-19 measures, vaccination and testing in 17 different languages, including English, here.
  • Austrian officials encourage all those in Austria to download the Stopp Corona app to help with contact tracing. The app is available in English and German.
  • The official Austrian dashboard has the latest data on COVID-19. It is available in English as well as German and is updated each day at 14:00.
  • Austria's national vaccination dashboard is online here in English and German. It works best using Firefox or Google Chrome.
  • DISCLAIMER: The VBOs cannot vouch for legal accuracy or completeness of the summaries in this update. Personnel are advised to refer to the original legal texts and to make their own checks before travelling.

COVID-19 WEBSITE FOR ALL UN SYSTEM PERSONNEL (includes 24/7 COVID-19 helpline): https://www.un.org/en/coronavirus/info-for-un-staff

FEEDBACK/SUGGESTIONS: Please write to sonja.wintersberger@un.org​​

​In today's update:

  • Message from the four main Vienna International Centre (VIC)-based organizations 
  • Latest Austrian Developments and Measures

NOTE: New items in bold

MESSAGE FROM THE MAIN VIC-BASED ORGANIZATIONS (VBOs)

UNOV/UNODC – IAEA – UNIDO – CTBTO

The VIC Medical Service will be closed on Friday, 24 and 31 December 2021. Any emergencies on these days will be handled by UNSSS and the Austrian emergency services as after office hours or on weekends.

“The Alles Gurgelt" PCR test stations at the VIC will be closed 24 December through 4 January. The “Alles Gurgelt" programme outside the VIC continues to be available, subject to opening hours during the holidays.

Presence at the VIC continues to be reduced, in accordance with each individual organization's mandate and operational needs, by using teleworking where possible.

All those entering the VIC must continue to comply with 2.5G (vaccinated, recovered or PCR test no older than 48 hours).

From 6 December, the validity of the second dose of a two-dose vaccination for meeting the criteria for low epidemiological risk was reduced from 360 to 270 days.

By swiping their VIC grounds pass/badge, those entering the VIC confirm they are compliant and have 2.5G proof.

Note: Where meetings and conferences at the VIC do take place (with more than 25 participants), participants must show proof of a valid PCR test not older than 48 hours, even if they are vaccinated or recovered.

The VBOs continue to monitor developments in our Host Country and will advise VIC personnel should further measures be required.

VIC Medical Service update and reminders:

The Vienna health authorities have reintroduced the possibility to test out of quarantine after five days for contact persons of suspected Omicron cases, except for household contacts who cannot separate.

The Austrian national vaccination board has issued a recommendation for a third vaccination dose from six months after the second dose, or four months if indicated by epidemiological developments, for children aged 12-17 and for pregnant women (off-label).

The Medical Service discourages personnel from organizing indoor departmental, divisional, sectional gatherings, holiday or year-end parties.

The Medical Service encourages organizers to the limit the number of participants at any meetings.

Following the latest information received from the Austrian authorities regarding COVID-19 vaccination/boosters personnel are advised as follows:

  • Personnel who are not yet vaccinated against COVID-19 and are eligible to receive a vaccine are advised to do so as soon as possible. COVID-19 vaccines work, as they offer protection against severe disease and death from the virus. More information on how to receive a COVID-19 vaccine and the types of vaccines available is available here.
  • Personnel who already received a dose of the Johnson & Johnson (Janssen) vaccine at least 28 days ago, are advised to receive a second vaccination (preferably with an mRNA vaccine - BioNTech/Pfizer or Moderna) to remain fully vaccinated. Personnel who do not receive a second shot by 2 January 2022 will lose their full vaccination status. Personnel can access a second shot vaccination without appointment at the Austria Centre or can register for an appointment here.
  • Personnel who have received two-shot vaccinations (AstraZeneca, BioNTech/Pfizer, Moderna) should be aware that from 6 December the validity of their vaccination was reduced to 270 days (from 360 days) after receiving the second dose. A booster (3rd shot) is recommended for AstraZeneca after four months. For BioNTech/Pfizer and Moderna it is possible after four months and recommended after six months. Personnel can get booster shots for BioNTech/Pfizer, AstraZeneca and Moderna without an appointment at the Austria Centre or register for an appointment here.
  • Personnel who received a non EMA approved vaccine (i.e. Sputnik, Sinovac, Covaxin) are informed that they are recognized as vaccinated by the VBOs based on the official UN guidance that "any COVID-19 vaccine that is recognized by the WHO or under routine approved use by a Member State national health authority is accepted". To be recognized as "vaccinated" by the Austrian authorities they need to take an antibody test followed by a booster with an EMA approved mRNA vaccine. For more information about this process please contact VIC Medical Services.

To reduce the risk of workplace transmission, with or without a lockdown, Medical Service strongly reminds personnel to adhere to the following prevention measures:

  • Stay home if you feel ill or have respiratory symptoms. Get tested.
  • Do not to come to work if you have tested positive.
  • Conduct in-person meetings wearing an FPP2 mask.
  • Adhere to the physical distancing measure – this is now two metres.
  • Stick to basic measures such as hand washing, distancing, FFP2 mask and regular PCR testing.

Information on the number of cases of SARS CoV-2 involving VBO personnel is available here.

  • Updates will be issued whenever there is fresh information from the VBOs, the Host Country or the Host City.
  • Between updates, you can keep up to date and refer to previous material by visiting our VBO COVID-19 website.
  • On the site you can find all past updates and guidelines, including on the procedure for obtaining EU Digital COVID Certificates, as well as useful links including to official information in English and other languages.
  • No log-in is needed.
  • Link to the site:

https://nucleus.iaea.org/sites/covid19/SitePages/Home.aspx

LATEST AUSTRIAN DEVELOPMENTS AND MEASURES:

  • On Wednesday the new Austrian crisis coordination board announced that there would be changes to the measures over the holiday period that were announced last Friday. This was in expectation of an expected new wave of infections caused by the Omicron variant. Time was the key factor; the aim was to slow down the spread of the Omicron variant, said Chief Medical Officer Katharina Reich. The following changes to existing measures were announced:
    • From 27 December, restaurants would have to close at 22:00, including on New Year's Eve.
    • It was generally recommended not to have any gatherings on New Year's Eve and to celebrate only if vaccinated and tested. Outdoors was safer than indoors, said Reich.
    • There would be new nationwide rules for events as follows:
      • Indoor events without assigned seating allowed for only up to 25 participants. 2G and FFP2 masks still required.
      • Events with assigned seating:
      • Up to 500 participants: 2G
      • Up to 1,000 participants: 2G plus (vaccinated or recovered plus PCR-tested)
      • Up to 2,000 participants: Booster plus PCR-tested
  • The legal text on the above is not yet published.
  • The legal text on the Austrian measures from 22 December is available here.
  • Vienna has in place additional rules specifically for Vienna, available here.
  • The Austrian crisis coordination board announced that from 25 December the rules for entering Austria would be amended for travellers from Denmark, the Netherlands, Norway and the United Kingdom, with a quarantine requirement upon entering Austria regardless of vaccination status with an exemption for those who have received a booster shot. A PCR test is also required. Further information is available here. The legal text has not yet been published.
  • The legal texts in force on travelling to Austria are available here, here and here. The Pre-travel Clearance Form, for those who require it, is available here.
  • There is information on Austria's overall vaccination programme in German and on Vienna's programme in German with links to other languages, including English.
  • There is a wide range of information on COVID-19 measures, vaccination and testing in 17 different languages, including English, here.
  • Austrian officials encourage all those in Austria to download the Stopp Corona app to help with contact tracing. The app is available in English and German.
  • The official Austrian dashboard has the latest data on COVID-19. It is available in English as well as German and is updated each day at 14:00.
  • Austria's national vaccination dashboard is online here in English and German. It works best using Firefox or Google Chrome.
  • DISCLAIMER: The VBOs cannot vouch for legal accuracy or completeness of the summaries in this update. Personnel are advised to refer to the original legal texts and to make their own checks before travelling. ​

COVID-19 WEBSITE FOR ALL UN SYSTEM PERSONNEL (includes 24/7 COVID-19 helpline):

https://www.un.org/en/coronavirus/info-for-un-staff

FEEDBACK/SUGGESTIONS:

Please write to martin.nesirky@un.org

​In today's update:

  • ​Message from the four main Vienna International Centre (VIC)-based organizations 
  • Latest Austrian Developments and Measures

NOTE: New items in bold

MESSAGE FROM THE MAIN VIC-BASED ORGANIZATIONS (VBOs)

UNOV/UNODC – IAEA – UNIDO – CTBTO

The VIC Medical Service will be closed on Friday, 24 and 31 December 2021. Any emergencies on these days will be handled by UNSSS and the Austrian emergency services as after office hours or on weekends.

“The Alles Gurgelt" PCR test stations at the VIC will be closed 24 December through 4 January. The “Alles Gurgelt" programme outside the VIC continues to be available, subject to opening hours during the holidays.

Bearing in mind the measures announced by the Austrian authorities and advice from the VIC Medical Service, presence at the VIC has been reduced, in accordance with each individual organization's mandate and operational needs, by using teleworking where possible.

All those entering the VIC must continue to comply with 2.5G (vaccinated, recovered or PCR test no older than 48 hours).

From 6 December, the validity of the second dose of a two-dose vaccination for meeting the criteria for low epidemiological risk was reduced from 360 to 270 days.

By swiping their VIC grounds pass/badge, those entering the VIC confirm they are compliant and have 2.5G proof.

Note: Where meetings and conferences at the VIC do take place (with more than 25 participants), participants must show proof of a valid PCR test not older than 48 hours, even if they are vaccinated or recovered.

The VBOs continue to monitor developments in our Host Country and will advise VIC personnel should further measures be required.

VIC Medical Service update and reminders:

The Vienna health authorities have reintroduced the possibility to test out of quarantine after five days for contact persons of suspected Omicron cases, except for household contacts who cannot separate.

The Austrian national vaccination board has issued a recommendation for a third vaccination dose from six months after the second dose, or four months if indicated by epidemiological developments, for children aged 12-17 and for pregnant women (off-label).

The Medical Service discourages personnel from organizing indoor departmental, divisional, sectional gatherings, holiday or year-end parties.

The Medical Service encourages organizers to the limit the number of participants at any meetings.

Following the latest information received from the Austrian authorities regarding COVID-19 vaccination/boosters personnel are advised as follows:

  • Personnel who are not yet vaccinated against COVID-19 and are eligible to receive a vaccine are advised to do so as soon as possible. COVID-19 vaccines work, as they offer protection against severe disease and death from the virus. More information on how to receive a COVID-19 vaccine and the types of vaccines available is available here.
  • Personnel who already received a dose of the Johnson & Johnson (Janssen) vaccine at least 28 days ago, are advised to receive a second vaccination (preferably with an mRNA vaccine - BioNTech/Pfizer or Moderna) to remain fully vaccinated. Personnel who do not receive a second shot by 2 January 2022 will lose their full vaccination status. Personnel can access a second shot vaccination without appointment at the Austria Centre or can register for an appointment here.
  • Personnel who have received two-shot vaccinations (AstraZeneca, BioNTech/Pfizer, Moderna) should be aware that from 6 December the validity of their vaccination was reduced to 270 days (from 360 days) after receiving the second dose. A booster (3rd shot) is recommended for AstraZeneca after four months. For BioNTech/Pfizer and Moderna it is possible after four months and recommended after six months. Personnel can get booster shots for BioNTech/Pfizer, AstraZeneca and Moderna without an appointment at the Austria Centre or register for an appointment here.
  • Personnel who received a non EMA approved vaccine (i.e. Sputnik, Sinovac, Covaxin) are informed that they are recognized as vaccinated by the VBOs based on the official UN guidance that "any COVID-19 vaccine that is recognized by the WHO or under routine approved use by a Member State national health authority is accepted". To be recognized as "vaccinated" by the Austrian authorities they need to take an antibody test followed by a booster with an EMA approved mRNA vaccine. For more information about this process please contact VIC Medical Services.

To reduce the risk of workplace transmission, with or without a lockdown, Medical Service strongly reminds personnel to adhere to the following prevention measures:

  • Stay home if you feel ill or have respiratory symptoms. Get tested.
  • Do not to come to work if you have tested positive.
  • Conduct in-person meetings wearing an FPP2 mask.
  • Adhere to the physical distancing measure – this is now two metres.
  • Stick to basic measures such as hand washing, distancing, FFP2 mask and regular PCR testing.
Information on the number of cases of SARS CoV-2 involving VBO personnel is available here.

  • Updates will be issued whenever there is fresh information from the VBOs, the Host Country or the Host City.
  • Between updates, you can keep up to date and refer to previous material by visiting our VBO COVID-19 website.
  • On the site you can find all past updates and guidelines, including on the procedure for obtaining EU Digital COVID Certificates, as well as useful links including to official information in English and other languages.
  • No log-in is needed.
  • Link to the site: https://nucleus.iaea.org/sites/covid19/SitePages/Home.aspx

​LATEST AUSTRIAN DEVELOPMENTS AND MEASURES:

  • New regulations on travel to Austria apply from today:
    • ​​​Travelers to Austria need to meet the 2G criteria, and in addition have either a booster vaccination or a valid PCR test, said Health Minister Wolfgang Mückstein on Friday. Those with no booster vaccination or PCR test have to complete pre-travel registration and quarantine upon entry to Austria until receipt of a negative PCR test result.
    • EU/EEA citizens and residents who are not vaccinated have to complete pre-travel registration and quarantine upon entry to Austria for 10 days, with a possibility to test out of quarantine after 5 days.
    • Exemptions from the 2G criteria apply to pregnant women, people who cannot be vaccinated, cross-border commuters, children up to the age of 15, diplomatic and VBO personnel and their household members and those travelling on mission to the VBOs.
    • The legal texts are available here, here and here.
  • In a televised briefing on Friday, Health Minister Wolfgang Mückstein and Minister for Families Susanne Raab presented plans for the COVID-19 measures to be in force in Austria over the holiday period:
    • The Health Minister said while the effects of the general lockdown had left some room for manoeuvre, the Omicron variant brought uncertainties and further caution was necessary.
    • The current measures in place would be generally continued over the holiday period, the lockdown for people not vaccinated would be extended by a further 10 days, and the 2G access rule would remain where it currently applied.
    • A specific exception for the dates 24-26 and 31 December would be that people not vaccinated would be allowed to leave their home to attend private gatherings of up to and including 10 people.
    • At gatherings with 11 or more participants, the 2G rule would apply.
    • On New Year's Eve, the national COVID-related closing hours would be lifted and the closing hours of each province apply.
    • The Health Minister appealed to the population to test before attending gatherings and to get booster shots before Christmas, as well as wear masks and practice distancing and hand hygiene.
    • The Health Minister also said the rules on entering Austria were currently being reviewed.
  • In a press conference on Friday, Education Minister Martin Polaschek and Tourism Minister Elisabeth Köstinger presented the “Holiday Ninja Pass" programme:
    • Children resident in or visiting Austria aged 12-15 who were not vaccinated could use this testing programme to meet entry requirements to facilities subject to “2G" access.
    • All guests, including children, had to present a negative PCR test for entry to Austria, said the Tourism Minister. This test could be included in the „Holiday Ninja Pass". While in Austria, similar to the school testing programme, three tests over a five-day period would provide access for a seven-day period. How many of these tests had to be PCR test differed from province to province, depending on the availability of PCR tests in the province. Details are available here.
    • The Education Minister said school children would be given three antigen tests to take home for the holidays, of which one should be taken on Sunday 9 January 2022 before returning to school.
  • The legal text on the measures from 22 December is available here. The rules at national level, in force until 21 December, are available here and here.
  • Vienna has in place additional rules specifically for Vienna, the current version of which is available here. The City has not yet published the measures for Vienna over the holiday period. Restaurants and hotels in Vienna have re-opened today.
  • The government advisory commission has classified the situation in Vienna and Burgenland provinces as “Orange" (high risk), leaving the rest of the country at “Red" (very high risk). The commission has called the systemic risk caused by the Omicron variant “very high," with a high probability of a further infection wave causing considerable economic and societal disruption.
  • There is information on Austria's overall vaccination programme in German and on Vienna's programme in German with links to other languages, including English.
  • There is a wide range of information on COVID-19 measures, vaccination and testing in 17 different languages, including English, here.
  • Austrian officials encourage all those in Austria to download the Stopp Corona app to help with contact tracing. The app is available in English and German.
  • The official Austrian dashboard has the latest data on COVID-19. It is available in English as well as German and is updated each day at 14:00.
  • Austria's national vaccination dashboard is online here in English and German. It works best using Firefox or Google Chrome.
  • DISCLAIMER: The VBOs cannot vouch for legal accuracy or completeness of the summaries in this update. Personnel are advised to refer to the original legal texts and to make their own checks before travelling.

COVID-19 WEBSITE FOR ALL UN SYSTEM PERSONNEL (includes 24/7 COVID-19 helpline):https://www.un.org/en/coronavirus/info-for-un-staff

FEEDBACK/SUGGESTIONS: Please write to sonja.wintersberger@un.org

 

 In today's update:

  • Message from the four main Vienna International Centre (VIC)-based organizations 
  • Latest Austrian Developments and Measures

NOTE: New items in bold

MESSAGE FROM THE MAIN VIC-BASED ORGANIZATIONS (VBOs)

UNOV/UNODC – IAEA – UNIDO – CTBTO

“The Alles Gurgelt" PCR test stations at the VIC will be closed 24 December through 4 January. The “Alles Gurgelt" programme outside the VIC continues to be available, subject to opening hours during the holidays.

Bearing in mind the measures announced by the Austrian authorities and advice from the VIC Medical Service, presence at the VIC has been reduced, in accordance with each individual organization's mandate and operational needs, by using teleworking where possible.

All those entering the VIC must continue to comply with 2.5G (vaccinated, recovered or PCR test no older than 48 hours).

From 6 December, the validity of the second dose of a two-dose vaccination for meeting the criteria for low epidemiological risk was reduced from 360 to 270 days.

By swiping their VIC grounds pass/badge, those entering the VIC confirm they are compliant and have 2.5G proof.

Note: Where meetings and conferences at the VIC do take place (with more than 25 participants), participants must show proof of a valid PCR test not older than 48 hours, even if they are vaccinated or recovered.

 The VBOs continue to monitor developments in our Host Country and will advise VIC personnel should further measures be required.

VIC Medical Service update and reminders:

The Medical Service discourages personnel from organizing indoor departmental, divisional, sectional gatherings, holiday or year-end parties.

The Medical Service encourages organizers to the limit the number of participants at any meetings.

Following the latest information received from the Austrian authorities regarding COVID-19 vaccination/boosters personnel are advised as follows:

  • Personnel who are not yet vaccinated against COVID-19 and are eligible to receive a vaccine are advised to do so as soon as possible. COVID-19 vaccines work, as they offer protection against severe disease and death from the virus. More information on how to receive a COVID-19 vaccine and the types of vaccines available is available here.
  • Personnel who already received a dose of the Johnson & Johnson (Janssen) vaccine at least 28 days ago, are advised to receive a second vaccination (preferably with an mRNA vaccine - BioNTech/Pfizer or Moderna) to remain fully vaccinated. Personnel who do not receive a second shot by 2 January 2022 will lose their full vaccination status. Personnel can access a second shot vaccination without appointment at the Austria Centre or can register for an appointment here.
  • Personnel who have received two-shot vaccinations (AstraZeneca, BioNTech/Pfizer, Moderna) should be aware that from 6 December the validity of their vaccination was reduced to 270 days (from 360 days) after receiving the second dose. A booster (3rd shot) is recommended for AstraZeneca after four months. For BioNTech/Pfizer and Moderna it is possible after four months and recommended after six months. Personnel can get booster shots for BioNTech/Pfizer, AstraZeneca and Moderna without an appointment at the Austria Centre or register for an appointment here.
  • Personnel who received a non EMA approved vaccine (i.e. Sputnik, Sinovac, Covaxin) are informed that they are recognized as vaccinated by the VBOs based on the official UN guidance that "any COVID-19 vaccine that is recognized by the WHO or under routine approved use by a Member State national health authority is accepted". To be recognized as "vaccinated" by the Austrian authorities they need to take an antibody test followed by a booster with an EMA approved mRNA vaccine. For more information about this process please contact VIC Medical Services.

To reduce the risk of workplace transmission, with or without a lockdown, Medical Service strongly reminds personnel to adhere to the following prevention measures:

  • Stay home if you feel ill or have respiratory symptoms. Get tested.
  • Do not to come to work if you have tested positive.
  • Conduct in-person meetings wearing an FPP2 mask.
  • Adhere to the physical distancing measure – this is now two metres.
  • Stick to basic measures such as hand washing, distancing, FFP2 mask and regular PCR testing.

Information on the number of cases of SARS CoV-2 involving VBO personnel is available here.

  • Updates will be issued whenever there is fresh information from the VBOs, the Host Country or the Host City.
  • Between updates, you can keep up to date and refer to previous material by visiting our VBO COVID-19 website.
  • On the site you can find all past updates and guidelines, including on the procedure for obtaining EU Digital COVID Certificates, as well as useful links including to official information in English and other languages.
  • No log-in is needed.
  • Link to the site:

https://nucleus.iaea.org/sites/covid19/SitePages/Home.aspx

LATEST AUSTRIAN DEVELOPMENTS AND MEASURES:

  • In a televised briefing on Friday, Health Minister Wolfgang Mückstein and Minister for Families Susanne Raab presented plans for the COVID-19 measures to be in force in Austria over the holiday period:
    • The Health Minister said while the effects of the general lockdown had left some room for manoeuvre, the Omicron variant brought uncertainties and further caution was necessary.
    • The current measures in place would be generally continued over the holiday period, the lockdown for people not vaccinated would be extended by a further 10 days, and the 2G access rule would remain where it currently applied.
    • A specific exception for the dates 24-26 and 31 December would be that people not vaccinated would be allowed to leave their home to attend private gatherings of up to and including 10 people.
    • At gatherings with 11 or more participants, the 2G rule would apply.
    • On New Year's Eve, the national COVID-related closing hours would be lifted and the closing hours of each province apply.
    • The Health Minister appealed to the population to test before attending gatherings and to get booster shots before Christmas, as well as wear masks and practice distancing and hand hygiene.
    • The Health Minister also said the rules on entering Austria were currently being reviewed.
  • In a press conference on Friday, Education Minister Martin Polaschek and Tourism Minister Elisabeth Köstinger presented the “Holiday Ninja Pass" programme:
    • Children resident in or visiting Austria aged 12-15 who were not vaccinated could use this testing programme to meet entry requirements to facilities subject to “2G" access.
    • All guests, including children, had to present a negative PCR test for entry to Austria, said the Tourism Minister. This test could be included in the „Holiday Ninja Pass". While in Austria, similar to the school testing programme, three tests over a five-day period would provide access for a seven-day period. How many of these tests had to be PCR test differed from province to province, depending on the availability of PCR tests in the province. Details are available here.
    • The Education Minister said school children would be given three antigen tests to take home for the holidays, of which one should be taken on Sunday 9 January 2022 before returning to school.
  • The legal document(s) on the above will be made available once published.
  • The current rules at national level, in force until 21 December, are available here and here.
  • Vienna has in place additional rules specifically for Vienna, the current version of which is available here. The City has not yet announced specific measures for Vienna over the holiday period.
  • There are extended quarantine requirements in place in Vienna for cases connected to the Omicron variant. Those affected have to isolate for 14 days, regardless of vaccination status, and without possibility of testing out early, and there is no distinction between K1 and K2 contacts.
  • The government advisory commission has classified the situation in Vienna and Burgenland provinces as “Orange" (high risk), leaving the rest of the country at “Red" (very high risk). The commission has called the systemic risk caused by the Omicron variant “very high," with a high probability of a further infection wave causing considerable economic and societal disruption.
  • The current legal text on COVID 19-rules applying to entering Austria is available here. Antibody or antigen tests are no longer accepted for entry to Austria, with the exception of cross-border commuters who may provide antigen tests.
  • There is information on Austria's overall vaccination programme in German and on Vienna's programme in German with links to other languages, including English.
  • There is a wide range of information on COVID-19 measures, vaccination and testing in 17 different languages, including English, here.
  • Austrian officials encourage all those in Austria to download the Stopp Corona app to help with contact tracing. The app is available in English and German.
  • The official Austrian dashboard has the latest data on COVID-19. It is available in English as well as German and is updated each day at 14:00.
  • Austria's national vaccination dashboard is online here in English and German. It works best using Firefox or Google Chrome.
  • DISCLAIMER: The VBOs cannot vouch for legal accuracy or completeness of the summaries in this update. Personnel are advised to refer to the original legal texts and to make their own checks before travelling.

COVID-19 WEBSITE FOR ALL UN SYSTEM PERSONNEL (includes 24/7 COVID-19 helpline):

https://www.un.org/en/coronavirus/info-for-un-staff

FEEDBACK/SUGGESTIONS:

Please write to sonja.wintersberger@un.org

 In today's update:

  • Message from the four main Vienna International Centre (VIC)-based organizations 
  • Latest Austrian Developments and Measures

NOTE: New items in bold

MESSAGE FROM THE MAIN VIC-BASED ORGANIZATIONS (VBOs)

UNOV/UNODC – IAEA – UNIDO – CTBTO

Bearing in mind the measures announced by the Austrian authorities and advice from the VIC Medical Service, presence at the VIC has been reduced, in accordance with each individual organization's mandate and operational needs, by using teleworking where possible.

Our Host Country announced on Wednesday that the lockdown in place since Monday 22 November 2021 would be lifted as of midnight on Saturday 11 December 2021, except for those people who are not vaccinated or recovered.  

Each VBO will communicate any changes to the arrangements for its personnel from Monday 13 December.

All those entering the VIC must continue to comply with 2.5G (vaccinated, recovered or PCR test no older than 48 hours). 

From 6 December, the validity of the second dose of a two-dose vaccination for meeting the criteria for low epidemiological risk was reduced from 360 to 270 days.

By swiping their VIC grounds pass/badge, those entering the VIC confirm they are compliant and have 2.5G proof.

Note: Where meetings and conferences at the VIC do take place (with more than 25 participants), participants must show proof of a valid PCR test not older than 48 hours, even if they are vaccinated or recovered.

The Commissary, cafeteria, pharmacy, dry cleaners and other commercial services will continue to operate as normal, with possible holiday season alterations.

Clubs and recreational activities at the VIC, including the gym, may resume from Monday 13 December.

The VBOs continue to monitor developments in our Host Country and will advise VIC personnel should further measures be required.

VIC Medical Service update and reminders:

The Medical Service discourages personnel from organizing indoor departmental, divisional, sectional gatherings, holiday or year-end parties.

The Medical Service encourages organizers to the limit the number of participants at any meetings.

Following the latest information received from the Austrian authorities regarding COVID-19 vaccination/boosters personnel are advised as follows:

  • Personnel who are not yet vaccinated against COVID-19 and are eligible to receive a vaccine are advised to do so as soon as possible. COVID-19 vaccines work, as they offer protection against severe disease and death from the virus. More information on how to receive a COVID-19 vaccine and the types of vaccines available is available here.
  • Personnel who already received a dose of the Johnson & Johnson (Janssen) vaccine at least 28 days ago, are advised to receive a second vaccination (preferably with an mRNA vaccine - BioNTech/Pfizer or Moderna) to remain fully vaccinated. Personnel who do not receive a second shot by 2 January 2022 will lose their full vaccination status. Personnel can access a second shot vaccination without appointment at the Austria Centre or can register for an appointment here.
  • Personnel who have received two-shot vaccinations (AstraZeneca, BioNTech/Pfizer, Moderna) should be aware that from 6 December the validity of their vaccination was reduced to 270 days (from 360 days) after receiving the second dose. A booster (3rd shot) is recommended for AstraZeneca after four months. For BioNTech/Pfizer and Moderna it is possible after four months and recommended after six months. Personnel can get booster shots for BioNTech/Pfizer, AstraZeneca and Moderna without an appointment at the Austria Centre or register for an appointment here.
  • Personnel who received a non EMA approved vaccine (i.e. Sputnik, Sinovac, Covaxin) are informed that they are recognized as vaccinated by the VBOs based on the official UN guidance that "any COVID-19 vaccine that is recognized by the WHO or under routine approved use by a Member State national health authority is accepted". To be recognized as "vaccinated" by the Austrian authorities they need to take an antibody test followed by a booster with an EMA approved mRNA vaccine. For more information about this process please contact VIC Medical Services.

To reduce the risk of workplace transmission, with or without a lockdown, Medical Service strongly reminds personnel to adhere to the following prevention measures:

  • Stay home if you feel ill or have respiratory symptoms. Get tested.
  • Do not to come to work if you have tested positive.
  • Conduct in-person meetings wearing an FPP2 mask.
  • Adhere to the physical distancing measure – this is now two metres.
  • Stick to basic measures such as hand washing, distancing, FFP2 mask and regular PCR testing.

Information on the number of cases of SARS CoV-2 involving VBO personnel is available here.

  • Updates will be issued whenever there is fresh information from the VBOs, the Host Country or the Host City.
  • Between updates, you can keep up to date and refer to previous material by visiting our VBO COVID-19 website.
  • On the site you can find all past updates and guidelines, including on the procedure for obtaining EU Digital COVID Certificates, as well as useful links including to official information in English and other languages.
  • No log-in is needed.
  • Link to the site: https://nucleus.iaea.org/sites/covid19/SitePages/Home.aspx

LATEST AUSTRIAN DEVELOPMENTS AND MEASURES:

  • The Austrian Government presented the draft of a nationwide law on compulsory vaccination on Thursday.
  • Constitution Minister Karoline Edtstadler said the draft bill was open from Thursday for a review period until 10 January, when parliament will vote on its adoption.
  • The draft law, which is also backed by two of the three opposition parties in parliament, is set to enter into force on 1 February 2022. Edtstadler thanked the leaders of the opposition Neos and Social Democrats for agreeing to support the draft bill.
  • Edtstadler said the Government did not see any other option than mandatory vaccination to overcome the virus. The aim was not to punish the unvaccinated, but rather convince them to show solidarity so that everyone can regain freedom.
  • She called on all unvaccinated people to inform themselves before the law takes effect and asked vaccinated people to try to listen to and convince the others.
  • Health Minister Wolfgang Mückstein said vaccination campaigns would be expanded by making them multilingual, targeting specific age groups, focussing more on social media and countering misinformation.
  • Mückstein said that earlier in the year he had considered compulsory vaccination unnecessary, as he had been convinced enough people in Austria would be willing to be vaccinated against COVID-19. However, he now took a different position because the vaccination rate was not high enough to allow the country to escape from the cycle of locking down and opening up.
  • These are some of the key elements of the draft legislation:
  • COVID-19 vaccination compulsory from 1 February for all those resident in Austria.
  • The following groups would be exempt:
  • Children under the age of 14
  • Pregnant women (Note: The Health Minister emphasized that the vaccination was recommended for this group).
  • People recovered from COVID-19 within 180 days of infection.
  • People who could not be vaccinated for health reasons. This had to be confirmed in a doctor's certificate. This exemption had to be registered in the central vaccination registry. A list of medical conditions that justified an exemption was available.
  • To enforce compulsory vaccination there would be a data connection made between the central address registry (Zentrales Melderegister), the central vaccination registry and the epidemiologic reporting system (EMS).
  • There would be quarterly cut-off dates on which proceedings would be initiated against all those not registered as vaccinated or exempt.
  • Those not in compliance on these dates would be subject to a fine of up to EUR 3,600 in a regular proceeding. In an abbreviated proceeding people could be issued with a fine of up to EUR 600, which could be appealed, with the fine rising to up to EUR 3,600 if the appeal was unsuccessful. The proceeding could be ended if the person concerned provided evidence of vaccination.
  • There would also be written quarterly reminders to those not in compliance.
  • The text of the draft law in German is available here.
  • An overview of the measures from 12 December is available here in German, including on the number of participants allowed at cultural and sports venues.
  • The City of Vienna said on Thursday that Christmas markets would be able to open on Sunday 12 December along with other retail outlets that are usually open on Sunday.
  • The current legal text on COVID 19-rules applying to entering Austria is available here. Antibody or antigen tests are no longer accepted for entry to Austria, with the exception of cross-border commuters who may provide antigen tests.
  • There is information on Austria's overall vaccination programme in German and on Vienna's programme in German with links to other languages, including English.
  • There is a wide range of information on COVID-19 measures, vaccination and testing in 17 different languages, including English, here.
  • Austrian officials encourage all those in Austria to download the Stopp Corona app to help with contact tracing. The app is available in English and German.
  • The official Austrian dashboard has the latest data on COVID-19. It is available in English as well as German and is updated each day at 14:00.
  • Austria's national vaccination dashboard is online here in English and German. It works best using Firefox or Google Chrome.
  • DISCLAIMER: The VBOs cannot vouch for legal accuracy or completeness of the summaries in this update. Personnel are advised to refer to the original legal texts and to make their own checks before travelling.

COVID-19 WEBSITE FOR ALL UN SYSTEM PERSONNEL (includes 24/7 COVID-19 helpline):

https://www.un.org/en/coronavirus/info-for-un-staff

FEEDBACK/SUGGESTIONS:

Please write to martin.nesirky@un.org

 In today's update:

  • Message from the four main Vienna International Centre (VIC)-based organizations 
  • Latest Austrian Developments and Measures

NOTE: New items in bold

MESSAGE FROM THE MAIN VIC-BASED ORGANIZATIONS (VBOs)

UNOV/UNODC – IAEA – UNIDO – CTBTO

Bearing in mind the measures announced by the Austrian authorities and advice from the VIC Medical Service, presence at the VIC has been reduced, in accordance with each individual organization's mandate and operational needs, by using teleworking where possible from Monday 22 November 2021 until Friday 10 December 2021.  

Each VBO has communicated details on arrangements to its personnel.

From Monday 22 November, all those entering the VIC must comply with 2.5G (vaccinated, recovered or PCR test no older than 48 hours). According to planned Host Country legislation, the validity of the second dose of a two-dose vaccination for meeting the criteria for low epidemiological risk will be reduced from 360 to 270 days as of 6 December.

By swiping their VIC grounds pass/badge, those entering the VIC confirm they are compliant and have 2.5G proof.

Note: Where meetings and conferences at the VIC do take place (with more than 25 participants), participants must show proof of a valid PCR test not older than 48 hours, even if they are vaccinated or recovered.

In-person guided tours are suspended, but virtual tours continue.

The Commissary, cafeteria, pharmacy, dry cleaners and other commercial services will continue to operate as normal for the time being.

Clubs and recreational activities at the VIC, including the gym, are suspended from Monday 22 November until Friday 10 December.

Gate Two is closed until further notice but other security gates are operating. 

The VBOs continue to monitor developments in our Host Country and will advise VIC personnel should further measures be required.

VIC Medical Service update and reminders:

Following the latest information received from the Austrian authorities regarding COVID-19 vaccination/boosters personnel are advised as follows:

  • Personnel who are not yet vaccinated against COVID-19 and are eligible to receive a vaccine are advised to do so as soon as possible. COVID-19 vaccines work, as they offer protection against severe disease and death from the virus. More information on how to receive a COVID-19 vaccine and the types of vaccines available is available here.
  • Personnel who already received a dose of the Johnson & Johnson (Janssen) vaccine at least 28 days ago, are advised to receive a second vaccination (preferably with an mRNA vaccine - BioNTech/Pfizer or Moderna) to remain fully vaccinated. Personnel who do not receive a second shot by 2 January 2022 will lose their full vaccination status. Personnel can access a second shot vaccination without appointment at the Austria Centre or can register for an appointment here.
  • Personnel who have received two-shot vaccinations (AstraZeneca, BioNTech/Pfizer, Moderna) should be aware that from 6 December the validity of their vaccination will be reduced to 270 days (from 360 days) after receiving the second dose. A booster (3rd shot) is recommended for AstraZeneca after four months. For BioNTech/Pfizer and Moderna it is possible after four months and recommended after six months. Personnel can get booster shots for BioNTech/Pfizer, AstraZeneca and Moderna without an appointment at the Austria Centre or register for an appointment here.
  • Personnel who received a non EMA approved vaccine (i.e. Sputnik, Sinovac, Covaxin) are informed that they are recognized as vaccinated by the VBOs based on the official UN guidance that "any COVID-19 vaccine that is recognized by the WHO or under routine approved use by a Member State national health authority is accepted". To be recognized as "vaccinated" by the Austrian authorities they need to take an antibody test followed by a booster with an EMA approved mRNA vaccine. For more information about this process please contact VIC Medical Services.

To reduce the risk of workplace transmission, with or without a lockdown, Medical Service strongly reminds personnel to adhere to the following prevention measures:

  • Stay home if you feel ill or have respiratory symptoms. Get tested.
  • Do not to come to work if you have tested positive.
  • Conduct in-person meetings wearing an FPP2 mask.
  • Adhere to the physical distancing measure – this is now two metres.
  • Stick to basic measures such as hand washing, distancing, FFP2 mask and regular PCR testing.

Information on the number of cases of SARS CoV-2 involving VBO personnel is available here.

  • Updates will be issued whenever there is fresh information from the VBOs, the Host Country or the Host City.
  • Between updates, you can keep up to date and refer to previous material by visiting our VBO COVID-19 website.
  • On the site you can find all past updates and guidelines, including on the procedure for obtaining EU Digital COVID Certificates, as well as useful links including to official information in English and other languages.
  • No log-in is needed.
  • Link to the site: https://nucleus.iaea.org/sites/covid19/SitePages/Home.aspx

LATEST AUSTRIAN DEVELOPMENTS AND MEASURES:

  • The main committee of Austria's lower house of parliament approved legislation on Tuesday evening extending the lockdown that began on 22 November through 11 December. The committee has to approve lockdowns every 10 days.
  • The legal text, which is to be published on Wednesday, states that those shops that are allowed to open during lockdown will be required to close at 19:00 as of Thursday.
  • The legal text on the overall measures in place in Austria is available in German here.
  • On Tuesday, Constitution Minister Karoline Edtstadler and Health Minister Wolfgang Mückstein held a televised briefing on the Government's plan to introduce legislation mandating COVID-19 vaccination for the general population from 1 February 2022.
  • The Ministers, speaking after a meeting with experts and parliamentarians, emphasized that the Government had initially not wanted mandatory vaccination. However, now there was no alternative to mandatory vaccination, said the Health Minister. Sixty-seven per cent of the population were now fully vaccinated, which was not enough, said Mückstein. The mandatory vaccination was needed to prevent fifth and sixth waves and further lockdowns.
  • The planned next steps were two further rounds of discussions this week, and a parliamentary process with at least four weeks for review of the draft legislation, starting 6 December.
  • After adoption by parliament, the legislation was planned to enter into force on 1 February 2022.
  • The Ministers urged those who had not been vaccinated so far not to wait for the legislation and get vaccinated as soon as possible and emphasized the importance of getting boosters.
  • The current legal text on COVID 19-rules applying to entering Austria is available here. Antibody or antigen tests are now no longer accepted for entry to Austria, with the exception of cross-border commuters who may provide antigen tests.
  • There is information on Austria's overall vaccination programme in German and on Vienna's programme in German with links to other languages, including English.
  • There is a wide range of information on COVID-19 measures, vaccination and testing in 17 different languages, including English, here.
  • Austrian officials encourage all those in Austria to download the Stopp Corona app to help with contact tracing. The app is available in English and German.
  • The official Austrian dashboard has the latest data on COVID-19. It is available in English as well as German and is updated each day at 14:00.
  • Austria's national vaccination dashboard is online here in English and German. It works best using Firefox or Google Chrome.
  • DISCLAIMER: The VBOs cannot vouch for legal accuracy or completeness of the summaries in this update. Personnel are advised to refer to the original legal texts and to make their own checks before travelling.

COVID-19 WEBSITE FOR ALL UN SYSTEM PERSONNEL (includes 24/7 COVID-19 helpline):

https://www.un.org/en/coronavirus/info-for-un-staff

FEEDBACK/SUGGESTIONS:

Please write to martin.nesirky@un.org

 In today's update:

  • Message from the four main Vienna International Centre (VIC)-based organizations 
  • Latest Austrian Developments and Measures

NOTE: New items in bold

MESSAGE FROM THE MAIN VIC-BASED ORGANIZATIONS (VBOs)

UNOV/UNODC – IAEA – UNIDO – CTBTO

Bearing in mind the measures announced by the Austrian authorities and advice from the VIC Medical Service, presence at the VIC has been reduced, in accordance with each individual organization's mandate and operational needs, by using teleworking where possible from Monday 22 November 2021 until Friday 10 December 2021.  

Each VBO has communicated details on arrangements to its personnel.

From Monday 22 November, all those entering the VIC must comply with 2.5G (vaccinated, recovered or PCR test no older than 48 hours).

By swiping their VIC grounds pass/badge, those entering the VIC confirm they are compliant and have 2.5G proof.

Note: Where meetings and conferences at the VIC do take place (with more than 25 participants), participants must show proof of a valid PCR test not older than 48 hours, even if they are vaccinated or recovered.

In-person guided tours are suspended, but virtual tours continue.

The Commissary, cafeteria, pharmacy, dry cleaners and other commercial services will continue to operate as normal for the time being.

Clubs and recreational activities at the VIC, including the gym, are suspended from Monday 22 November until Friday 10 December.

Gate Two is closed until further notice but other security gates are operating. 

The VBOs continue to monitor developments in our Host Country and will advise VIC personnel should further measures be required.

VIC Medical Service update and reminders:

Following the latest information received from the Austrian authorities regarding COVID-19 vaccination/boosters personnel are advised as follows:

  • Personnel who are not yet vaccinated against COVID-19 and are eligible to receive a vaccine are advised to do so as soon as possible. COVID-19 vaccines work, as they offer protection against severe disease and death from the virus. More information on how to receive a COVID-19 vaccine and the types of vaccines available is available here.
  • Personnel who already received a dose of the Johnson & Johnson (Janssen) vaccine at least 28 days ago, are advised to receive a second vaccination (preferably with an mRNA vaccine - BioNTech/Pfizer or Moderna) to remain fully vaccinated. Personnel who do not receive a second shot by 2 January 2022 will lose their full vaccination status. Personnel can access a second shot vaccination without appointment at the Austria Centre or can register for an appointment here.
  • Personnel who have received two-shot vaccinations (AstraZeneca, BioNTech/Pfizer, Moderna) should be aware that from 6 December the validity of their vaccination will be reduced to 270 days (from 360 days) after receiving the second dose. A booster (3rd shot) is recommended for AstraZeneca after four months. For BioNTech/Pfizer and Moderna it is possible after four months and recommended after six months. Personnel can get booster shots for BioNTech/Pfizer, AstraZeneca and Moderna without an appointment at the Austria Centre or register for an appointment here.
  • Personnel who received a non EMA approved vaccine (i.e. Sputnik, Sinovac, Covaxin) are informed that they are recognized as vaccinated by the VBOs based on the official UN guidance that "any COVID-19 vaccine that is recognized by the WHO or under routine approved use by a Member State national health authority is accepted". To be recognized as "vaccinated" by the Austrian authorities they need to take an antibody test followed by a booster with an EMA approved mRNA vaccine. For more information about this process please contact VIC Medical Services.

To reduce the risk of workplace transmission, with or without a lockdown, Medical Service strongly reminds personnel to adhere to the following prevention measures:

  • Stay home if you feel ill or have respiratory symptoms. Get tested.
  • Do not to come to work if you have tested positive.
  • Conduct in-person meetings wearing an FPP2 mask.
  • Adhere to the physical distancing measure – this is now two metres.
  • Stick to basic measures such as hand washing, distancing, FFP2 mask and regular PCR testing.

Information on the number of cases of SARS CoV-2 involving VBO personnel is available here.

  • Updates will be issued whenever there is fresh information from the VBOs, the Host Country or the Host City.
  • Between updates, you can keep up to date and refer to previous material by visiting our VBO COVID-19 website.
  • On the site you can find all past updates and guidelines, including on the procedure for obtaining EU Digital COVID Certificates, as well as useful links including to official information in English and other languages.
  • No log-in is needed.
  • Link to the site: https://nucleus.iaea.org/sites/covid19/SitePages/Home.aspx

 

LATEST AUSTRIAN DEVELOPMENTS AND MEASURES:

  • Austria announced on Friday that since midnight people travelling from several countries in southern Africa are not allowed to enter Austria because of a new virus variant. The countries are South Africa, Lesotho, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Namibia and Eswatini.
  • The legal text on entry requirements, which will detail what exceptions may apply, is being updated.
  • On Thursday, Austria's national vaccination authority approved BioNTech/Pfizer for children aged five to 11. This followed the European Medicines Agency's green light for its use for this age group.
  • Health Minister Wolfgang Mückstein said on Thursday more details would be given soon on when and how parents could register their children for vaccination nationwide. Vaccinations are already available for children aged 12 and above.
  • The City of Vienna already allows parents to register their children aged five to 11 online and book appointments for off-label BioNTech/Pfizer vaccination at the Austria Centre Vienna, next to the VIC.
  • The legal text on the overall measures in place in Austria is available in German here.
  • Antibody or antigen tests are now no longer accepted for entry to Austria, with the exception of cross-border commuters who may provide antigen tests.
  • There is information on Austria's overall vaccination programme in German and on Vienna's programme in German with links to other languages, including English.
  • There is a wide range of information on COVID-19 measures, vaccination and testing in 17 different languages, including English, here.
  • Austrian officials encourage all those in Austria to download the Stopp Corona app to help with contact tracing. The app is available in English and German.
  • The official Austrian dashboard has the latest data on COVID-19. It is available in English as well as German and is updated each day at 14:00.
  • Austria's national vaccination dashboard is online here in English and German. It works best using Firefox or Google Chrome.
  • DISCLAIMER: The VBOs cannot vouch for legal accuracy or completeness of the summaries in this update. Personnel are advised to refer to the original legal texts and to make their own checks before travelling.

COVID-19 WEBSITE FOR ALL UN SYSTEM PERSONNEL (includes 24/7 COVID-19 helpline):

https://www.un.org/en/coronavirus/info-for-un-staff

FEEDBACK/SUGGESTIONS:

Please write to martin.nesirky@un.org

 In today's update:

  • Message from the four main Vienna International Centre (VIC)-based organizations 
  • Latest Austrian Developments and Measures

NOTE: New items in bold

MESSAGE FROM THE MAIN VIC-BASED ORGANIZATIONS (VBOs)

UNOV/UNODC – IAEA – UNIDO – CTBTO

Bearing in mind the measures announced by the Austrian authorities and advice from the VIC Medical Service, presence at the VIC is being reduced, in accordance with each individual organization's mandate and operational needs, by using teleworking where possible from Monday 22 November 2021 until Friday 10 December 2021.  

Each VBO is communicating details on arrangements to its personnel.

From Monday 22 November, all those entering the VIC must comply with 2.5G (vaccinated, recovered or PCR test no older than 48 hours).

By swiping their VIC grounds pass/badge, those entering the VIC confirm they are compliant and have 2.5G proof.

Note: Where meetings and conferences at the VIC do take place (with more than 25 participants), participants must show proof of a valid PCR test not older than 48 hours, also if they are vaccinated or recovered.

The Commissary, cafeteria, pharmacy, dry cleaners and other commercial services will continue to operate as normal for the time being.

Clubs and recreational activities at the VIC, including the gym, are suspended from Monday 22 November until Friday 10 December.

In-person guided tours are also suspended, but virtual tours continue.

The VBOs continue to monitor developments in our Host Country and will advise VIC personnel should further measures be required.

VIC Medical Service update and reminders:

To reduce the risk of workplace transmission, with or without a lockdown, Medical Service strongly reminds personnel to adhere to the following prevention measures:

  • Stay home if you feel ill or have respiratory symptoms. Get tested.
  • Do not to come to work if you have tested positive.
  • Conduct in-person meetings wearing an FPP2 mask.
  • Adhere to the physical distancing measure – this is now two metres.
  • Stick to basic measures such as hand washing, distancing, FFP2 mask and regular PCR testing.

Information on the number of cases of SARS CoV-2 involving VBO personnel is available here.

  • Updates will be issued whenever there is fresh information from the VBOs, the Host Country or the Host City.
  • Between updates, you can keep up to date and refer to previous material by visiting our VBO COVID-19 website.
  • On the site you can find all past updates and guidelines, including on the procedure for obtaining EU Digital COVID Certificates, as well as useful links including to official information in English and other languages.
  • No log-in is needed.
  • Link to the site: https://nucleus.iaea.org/sites/covid19/SitePages/Home.aspx

LATEST AUSTRIAN DEVELOPMENTS AND MEASURES:

  • Austria began a general lockdown on Monday. It will last until Sunday 12 December. The Austrian Government said the measures would be reviewed on 1 December, by which time it will be possible to see whether the measures have sufficiently reduced the caseload and pressure on hospitals.
  • The lockdown from 22 November to 12 December applies 24 hours a day, during which leaving the home is allowed only for the specific purposes that have applied during lockdowns so far. These include:
  • In case of danger
  • To care for and help others and for family rights and obligations
  • Meeting basic needs of daily life such as:
    • Contact with a spouse or partner, individual close relatives or individual close contacts with whom there is normally contact several times per week
    • Shopping for the necessities of daily life, going to the bank, post office or petrol stations
    • Healthcare, including COVID-19 vaccination or testing
    • Meeting the need for a place to live
    • Religious purposes including visiting the cemetery and individual visits to places of worship
    • Looking after animals
  • For work and education purposes
  • Exercise or relaxation outdoors alone, with people living in the same household or with a spouse or partner, close relatives or individual close contacts with whom there is normally contact several times per week
  • For administrative and legal appointments that cannot be postponed
  • Participating in elections
  • Getting take-away meals from restaurants
  • Attending only specific kinds of gatherings and meetings including work meetings, funerals and demonstrations.
  • The legal text in German is here.
  • Kindergartens and schools remain open to those who need them. In-person teaching is available at school, but students can stay at home without a medical note and schools should provide support for those in distance learning.
  • The Austrian authorities' general recommendation is for people to work from home wherever this was possible.
  • The City of Vienna also allows parents to register their children aged five to 11 online and book appointments for off-label BioNTech/Pfizer vaccination at the Austria Centre Vienna, next to the VIC. Children aged 12 and above were already eligible for vaccination.
  • The latest legal text (in German) on entering Austria is available here. Antibody or antigen tests are now no longer accepted for entry to Austria, with the exception of cross-border commuters who may provide antigen tests.
  • There is information on Austria's overall vaccination programme in German and on Vienna's programme in German with links to other languages, including English.
  • There is a wide range of information on COVID-19 measures, vaccination and testing in 17 different languages, including English, here.
  • Austrian officials encourage all those in Austria to download the Stopp Corona app to help with contact tracing. The app is available in English and German.
  • The official Austrian dashboard has the latest data on COVID-19. It is available in English as well as German and is updated each day at 14:00.
  • Austria's national vaccination dashboard is online here in English and German. It works best using Firefox or Google Chrome.
  • DISCLAIMER: The VBOs cannot vouch for legal accuracy or completeness of the summaries in this update. Personnel are advised to refer to the original legal texts and to make their own checks before travelling.

COVID-19 WEBSITE FOR ALL UN SYSTEM PERSONNEL (includes 24/7 COVID-19 helpline):

https://www.un.org/en/coronavirus/info-for-un-staff

FEEDBACK/SUGGESTIONS:

Please write to martin.nesirky@un.org

 In today's update:

  • Message from the four main Vienna International Centre (VIC)-based organizations 
  • Latest Austrian Developments and Measures

NOTE: New items in bold

MESSAGE FROM THE EXECUTIVE HEADS OF THE MAIN VIC-BASED ORGANIZATIONS (VBOs)

UNOV/UNODC – IAEA – UNIDO – CTBTO

Dear Colleagues,

The COVID-19 situation in Austria and across the region is deeply concerning.

Our Host Country announced on Friday that a nationwide lockdown will begin on Monday, 22 November 2021, and last for up to 20 days.

Your safety and well-being, and that of your families, remain our top priority, and we have decided to take further measures to reduce risks and play our part in easing the pressure on Austria's health system.

Bearing in mind the measures announced by the Austrian authorities and the advice from the VIC Medical Service, presence at the VIC will be reduced, in accordance with each individual organization's mandate and operational needs, by using teleworking where possible from Monday 22 November 2021 until Friday 10 December 2021.  

Whenever possible, meetings and conferences will be conducted fully virtually or in hybrid mode. 

We strongly recommend that all those who have not yet done so and are eligible get vaccinated as soon as possible. This will help to protect you and those around you.

All those eligible for booster shots should get them as soon as possible. The City of Vienna provides these free of charge.

We encourage you to take regular PCR tests, which are available free of charge.

We urge you to stay healthy and safe, taking care of yourself and those around you as we enter the holiday season.

Ghada Waly, Designated Official for Austria, Director-General/Executive Director, United Nations Office at Vienna/United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime

Rafael Mariano Grossi, Director General, International Atomic Energy Agency

LI Yong, Director General, United Nations Industrial Development Organization

Robert Floyd, Executive Secretary, Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty Organization

MESSAGE FROM THE MAIN VBOs

From Monday 22 November, those entering the VIC must comply with 2.5G (vaccinated, recovered or PCR test no older than 48 hours).

By swiping their VIC grounds pass/badge, those entering the VIC confirm they are compliant and have 2.5G proof.

Where meetings and conferences at the VIC do take place (with more than 25 participants), participants must show proof of a valid PCR test not older than 48 hours, also if they are vaccinated or recovered.

The Commissary, cafeteria and other commercial services will continue to operate as normal for the time being.

Clubs and recreational activities at the VIC, including the gym, will be suspended from Monday 22 November until Friday 10 December.

For the time being, UN Security will maintain regular operations and opening hours at all VIC security gates.

The VBOs continue to monitor developments in our Host Country and will advise VIC personnel should further measures be required.

VIC Medical Service update and reminders:

Over the past few days, Medical Service has identified individual cases of workplace transmission. Further analysis shows that this was due to reduced adherence to the recommended prevention measures.

To reduce the risk of workplace transmission, with or without a lockdown, Medical Service strongly reminds personnel to adhere to the following prevention measures:

  • Stay home if you feel ill or have respiratory symptoms. Get tested.
  • Do not to come to work if you have tested positive.
  • Conduct in-person meetings wearing an FPP2 mask.
  • Adhere to the physical distancing measure.
  • Stick to basic measures such as hand washing, distancing, FFP2 mask and regular PCR testing.

Information on the number of cases of SARS CoV-2 involving VBO personnel is available here.

  • Updates will be issued whenever there is fresh information from the VBOs, the Host Country or the Host City.
  • Between updates, you can keep up to date and refer to previous material by visiting our VBO COVID-19 website.
  • On the site you can find all past updates and guidelines, including on the procedure for obtaining EU Digital COVID Certificates, as well as useful links including to official information in English and other languages.
  • No log-in is needed.
  • Link to the site:

https://nucleus.iaea.org/sites/covid19/SitePages/Home.aspx

LATEST AUSTRIAN DEVELOPMENTS AND MEASURES:

  • There will be a general lockdown in Austria from Monday 22 November up to and including 12 December, Chancellor Alexander Schallenberg said at a televised briefing on Friday after a meeting between the Government and the governors of the country's nine provinces.
  • The measure will be evaluated after 10 days, he said. From 13 December, it was planned to continue with the lockdown already in place for people not vaccinated or recovered.
  • Schallenberg said attempts to convince enough people to get vaccinated had not been successful. The 2G (vaccinated or recovered) access rules and the lockdown for people not vaccinated or recovered had not been enough.
  • The lockdown would address the immediate sharp rise in cases and pressure on hospitals.
  • The Chancellor said it had been the consensus for a long time that Austria did not want mandatory vaccination. However, the reality had to be faced. Incited by some political parties and radical anti-vaxxers, too many people had not been vaccinated.
  • The Government had decided to start the legislative process, including consultations with experts and social partners, for universal mandatory vaccination in Austria, planned to enter into force on 1 February 2022, he said.
  • Raising the vaccination rate would be the only sustainable way out of the vicious circle of infection waves and lockdowns.
  • Schallenberg said it was painful to have to take such steps because there were sufficient vaccination doses available in Austria, unlike in many other countries.
  • Health Minister Wolfgang Mückstein said the fourth wave had hit Austria with full force. There were a number of reasons for this, and he apologized that the Government had fallen behind expectations.
  • The lockdown from 22 November to 12 December would apply 24 hours a day, during which leaving the home would only be allowed for the specific purposes that have applied during lockdown so far.
  • Kindergartens and schools would remain open to those who needed them. There would be in-person teaching available at school, but students could stay at home without a medical note and schools should provide support for those in distance learning.
  • People should work from home wherever this was possible. The federal civil service would work from home.
  • Mückstein said FFP2 masks had to be worn in all indoor public spaces, including the workplace, except where there were other safety measures.
  • There would be an effort to promote booster vaccinations. A third dose was recommended after four months for vector vaccines. The third dose after four months would be made available Austria-wide to all who had received either vector vaccines or mRNA vaccines. This was already the case in Vienna, where free booster shots are readily available.
  • The validity of the second vaccination dose for the vaccination certificate would be reduced to seven months by 1 February 2022.
  • [Note: Those personnel who receive a booster shot should update their status on the EarthMed portal by uploading proof of vaccination.]
  • The City of Vienna also allows parents to register their children aged five to 11 online and book appointments for off-label BioNTech/Pfizer vaccination at the Austria Centre Vienna, next to the VIC. Children aged 12 and above were already eligible for vaccination.
  • The City of Vienna's additional measures came into effect on Friday. The text is here in German.
  • One of the measures is 2G+ for “Nachtgastronomie" (bars, night clubs and discos) and for any gathering with 25 or more participants. 2G+ means that in addition to being vaccinated or recovered you must have a negative PCR test not older than 48 hours. As of Saturday, this measure has been extended to theatres and movie theatres.
  • The Vienna measures will be superseded in part by the lockdown rules on Monday.
  • The current legal text (in German) on entering Austria is available here. Antibody or antigen tests are now no longer accepted for entry to Austria, with the exception of cross-border commuters who may provide antigen tests.
  • There is information on Austria's overall vaccination programme in German and on Vienna's programme in German with links to other languages, including English.
  • There is a wide range of information on COVID-19 measures, vaccination and testing in 17 different languages, including English, here.
  • Austrian officials encourage all those in Austria to download the Stopp Corona app to help with contact tracing. The app is available in English and German.
  • The official Austrian dashboard has the latest data on COVID-19. It is available in English as well as German and is updated each day at 14:00.
  • Austria's national vaccination dashboard is online here in English and German. It works best using Firefox or Google Chrome.
  • DISCLAIMER: The VBOs cannot vouch for legal accuracy or completeness of the summaries in this update. Personnel are advised to refer to the original legal texts and to make their own checks before travelling.

COVID-19 WEBSITE FOR ALL UN SYSTEM PERSONNEL (includes 24/7 COVID-19 helpline):

https://www.un.org/en/coronavirus/info-for-un-staff

FEEDBACK/SUGGESTIONS:

​Please write to martin.nesirky@un.org​​

 In today's update:

  • Message from the four main Vienna International Centre (VIC)-based organizations 
  • Latest Austrian Developments and Measures

NOTE: New items in bold

MESSAGE FROM THE MAIN VIC-BASED ORGANIZATIONS (VBOs)

UNOV/UNODC – IAEA – UNIDO – CTBTO

Austria has adopted new measures that are in force nationwide from Monday 8 November to tackle the serious rise in new cases and in patients in intensive care.

As has been the case throughout the pandemic, the VBOs will align the VIC with the new Host Country measures while taking into account individual VBO mandates and operational requirements.

The VBOs are assessing the impact of the new measures on official meetings and operations at the VIC and will provide guidance as soon as possible.

The VBOs strongly encourage personnel to get vaccinated if they are not already and to apply for a booster shot as soon as they are eligible.

Information on the number of cases of SARS CoV-2 involving VBO personnel is available here.

  • Updates will be issued whenever there is fresh information from the VBOs, the Host Country or the Host City.
  • Between updates, you can keep up to date and refer to previous material by visiting our VBO COVID-19 website.
  • On the site you can find all past updates and guidelines, including on the procedure for obtaining EU Digital COVID Certificates, as well as useful links including to official information in English and other languages.
  • No log-in is needed.
  • Link to the site:

https://nucleus.iaea.org/sites/covid19/SitePages/Home.aspx

LATEST AUSTRIAN DEVELOPMENTS AND MEASURES:

  • In a televised briefing on Friday after a meeting between the Government and leaders of the provinces, Chancellor Alexander Schallenberg and Health Minister Wolfgang Mückstein said case numbers continued to increase and intensive care unit (ICU) occupancy was rising more rapidly than expected.
  • The “reins" would be tightened on the unvaccinated, the Chancellor said. The Government had no intention to create divisions but had to protect the people in Austria.
  • The Government's five-step plan was accelerated, moving to Step 4 from Monday 8 November. This means 2G (access only for those vaccinated or recovered) applies in the following settings:
    • Restaurants and bars
    • Hotels (exceptions for business travellers)
    • Services with physical proximity
    • Sports
    • Cultural sector
    • Events/gatherings with 25 participants or more
    • Visitors in nursing homes, hospitals and residential care facilities
  • There is a grace period up to 5 December 2021 during which the first dose of a two-dose vaccine will be accepted in combination with a PCR test.
  • 3G access (vaccinated, recovered or tested) continues to apply in the workplace.
  • Antibody tests are no longer accepted for access.
  • The test pass of the school testing programme (“Ninja Pass"), if current and complete, continues to be accepted for access also in 2G settings for children who are at the age to which mandatory schooling still applies (up to completion of ninth grade).
  • Vaccinations with two-dose vaccines are valid for access and the Green Pass for 270 days after the second dose rather than the previous 360 days.
  • FFP2 masks are required in retail and museums.
  • The Health Minister also announced that it was planned that from 3 January 2022 vaccinations with the Johnson & Johnson (Janssen) vaccine would only be accepted if followed by a second vaccination dose (Janssen or – as recommended – Pfizer/BioNTech or Moderna).
  • The legal text of the amendments that entered into force on 8 November is available here in German.
  • The consolidated legal text of COVID-19 measures in force in Austria (3. COVID-19 Massnahmenverordnung) is available here (in German).
  • Vienna has in place additional measures beyond those in place at national level. The current legal text is available here.
  • For instance, in Vienna, the requirement to provide evidence of low epidemiological risk applies to children from the age of six (rather than 12 at federal level).
  • The COVID-19 picture in Austria nationwide, including Vienna, is classified as “Red" (very high risk) according to the traffic light system of the Austrian COVID-19 advisory commission.
  • Schallenberg and Mückstein urged people to get vaccinated if they were not already.
  • They also strongly encouraged those already vaccinated to receive a third booster shot as soon as they are eligible – typically six months after a second shot.
  • The current legal text (in German) on entering Austria is available here.
  • There is information on Austria's overall vaccination programme in German and on Vienna's programme in German with links to other languages, including English.
  • There is a wide range of information on COVID-19 measures, vaccination and testing in 17 different languages, including English, here.
  • Austrian officials encourage all those in Austria to download the Stopp Corona app to help with contact tracing. The app is available in English and German.
  • The official Austrian dashboard has the latest data on COVID-19. It is available in English as well as German and is updated each day at 14:00.
  • Austria's national vaccination dashboard is online here in English and German. It works best using Firefox or Google Chrome.
  • DISCLAIMER: The VBOs cannot vouch for legal accuracy or completeness of the summaries in this update. Personnel are advised to refer to the original legal texts and to make their own checks before travelling.

COVID-19 WEBSITE FOR ALL UN SYSTEM PERSONNEL (includes 24/7 COVID-19 helpline):

https://www.un.org/en/coronavirus/info-for-un-staff

FEEDBACK/SUGGESTIONS:

Please write to martin.nesirky@un.org​​

In today's update:

  • Message from the four main Vienna International Centre (VIC)-based organizations 
  • Latest Austrian Developments and Measures

NOTE: New items in bold

​MESSAGE FROM THE MAIN VIC-BASED ORGANIZATIONS (VBOs)

UNOV/UNODC – IAEA – UNIDO – CTBTO

Reminders:

In line with Austrian regulations, everyone entering the VIC, including meeting participants, continue to be subject to proof of meeting one of the 3G criteria (vaccinated, recovered or tested). By swiping their VIC grounds pass/badge they confirm they are compliant and have 3G proof.

“Alles gurgelt" PCR test collection boxesFrom Monday 15 November, personnel who use “Alles gurgelt" PCR tests will be able to drop them off at blue collection boxes in the VIC.

Personnel should put their tests in the collection boxes by 09:00 at the latest. Tests deposited after 09:00 will be collected the following day.

Free test kits will be available next to the collection boxes.

​The collection boxes and test kits will be located next to the elevators in:

  • A0E
  • B0​E
  • D0E
  • E0E

There will also be a collection box and test kits in C0E, in the Rotunda under the monitor screen to the left of the entrance to the F/G corridor.

For those who have not used “Alles gurgelt" tests there is information here in English on how to register and conduct the tests. “Alles gurgelt" roughly translates as “Everyone gargles".

This new service has been made possible by the IAEA Staff Council working with the IAEA and UNIDO Buildings Management Services (BMS).

Note:

  • The VBOs remind personnel not to come to the VIC if they feel unwell.
  • The VBOs strongly encourage personnel to get vaccinated if they are not already and to apply for a booster shot as soon as they are eligible.

Information on the number of cases of SARS CoV-2 involving VBO personnel is available here.

  • Updates will be issued whenever there is fresh information from the VBOs, the Host Country or the Host City.
  • Between updates, you can keep up to date and refer to previous material by visiting our VBO COVID-19 website.
  • On the site you can find all past updates and guidelines, including on the procedure for obtaining EU Digital COVID Certificates, as well as useful links including to official information in English and other languages.
  • No log-in is needed.
  • Link to the site: https://nucleus.iaea.org/sites/covid19/SitePages/Home.aspx

LATEST AUSTRIAN DEVELOPMENTS AND MEASURES:

  • Austria's worst-affected provinces – Salzburg and Upper Austria – will each introduce lockdowns from Monday for those who are not vaccinated, Health Minister Wolfgang Mückstein told a televised briefing on Friday after an online meeting with the governors of those provinces.
  • Mückstein said the COVID-19 picture in the whole country was worrying and that hospitals were starting to reach limits.
  • The Federal Government would hold a videoconference with all nine provincial governors on Sunday and Austria's lower house of parliament would convene later that day, the Minister said.
  • Mückstein announced that he would be issuing legislation making vaccinations mandatory for those who work in the health sector.
  • Everyone in Austria should play their part by sticking to the rules and reducing contacts, he said.
  • In an interview with Austria's Kleine Zeitung on Thursday, the Health Minister said he recommended adhering to any measure that is effective, but at the same time low-threshold and easy to implement, including working from home wherever this was possible.
  • The City of Vienna introduced new measures that go beyond the national measures and took effect in our Host City on Friday, 12 November.
  • These are the main points:
  • The 2G (vaccinated or recovered) access rules for restaurants apply also to kiosks, such as Glühwein/Punsch and sausage stands, if these allow on-site consumption. 2G does not apply to takeaway.
  • Wherever 2G access rules apply, children aged six to 12 years and 3 months can present, in lieu of proof of vaccination or recovery, a negative PCR test not older than 72 hours, a negative antigen test not older than 48 hours, or a complete pass from the school testing programme (“Ninja Pass"). The “Ninja Pass," if complete, is also valid Friday, Saturday and Sunday for this age group.
  • For children aged over 12 years and 3 months and still subject to compulsory schooling under Austrian law, 2.5G (vaccinated, recovered or PCR tested) applies outside school. Children in this age bracket can present, in lieu of proof of vaccination or recovery, a negative PCR test not older than 48 hours. For this age group, the “Ninja Pass" is valid outside school only for the duration of the validity of the individual tests in the pass, in other words 48 hours for a PCR test. In those circumstances another accepted type of PCR test certificate should be used.
  • Note: 2G is required for this age category, as it is for adults, in nightclubs and discos.
  • The legal text is available here in German.
  • An overview of the latest City of Vienna measures is available here in German.
  • The legal text of the amendments that entered into force in Austria on 8 November is available here in German.
  • The consolidated legal text of COVID-19 measures in force in Austria (3. COVID-19 Massnahmenverordnung) is available here (in German).
  • Vienna has in place additional measures beyond those in place at national level. The current legal text is available here.
  • For instance, in Vienna, the requirement to provide evidence of low epidemiological risk applies to children from the age of six (rather than 12 at federal level).
  • The current legal text (in German) on entering Austria is available here.
  • There is information on Austria's overall vaccination programme in German and on Vienna's programme in German with links to other languages, including English.
  • There is a wide range of information on COVID-19 measures, vaccination and testing in 17 different languages, including English, here.
  • Austrian officials encourage all those in Austria to download the Stopp Corona app to help with contact tracing. The app is available in English and German.
  • The official Austrian dashboard has the latest data on COVID-19. It is available in English as well as German and is updated each day at 14:00.
  • Austria's national vaccination dashboard is online here in English and German. It works best using Firefox or Google Chrome.
  • DISCLAIMER: The VBOs cannot vouch for legal accuracy or completeness of the summaries in this update. Personnel are advised to refer to the original legal texts and to make their own checks before travelling.

COVID-19 WEBSITE FOR ALL UN SYSTEM PERSONNEL (includes 24/7 COVID-19 helpline):

https://www.un.org/en/coronavirus/info-for-un-staff

FEEDBACK/SUGGESTIONS:

​Please write to martin.nesirky@un.org

 In today's update:

  • Message from the four main Vienna International Centre (VIC)-based organizations 
  • Latest Austrian Developments and Measures

NOTE: New items in bold

MESSAGE FROM THE MAIN VIC-BASED ORGANIZATIONS (VBOs)

UNOV/UNODC – IAEA – UNIDO – CTBTO

In line with Austrian regulations, everyone entering the VIC, including meeting participants, continue to be subject to proof of meeting one of the 3G criteria (vaccinated, recovered or tested). By swiping their VIC grounds pass/badge they confirm they are compliant and have 3G proof.

“Alles gurgelt" PCR test collection boxes:

  • From Monday 15 November, personnel who use “Alles gurgelt" PCR tests will be able to drop them off at blue collection boxes in the VIC.
  • Personnel should put their tests in the collection boxes by 09:00 at the latest. Tests deposited after 09:00 will be collected the following day.
  • Collection boxes will be located next to the elevators in:

A0E

B0E

D0E

E0E

  • There will also be a collection box in C0E, in the Rotunda under the monitor screen to the left of the entrance to the F/G corridor.
  • For those who have not used “Alles gurgelt" tests there is information here in English. “Alles gurgelt" roughly translates as “Everyone gargles".
  • This new service has been made possible by the IAEA Staff Council working with the IAEA, UNIDO Buildings Management Services (BMS) and their respective cleaning companies.

Note:

  • The VBOs strongly encourage personnel to get vaccinated if they are not already and to apply for a booster shot as soon as they are eligible.

​Information on the number of cases of SARS CoV-2 involving VBO personnel is available here.

  • Updates will be issued whenever there is fresh information from the VBOs, the Host Country or the Host City.
  • Between updates, you can keep up to date and refer to previous material by visiting our VBO COVID-19 website.
  • On the site you can find all past updates and guidelines, including on the procedure for obtaining EU Digital COVID Certificates, as well as useful links including to official information in English and other languages.
  • No log-in is needed.
  • Link to the site: https://nucleus.iaea.org/sites/covid19/SitePages/Home.aspx

LATEST AUSTRIAN DEVELOPMENTS AND MEASURES:

  • The latest figures for Austria are 10,925 new cases and 420 patients in intensive care units (ICU).
  • The COVID-19 situation in Austria is very serious, new infections reached five digits for the first time in the pandemic and ICU occupancy exceeds 400 patients, Health Minister Wolfgang Mückstein said in a televised briefing after the weekly Cabinet meeting on Wednesday.
  • Mückstein said he would be speaking to the Governors of the highest-affected provinces, Upper Austria and Salzburg, to discuss the response. He described the COVID-19 picture there as dramatic.
  • There were first positive effects to be seen from the introduction of 3G in the workplace and 2G in other areas, the Minister said. The vaccination rate had tripled over the past days, both for first vaccinations and for third vaccinations, said Mückstein. Also, the emphasis on PCR tests within the testing programme had been effective.
  • Austrian media reported that the City of Vienna would apply a 2.5G requirement to children aged 12-15 for access outside school, for which the “Ninja Pass" would not be accepted, and they would have to present a valid PCR test. The legal text would be published later in the week.
  • The Austrian Government's five-step plan was accelerated, moving to Step 4 from Monday 8 November. This means 2G (access only for those vaccinated or recovered) applies in the following settings:
    • Restaurants and bars
    • Hotels (exceptions for business travellers)
    • Services with physical proximity
    • Sports
    • Cultural sector
    • Events/gatherings with 25 participants or more
    • Visitors in nursing homes, hospitals and residential care facilities
  • There is a grace period up to 5 December 2021 during which the first dose of a two-dose vaccine will be accepted in combination with a PCR test.
  • 3G access (vaccinated, recovered or tested) continues to apply in the workplace.
  • Antibody tests are no longer accepted for access.
  • The test pass of the school testing programme (“Ninja Pass"), if current and complete, continues to be accepted for access also in 2G settings for children who are at the age to which mandatory schooling still applies (up to completion of ninth grade).
  • Vaccinations with two-dose vaccines are valid for access and the Green Pass for 270 days after the second dose rather than the previous 360 days.
  • FFP2 masks are required in retail and museums.
  • The Health Minister also announced that it was planned that from 3 January 2022 vaccinations with the Johnson & Johnson (Janssen) vaccine would only be accepted if followed by a second vaccination dose (Janssen or – as recommended – Pfizer/BioNTech or Moderna).
  • The legal text of the amendments that entered into force on 8 November is available here in German.
  • The consolidated legal text of COVID-19 measures in force in Austria (3. COVID-19 Massnahmenverordnung) is available here (in German).
  • Vienna has in place additional measures beyond those in place at national level. The current legal text is available here.
  • For instance, in Vienna, the requirement to provide evidence of low epidemiological risk applies to children from the age of six (rather than 12 at federal level).
  • The current legal text (in German) on entering Austria is available here.
  • There is information on Austria's overall vaccination programme in German and on Vienna's programme in German with links to other languages, including English.
  • There is a wide range of information on COVID-19 measures, vaccination and testing in 17 different languages, including English, here.
  • Austrian officials encourage all those in Austria to download the Stopp Corona app to help with contact tracing. The app is available in English and German.
  • The official Austrian dashboard has the latest data on COVID-19. It is available in English as well as German and is updated each day at 14:00.
  • Austria's national vaccination dashboard is online here in English and German. It works best using Firefox or Google Chrome.
  • DISCLAIMER: The VBOs cannot vouch for legal accuracy or completeness of the summaries in this update. Personnel are advised to refer to the original legal texts and to make their own checks before travelling.

COVID-19 WEBSITE FOR ALL UN SYSTEM PERSONNEL (includes 24/7 COVID-19 helpline):

https://www.un.org/en/coronavirus/info-for-un-staff

FEEDBACK/SUGGESTIONS:

Please write to martin.nesirky@un.org

 In today's update:

  • Message from the four main Vienna International Centre (VIC)-based organizations 
  • Latest Austrian Developments and Measures

NOTE: New items in bold

MESSAGE FROM THE MAIN VIC-BASED ORGANIZATIONS (VBOs)

UNOV/UNODC – IAEA – UNIDO – CTBTO

Austria has adopted new measures that are in force nationwide from Monday 8 November to tackle the serious rise in new cases and in patients in intensive care.

As has been the case throughout the pandemic, the VBOs will align the VIC with the new Host Country measures while taking into account individual VBO mandates and operational requirements.

The VBOs are assessing the impact of the new measures on official meetings and operations at the VIC and will provide guidance as soon as possible.

The VBOs strongly encourage personnel to get vaccinated if they are not already and to apply for a booster shot as soon as they are eligible.

Information on the number of cases of SARS CoV-2 involving VBO personnel is available here.

  • Updates will be issued whenever there is fresh information from the VBOs, the Host Country or the Host City.
  • Between updates, you can keep up to date and refer to previous material by visiting our VBO COVID-19 website.
  • On the site you can find all past updates and guidelines, including on the procedure for obtaining EU Digital COVID Certificates, as well as useful links including to official information in English and other languages.
  • No log-in is needed.
  • Link to the site:

https://nucleus.iaea.org/sites/covid19/SitePages/Home.aspx

LATEST AUSTRIAN DEVELOPMENTS AND MEASURES:

  • In a televised briefing on Friday after a meeting between the Government and leaders of the provinces, Chancellor Alexander Schallenberg and Health Minister Wolfgang Mückstein said case numbers continued to increase and intensive care unit (ICU) occupancy was rising more rapidly than expected.
  • The “reins" would be tightened on the unvaccinated, the Chancellor said. The Government had no intention to create divisions but had to protect the people in Austria.
  • The Government's five-step plan was accelerated, moving to Step 4 from Monday 8 November. This means 2G (access only for those vaccinated or recovered) applies in the following settings:
    • Restaurants and bars
    • Hotels (exceptions for business travellers)
    • Services with physical proximity
    • Sports
    • Cultural sector
    • Events/gatherings with 25 participants or more
    • Visitors in nursing homes, hospitals and residential care facilities
  • There is a grace period up to 5 December 2021 during which the first dose of a two-dose vaccine will be accepted in combination with a PCR test.
  • 3G access (vaccinated, recovered or tested) continues to apply in the workplace.
  • Antibody tests are no longer accepted for access.
  • The test pass of the school testing programme (“Ninja Pass"), if current and complete, continues to be accepted for access also in 2G settings for children who are at the age to which mandatory schooling still applies (up to completion of ninth grade).
  • Vaccinations with two-dose vaccines are valid for access and the Green Pass for 270 days after the second dose rather than the previous 360 days.
  • FFP2 masks are required in retail and museums.
  • The Health Minister also announced that it was planned that from 3 January 2022 vaccinations with the Johnson & Johnson (Janssen) vaccine would only be accepted if followed by a second vaccination dose (Janssen or – as recommended – Pfizer/BioNTech or Moderna).
  • The legal text of the amendments that entered into force on 8 November is available here in German.
  • The consolidated legal text of COVID-19 measures in force in Austria (3. COVID-19 Massnahmenverordnung) is available here (in German).
  • Vienna has in place additional measures beyond those in place at national level. The current legal text is available here.
  • For instance, in Vienna, the requirement to provide evidence of low epidemiological risk applies to children from the age of six (rather than 12 at federal level).
  • The COVID-19 picture in Austria nationwide, including Vienna, is classified as “Red" (very high risk) according to the traffic light system of the Austrian COVID-19 advisory commission.
  • Schallenberg and Mückstein urged people to get vaccinated if they were not already.
  • They also strongly encouraged those already vaccinated to receive a third booster shot as soon as they are eligible – typically six months after a second shot.
  • The current legal text (in German) on entering Austria is available here.
  • There is information on Austria's overall vaccination programme in German and on Vienna's programme in German with links to other languages, including English.
  • There is a wide range of information on COVID-19 measures, vaccination and testing in 17 different languages, including English, here.
  • Austrian officials encourage all those in Austria to download the Stopp Corona app to help with contact tracing. The app is available in English and German.
  • The official Austrian dashboard has the latest data on COVID-19. It is available in English as well as German and is updated each day at 14:00.
  • Austria's national vaccination dashboard is online here in English and German. It works best using Firefox or Google Chrome.
  • DISCLAIMER: The VBOs cannot vouch for legal accuracy or completeness of the summaries in this update. Personnel are advised to refer to the original legal texts and to make their own checks before travelling.

COVID-19 WEBSITE FOR ALL UN SYSTEM PERSONNEL (includes 24/7 COVID-19 helpline):

https://www.un.org/en/coronavirus/info-for-un-staff

FEEDBACK/SUGGESTIONS:

Please write to martin.nesirky@un.org​​

 In today's update:

  • ​Message from the four main Vienna International Centre (VIC)-based organizations 
  • Latest Austrian Developments and Measures

NOTE: New items in bold

MESSAGE FROM THE MAIN VIC-BASED ORGANIZATIONS (VBOs)

UNOV/UNODC – IAEA – UNIDO – CTBTO

All UN Secretariat, IAEA, UNIDO and CTBTO personnel are reminded that they are required to report their COVID-19 vaccination status in the EarthMed Portal.

All personnel with access to the EarthMed Portal should record their vaccination status there.

The steps to do so can be found in the update from 22 July, which is available here.

Personnel who do not have access to EarthMed can contact the VIC Medical Service at Vaccination-Status-Report-for-Non-Staff.Contact-Point@iaea.org to report their vaccination status.

Information on the number of cases of SARS CoV-2 involving VBO personnel is available here.

  • Updates will be issued whenever there is fresh information from the VBOs, the Host Country or the Host City.
  • Between updates, you can keep up to date and refer to previous material by visiting our VBO COVID-19 website.
  • On the site you can find all past updates and guidelines, including on the procedure for obtaining EU Digital COVID Certificates, as well as useful links including to official information in English and other languages.
  • No log-in is needed.
  • Link to the site:

https://nucleus.iaea.org/sites/covid19/SitePages/Home.aspx

LATEST AUSTRIAN DEVELOPMENTS AND MEASURES:

  • The legal text on COVID-19 measures in Austria from 1 November (3. COVID-19 Massnahmenverordnung) is available here (in German).
  • The text distinguishes between the following different types of low epidemiological risk:
  • “1G" (vaccinated)
  • “2G" (vaccinated or recovered)
  • “2.5G" (vaccinated, recovered or PCR-tested) and
  • “3G" (vaccinated, recovered or tested, including PCR-, antigen test (not accepted in Vienna), school test pass valid 7 days if all tests completed, or antibodies test valid 90 days).
  • Wherever access is limited to one of the above by this decree, the responsible person may check for name, date of birth, validity of the certificate and barcode/QR code, as well as the identity of the person being checked.
  • Reproduction or storage of the certificates or personal data contained in these is not allowed, with the exception of contact tracing, nor is processing of data obtained in the identity check. 
  • Employees may access the workplace only if they have evidence of meeting one of the “3G" criteria. This applies if physical contact with other people at the workplace cannot be ruled out. The above applies also to work at external locations except for work from home.
  • Employers with more than 51 employees must have a COVID-19 prevention concept.
  • Employers can adopt further requirements on masks and low epidemiological risk beyond those in this text for specific reasons.
  • The Austrian Government announced an update to its plan for future COVID-19-related measures based on intensive care unit (ICU) occupancy numbers extending it from the three to five steps. The Government's now five-step plan for future measures determined by ICU occupancy are:
  • Step 1: COVID-related ICU occupancy of 200 beds:
    • FFP2 masks are mandatory where masks have been required in public transport and essential retail;
    • FFP2 masks recommended also in non-essential retail for all, and mandatory for people not vaccinated;
    • Antigen tests valid 24 hours, rather than 48 (nationwide). This does not apply to tests done in schools;
    • 3G applies to all events with more than 25 people, rather than 100;
    • Full vaccinations are valid for 360 days rather 270 days.
  • Step 2: COVID-related ICU occupancy of 300 beds:
    • If this threshold is reached, night clubs, as well as large events (from 500 non-seated), would be accessible only to those vaccinated or recovered.
    • Home antigen tests would no longer be accepted as evidence of 3G (nationwide).
  • Step 3: COVID-related ICU occupancy of 400 beds:
    • Only PCR tests will be accepted as valid tests, in addition to vaccination and recovery (in other words; vaccinated, recovered, PCR-tested).
  • Step 4: COVID-related ICU occupancy of 500 beds:
    • “2G", where access is only for those vaccinated or recovered to apply wherever 3G currently applied. In the workplace, 2.5G (vaccinated, recovered or PCR-tested) would still apply at this step.
  • Step 5: COVID-related ICU occupancy of 600 beds:
    • Limitations on leaving the house would be reintroduced for those not vaccinated or recovered, with exceptions for meeting basic needs and going to work.
  • Austria is at Step 1 of this plan (ICU occupancy 200 or over). Several provinces, including Vienna, already have additional measures in place beyond these outlined in Step 1. The legal text (in German) of additional measures in Vienna is available here.  
  • Health Minister Wolfgang Mückstein said Step 3 might immediately follow Step 1 later this week or early next week, as he expected ICU occupancy to reach 400 around that time.
  • Also, the Health Minister has told media that from 15 November, the 2.5G rule (vaccinated, recovered or PCR-tested) would be applied to the workplace (where the 3G rule applies from 1 November).
  • The COVID-19 situation in Austria nationwide is classified as “Red" (very high risk) according to the traffic light system of the Austrian COVID-19 advisory commission. Vienna and Burgenland provinces are classified as “Orange" (high risk), while all other provinces are classified as “Red". 
  • The latest update to the legal text (in German) on entering Austria is available here.
  • There is information on Austria's overall vaccination programme in German and on Vienna's programme in German with links to other languages, including English.
  • There is a wide range of information on COVID-19 measures, vaccination and testing in 17 different languages, including English, here.
  • Austrian officials encourage all those in Austria to download the Stopp Corona app to help with contact tracing. The app is available in English and German.
  • The official Austrian dashboard has the latest data on COVID-19. It is available in English as well as German and is updated each day at 14:00.
  • Austria's national vaccination dashboard is online here in English and German. It works best using Firefox or Google Chrome.
  • DISCLAIMER: The VBOs cannot vouch for legal accuracy or completeness of the summaries in this update. Personnel are advised to refer to the original legal texts and to make their own checks before travelling.

COVID-19 WEBSITE FOR ALL UN SYSTEM PERSONNEL (includes 24/7 COVID-19 helpline):

https://www.un.org/en/coronavirus/info-for-un-staff

FEEDBACK/SUGGESTIONS:

Please write to martin.nesirky@un.org

In today's update:

  • Message from the four main Vienna International Centre (VIC)-based organizations 
  • Latest Austrian Developments and Measures

NOTE: New items in bold

MESSAGE FROM THE MAIN VIC-BASED ORGANIZATIONS (VBOs)

UNOV/UNODC – IAEA – UNIDO – CTBTO

All UN Secretariat, IAEA, UNIDO and CTBTO personnel are reminded that they are required to report their COVID-19 vaccination status in the EarthMed Portal.

All personnel with access to the EarthMed Por tal should record their vaccination status there.

The steps to do so can be found in the update from 22 July, which is available here.

Personnel who do not have access to EarthMed can contact the VIC Medical Service at Vaccination-Status-Report-for-Non-Staff.Contact-Point@iaea.org to report their vaccination status.

Information on the number of cases of SARS CoV-2 involving VBO personnel is available here.

  • Updates will be issued whenever there is fresh information from the VBOs, the Host Country or the Host City.
  • Between updates, you can keep up to date and refer to previous material by visiting our VBO COVID-19 website.
  • On the site you can find all past updates and guidelines, including on the procedure for obtaining EU Digital COVID Certificates, as well as useful links including to official information in English and other languages.
  • No log-in is needed.
  • Link to the site:

https://nucleus.iaea.org/sites/covid19/SitePages/Home.aspx

LATEST AUSTRIAN DEVELOPMENTS AND MEASURES:

  • The legal text on COVID-19 measures in Austria from 1 November (3. COVID-19 Massnahmenverordnung) is available here (in German).
  • The text distinguishes between the following different types of low epidemiological risk:
  • “1G" (vaccinated)
  • “2G" (vaccinated or recovered)
  • “2.5G" (vaccinated, recovered or PCR-tested) and
  • “3G" (vaccinated, recovered or tested, including PCR-, antigen test (not accepted in Vienna), school test pass valid 7 days if all tests completed, or antibodies test valid 90 days).
  • Wherever access is limited to one of the above by this decree, the responsible person may check for name, date of birth, validity of the certificate and barcode/QR code, as well as the identity of the person being checked.
  • Reproduction or storage of the certificates or personal data contained in these is not allowed, except for contact tracing, nor is processing of data obtained in the identity check. 
  • Employees may access the workplace only if they have evidence of meeting one of the “3G" criteria. This applies if physical contact with other people at the workplace cannot be ruled out. The above applies also to work at external locations except for work from home.
  • Employers with more than 51 employees must have a COVID-19 prevention concept.
  • Employers can adopt further requirements on masks and low epidemiological risk beyond those in this text for specific reasons.
  • The Austrian Government announced an update to its plan for future COVID-19-related measures based on intensive care unit (ICU) occupancy numbers extending it from the three to five steps. The Government's now five-step plan for future measures determined by ICU occupancy are:
  • Step 1: COVID-related ICU occupancy of 200 beds:
    • FFP2 masks are mandatory where masks have been required in public transport and essential retail.
    • FFP2 masks recommended also in non-essential retail for all, and mandatory for people not vaccinated.
    • Antigen tests valid 24 hours, rather than 48 (nationwide). This does not apply to tests done in schools.
    • 3G applies to all events with more than 25 people, rather than 100.
    • Full vaccinations are valid for 360 days rather 270 days.
  • Step 2: COVID-related ICU occupancy of 300 beds:
    • If this threshold is reached, night clubs, as well as large events (from 500 non-seated), would be accessible only to those vaccinated or recovered.
    • Home antigen tests would no longer be accepted as evidence of 3G (nationwide).
  • Step 3: COVID-related ICU occupancy of 400 beds:
    • Only PCR tests will be accepted as valid tests, in addition to vaccination and recovery (in other words; vaccinated, recovered, PCR-tested).
  • Step 4: COVID-related ICU occupancy of 500 beds:
    • “2G", where access is only for those vaccinated or recovered to apply wherever 3G currently applied. In the workplace, 2.5G (vaccinated, recovered or PCR-tested) would still apply at this step.
  • Step 5: COVID-related ICU occupancy of 600 beds:
    • Limitations on leaving the house would be reintroduced for those not vaccinated or recovered, with exceptions for meeting basic needs and going to work.
  • Austria is at Step 1 of this plan (ICU occupancy 200 or over). Several provinces, including Vienna, already have additional measures in place beyond these outlined in Step 1. The legal text (in German) of additional measures in Vienna is available here.  
  • Health Minister Wolfgang Mückstein said Step 3 might immediately follow Step 1 later this week or early next week, as he expected ICU occupancy to reach 400 around that time.
  • Also, the Health Minister has told media that from 15 November, the 2.5G rule (vaccinated, recovered or PCR-tested) would be applied to the workplace (where the 3G rule applies from 1 November).
  • The COVID-19 situation in Austria nationwide is classified as “Red" (very high risk) according to the traffic light system of the Austrian COVID-19 advisory commission. Vienna and Burgenland provinces are classified as “Orange" (high risk), while all other provinces are classified as “Red". 
  • The latest update to the legal text (in German) on entering Austria is available here.
  • There is information on Austria's overall vaccination programme in German and on Vienna's programme in German with links to other languages, including English.
  • There is a wide range of information on COVID-19 measures, vaccination and testing in 17 different languages, including English, here.
  • Austrian officials encourage all those in Austria to download the Stopp Corona app to help with contact tracing. The app is available in English and German.
  • The official Austrian dashboard has the latest data on COVID-19. It is available in English as well as German and is updated each day at 14:00.
  • Austria's national vaccination dashboard is online here in English and German. It works best using Firefox or Google Chrome.
  • DISCLAIMER: The VBOs cannot vouch for legal accuracy or completeness of the summaries in this update. Personnel are advised to refer to the original legal texts and to make their own checks before travelling.

COVID-19 WEBSITE FOR ALL UN SYSTEM PERSONNEL (includes 24/7 COVID-19 helpline):

https://www.un.org/en/coronavirus/info-for-un-staff

FEEDBACK/SUGGESTIONS:

Please write to martin.nesirky@un.org​​​


In today's update:
  • Message from the four main Vienna International Centre (VIC)-based organizations 

NOTE: New items in bold

MESSAGE FROM THE MAIN VIC-BASED ORGANIZATIONS (VBOs)

UNOV/UNODC – IAEA – UNIDO – CTBTO

 Important VIC Medical Service reminder on booster vaccinations:

As indicated in the update on 1 October 2021 and following the official Austrian Vaccination Council advice, the VIC Medical Service recommends anyone who received a single-dose Johnson & Johnson (Janssen) vaccination to have a second vaccination, preferably with an mRNA vaccine - BioNTech/Pfizer vaccine (Comirnaty) or Moderna as soon as possible. This second vaccination is considered off-label, which means it can legally be administered from 28 days after the first shot, although it is not yet fully licensed to use as a booster shot. More information is available here (in German).

Vaccination validity and booster shots:

  • Johnson & Johnson (Janssen, single dose) is valid from the 22nd day after vaccination up to 270 days. A second vaccination is now officially recommended (see above). Validity is then for 360 days from the day of that second shot.
  • Completed two-shot vaccinations (AstraZeneca, BioNTech/Pfizer, Moderna) are valid for 360 days from the day of the second dose. A booster is recommended for AstraZeneca after six to nine months, and for BioNTech/Pfizer and Moderna after nine to 12 months. In all these cases, the validity after the third shot for each vaccine is 360 days.
  • The minimum time period between a second and third vaccination is 120 days.
  • Booster shots for BioNTech/Pfizer, AstraZeneca and Moderna are being rolled out first to high-risk groups and later for the general population. You can get an estimate of eligibility for a booster shot by using the online calculator link (Auffrischungsrechner) on the City of Vienna's vaccination website.

The City of Vienna's health authorities will be able to provide the second vaccination to those who received the one-shot Johnson & Johnson vaccination.

Those to whom this applies can register with the City of Vienna's vaccination service as they did for their initial vaccination.

The vaccination can be administered at the Austria Centre Vaccination Centre or at one of the other official vaccination sites. An updated list of locations is available here (in German).

COVID-19 WEBSITE FOR ALL UN SYSTEM PERSONNEL (includes 24/7 COVID-19 helpline):

https://www.un.org/en/coronavirus/info-for-un-staff

FEEDBACK/SUGGESTIONS:

Please write to martin.nesirky@un.org


In today's update:

  • ​Message from the four main Vienna International Centre (VIC)-based organizations 
  • Latest Austrian Developments and Measures

NOTE: New items in bold

MESSAGE FROM THE MAIN VIC-BASED ORGANIZATIONS (VBOs)

UNOV/UNODC – IAEA – UNIDO – CTBTO

All UN Secretariat, IAEA, UNIDO and CTBTO personnel are reminded that they are required to report their COVID-19 vaccination status in the EarthMed Portal.

All personnel with access to the EarthMed Portal should record their vaccination status there.

The steps to do so can be found in the update from 22 July, which is available here.

Personnel who do not have access to EarthMed can contact the VIC Medical Service at Vaccination-Status-Report-for-Non-Staff.Contact-Point@iaea.org to report their vaccination status.

Information on the number of cases of SARS CoV-2 involving VBO personnel is available here.

  • Updates will be issued whenever there is fresh information from the VBOs, the Host Country or the Host City.
  • Between updates, you can keep up to date and refer to previous material by visiting our VBO COVID-19 website.
  • On the site you can find all past updates and guidelines, including on the procedure for obtaining EU Digital COVID Certificates, as well as useful links including to official information in English and other languages.
  • No log-in is needed.
  • Link to the site:

https://nucleus.iaea.org/sites/covid19/SitePages/Home.aspx

LATEST AUSTRIAN DEVELOPMENTS AND MEASURES:

  • The legal text on COVID-19 measures in Austria from 1 November (3. COVID-19 Massnahmenverordnung) is available here (in German).
  • The text distinguishes between the following different types of low epidemiological risk:
  • “1G" (vaccinated)
  • “2G" (vaccinated or recovered)
  • “2.5G" (vaccinated, recovered or PCR-tested) and
  • “3G" (vaccinated, recovered or tested, including PCR-, antigen test (not accepted in Vienna), school test pass valid 7 days if all tests completed, or antibodies test valid 90 days).
  • Wherever access is limited to one of the above by this decree, the responsible person may check for name, date of birth, validity of the certificate and barcode/QR code, as well as the identity of the person being checked.
  • Reproduction or storage of the certificates or personal data contained in these is not allowed, with the exception of contact tracing, nor is processing of data obtained in the identity check. 
  • Employees may access the workplace only if they have evidence of meeting one of the “3G" criteria. This applies if physical contact with other people at the workplace cannot be ruled out. The above applies also to work at external locations except for work from home.
  • Employers with more than 51 employees must have a COVID-19 prevention concept.
  • Employers can adopt further requirements on masks and low epidemiological risk beyond those in this text for specific reasons.
  • The Austrian Government announced an update to its plan for future COVID-19-related measures based on intensive care unit (ICU) occupancy numbers extending it from the three to five steps. The Government's now five-step plan for future measures determined by ICU occupancy are:
  • Step 1: COVID-related ICU occupancy of 200 beds:
    • FFP2 masks are mandatory where masks have been required in public transport and essential retail;
    • FFP2 masks recommended also in non-essential retail for all, and mandatory for people not vaccinated;
    • Antigen tests valid 24 hours, rather than 48 (nationwide). This does not apply to tests done in schools;
    • 3G applies to all events with more than 25 people, rather than 100;
    • Full vaccinations are valid for 360 days rather 270 days.
  • Step 2: COVID-related ICU occupancy of 300 beds:
    • If this threshold is reached, night clubs, as well as large events (from 500 non-seated), would be accessible only to those vaccinated or recovered.
    • Home antigen tests would no longer be accepted as evidence of 3G (nationwide).
  • Step 3: COVID-related ICU occupancy of 400 beds:
    • Only PCR tests will be accepted as valid tests, in addition to vaccination and recovery (in other words; vaccinated, recovered, PCR-tested).
  • Step 4: COVID-related ICU occupancy of 500 beds:
    • “2G", where access is only for those vaccinated or recovered to apply wherever 3G currently applied. In the workplace, 2.5G (vaccinated, recovered or PCR-tested) would still apply at this step.
  • Step 5: COVID-related ICU occupancy of 600 beds:
    • Limitations on leaving the house would be reintroduced for those not vaccinated or recovered, with exceptions for meeting basic needs and going to work.
  • Austria is at Step 1 of this plan (ICU occupancy 200 or over). Several provinces, including Vienna, already have additional measures in place beyond these outlined in Step 1. The legal text (in German) of additional measures in Vienna is available here.  
  • Health Minister Wolfgang Mückstein said Step 3 might immediately follow Step 1 later this week or early next week, as he expected ICU occupancy to reach 400 around that time.
  • Also, the Health Minister has told media that from 15 November, the 2.5G rule (vaccinated, recovered or PCR-tested) would be applied to the workplace (where the 3G rule applies from 1 November).
  • The COVID-19 situation in Austria nationwide is classified as “Red" (very high risk) according to the traffic light system of the Austrian COVID-19 advisory commission. Vienna and Burgenland provinces are classified as “Orange" (high risk), while all other provinces are classified as “Red". 
  • The latest update to the legal text (in German) on entering Austria is available here.
  • There is information on Austria's overall vaccination programme in German and on Vienna's programme in German with links to other languages, including English.
  • There is a wide range of information on COVID-19 measures, vaccination and testing in 17 different languages, including English, here.
  • Austrian officials encourage all those in Austria to download the Stopp Corona app to help with contact tracing. The app is available in English and German.
  • The official Austrian dashboard has the latest data on COVID-19. It is available in English as well as German and is updated each day at 14:00.
  • Austria's national vaccination dashboard is online here in English and German. It works best using Firefox or Google Chrome.
  • DISCLAIMER: The VBOs cannot vouch for legal accuracy or completeness of the summaries in this update. Personnel are advised to refer to the original legal texts and to make their own checks before travelling.

COVID-19 WEBSITE FOR ALL UN SYSTEM PERSONNEL (includes 24/7 COVID-19 helpline):

https://www.un.org/en/coronavirus/info-for-un-staff

FEEDBACK/SUGGESTIONS:​

Please write to martin.nesirky@un.org

In today's update:​ 

1.       Message from the four main Vienna International Centre (VIC)-based organizations 

2.       Latest Austrian developments and measures 

NOTE: New items in bold 

MESSAGE FROM THE MAIN VIC-BASED ORGANIZATIONS (VBOs)

UNOV/UNODC – IAEA – UNIDO – CTBTO 

The Executive Heads of the main VIC-based organizations have decided that from 1 October 2021, everyone entering the VIC must meet the Host Country's criteria for posing a low epidemiological risk. 

The Executive Heads reached their decision to introduce these enhanced measures on recommendations from the VBOs and VIC Medical Service to protect the health and safety of all at the VIC. The measures are in line with the Austrian authorities' increased focus on vaccination and ensuring low epidemiological risk. The Executive Heads' decision follows consultations with Staff Council representatives. 

From 1 October, by swiping their grounds pass/badge, every person entering the VIC will be confirming they have proof they meet at least one of these criteria. 

They will also be confirming they will provide valid digital or paper documentation to UN Security and Safety Service (UNSSS) officers and the VIC Medical Service on request. VBOs may ask their respective personnel or meetings participants to provide valid documentation. 

Our Host Country defines low epidemiological risk as meeting one or more of the following criteria, broadly referred to in German as “3G" - “geimpft, genesen, getestet," or “vaccinated, recovered, tested" in English: 

  • proof of a full vaccination with a vaccine not older than 360 days and valid from the date of second vaccination, or proof of full vaccination with a vaccine that does not require a second dose (e.g. Johnson & Johnson) not older than 360 days and valid from the 22nd day after vaccination; or proof of one vaccination dose not older than 360 days following a positive PCR test or positive antibodies test
  • a certificate of recovery from COVID-19 illness not older than 180 days, or proof of    

       positive COVID-19 antibody test (with a result of 15 BAU or above) not older than 90 days.

  • proof of a negative PCR test not older than 48 hours (as applied in Vienna), or a rapid antigen test not older than 24 hours, or a valid test pass issued under the testing programme in schools. [Note: this does not apply to kindergarten children, including those at the VIC kindergarten] 

Vaccines provide a high degree of protection against getting seriously ill and dying from this disease and all personnel are again strongly encouraged to vaccinate against COVID-19. 

Accurate information on the vaccination status of personnel is necessary to assess the risk at the workplace and adopt appropriate mitigation strategies. UN Secretariat personnel are already required to record their vaccination status, including through the EarthMed Portal. The Executive Heads of the IAEA, UNIDO and CTBTO have decided to make this reporting requirement mandatory for personnel working for their respective organizations as well. 

All IAEA, UNIDO and CTBTO personnel, vaccinated or not, are required to report their COVID-19 vaccination status by 15 October 2021. The deadline for UN Secretariat personnel remains 30 September. All personnel with access to the EarthMed Portal  should record their vaccination status there. The steps to do so can be found in the update from 22 July, which is available herePersonnel who do not have access to EarthMed can contact the VIC Medical Service atMedical-Admin.Contact-Point@iaea.org to report their vaccination status. 

From 1 October 2021, FFP2 masks will be mandatory in all areas at the VIC where masks are required. These include meeting rooms, security entrance and exit gates and all other common spaces in the VIC, including corridors, elevators, rest rooms, the Rotunda, kitchens, the Commissary, banks, pharmacy and the post office. Masks are not required when seated in an office or when seated in the cafeteria. 

[Note: The requirements for masks until 1 October are outlined in the Update dated 14 September.] 

Updated meetings guidelines will be issued for 1 October to reflect the new measures. 

The maximum number of people in each elevator across the VIC is eight. 

Information on the number of cases of SARS CoV-2 involving VBO personnel is availablehere. 

  • Updates will be issued whenever there is fresh information from the VBOs, the Host Country or the Host City.
  • Between updates, you can keep up to date and refer to previous material by visiting our VBO COVID-19 website.
  • On the site you can find all past updates and guidelines, including on the procedure for obtaining EU Digital COVID Certificates, as well as useful links including to official information in English and other languages.
  • No log-in is needed.

VIC Medical Service update and reminders: 

Note to VIC personnel with children at school: 

If a child in class tests positive, then other children in the same class would be considered K1 or K2. The parent or parents of a child designated K1 or K2 would be able to come to the workplace if the child and adult or adults have no symptoms. Household members of a K1 child would have to wear an FFP2 mask outside the home. 

If the child at home develops symptoms or tests positive, then the parent or parents are classified either K1 if not vaccinated or K2 if vaccinated.  For K1, this means quarantine or work from home. For K2, the parent or parents should get tested again and if the PCR test is negative, they can come to work. Testing is recommended also on day 5 and day 10.

​The City of Vienna is offering vaccinations without prior booking at a number of sites. An updated list of locations is available here(in German). 

Taking part in a national vaccinationprogramme is in line with the practice of the other UN system organizations. As part of ouroccupational health measures, personnel from VBOs are able to inform the VIC Medical Service when they are completely vaccinated, through EarthMed Portal. The steps to do so can be found in the update from 22 July, which is available here. 

While all VIC personnel are strongly encouraged to record their vaccination in EarthMed, please note it is now mandatory for UN Secretariat personnel to register their vaccination status through the portal. 

All personnel are encouraged to take advantage of the free COVID-19 testing services provided by the Austrian authorities. Those coming to the VIC are especially encouraged to test themselves weekly with either PCR or rapid antigen tests to contain the spread of COVID-19. Please note that no testing is required for entry to the VIC. You can find more information on how and where you can test yourself here. 

LATEST AUSTRIAN DEVELOPMENTS AND MEASURES:

  • In a televised briefing on Tuesday the Mayor of Vienna, Michael Ludwig, said Vienna would amend the specific measures in place in the city that are in addition to the Austrian national measures.
  • The new measures for Vienna are to come into force on 1 October, according to the Mayor, for a period of one month. 
  • According to the new measures, in Vienna the “2G" principle (vaccinated or recovered, or “geimpft oder genesen" in German) would be applied for access to some areas, and the “2.5G" principle (vaccinated, recovered or PCR-tested) would be applied in other areas. The changes are as follows:
    • Nightclubs and bars: 2G for customers, 2.5G for staff
    • 2G at events or gatherings with 500 people or more
    • 2.5G for events or gatherings with 25 people or more
    • 2.5G in restaurants
    • 2.5G in all areas where 3G applies to date
  • FFP2 masks will be required in the entire retail sector in Vienna for customers
  • No changes planned to the current rules in place in Vienna for children under 12.
  • The legal text on nationwide measures in Austria (“2. COVID-19 Massnahmenverordnung“), with updates, is available here.
  • The legal text on specific additional measures in place in Vienna is availablehere. The legal text on the measures planned in Vienna from 1 October is not yet available.
  • The latest update to the legal text (in German) on entering Austria is availablehere.
  • There is information on Austria's overall vaccination programme in German and on Vienna's programme in German with links to other languages, including English.
  • There is a wide range of information on COVID-19 measures, vaccination and testing in 17 different languages, including English, here.
  • Austrian officials encourage all those in Austria to download the Stopp Corona app to help with contact tracing. The app is available in English and German.
  • The official Austrian dashboard has the latest data on COVID-19. It is available in English as well as German and is updated each day at 14:00.
  • Austria's national vaccination dashboard is online here in English and German. It works best using Firefox or Google Chrome.
  • DISCLAIMER: The VBOs cannot vouch for legal accuracy or completeness of the summaries in this update. Personnel are advised to refer to the original legal texts and to make their own checks before travelling. ​ 

COVID-19 WEBSITE FOR ALL UN SYSTEM PERSONNEL (includes 24/7 COVID-19 helpline): 

https://www.un.org/en/coronavirus/info-for-un-staff 

FEEDBACK/SUGGESTIONS:

Please write to martin.nesirky@un.org

In today's update:

  • ​Message from the four main Vienna International Centre (VIC)-based organizations 
  • Latest Austrian developments and measures

NOTE: New items in bold

MESSAGE FROM THE MAIN VIC-BASED ORGANIZATIONS (VBOs)

UNOV/UNODC – IAEA – UNIDO – CTBTO

The Mayor of Vienna announced today planned changes to the measures for Vienna that are to come into force on 1 October. The VBOs are reviewing these and will advise what impact they will have at the VIC.

Information on the number of cases of SARS CoV-2 involving VBO personnel is available here.

  • Updates will be issued whenever there is fresh information from the VBOs, the Host Country or the Host City.
  • Between updates, you can keep up to date and refer to previous material by visiting our VBO COVID-19 website.
  • On the site you can find all past updates and guidelines, including on the procedure for obtaining EU Digital COVID Certificates, as well as useful links including to official information in English and other languages.
  • No log-in is needed.
  • Link to the site: 

https://nucleus.iaea.org/sites/covid19/SitePages/Home.aspx

VIC Medical Service update and reminders:

The City of Vienna is offering vaccinations without prior booking at a number of sites. An updated list of locations is available here (in German).

Taking part in a national vaccination programme is in line with the practice of the other UN system organizations. As part of our occupational health measures, personnel from VBOs are able to inform the VIC Medical Service when they are completely vaccinated, through EarthMed Portal. The steps to do so can be found in the update from 22 July, which is available here.

While all VIC personnel are strongly encouraged to record their vaccination in EarthMed, please note it is now mandatory for UN Secretariat personnel to register their vaccination status through the portal.

All personnel are encouraged to take advantage of the free COVID-19 testing services provided by the Austrian authorities. Those coming to the VIC are especially encouraged to test themselves weekly with either PCR or rapid antigen tests to contain the spread of COVID-19. Please note that no testing is required for entry to the VIC. You can find more information on how and where you can test yourself here.

LATEST AUSTRIAN DEVELOPMENTS AND MEASURES:

  • In a televised briefing on Tuesday the Mayor of Vienna, Michael Ludwig, said Vienna would amend the specific measures in place in the city that are in addition to the Austrian national measures.
  • The new measures for Vienna are to come into force on 1 October, according to the Mayor, for a period of one month. 
  • According to the new measures, in Vienna the “2G" principle (vaccinated or recovered, or “geimpft oder genesen" in German) would be applied for access to some areas, and the “2.5G" principle (vaccinated, recovered or PCR-tested) would be applied in other areas. The changes are as follows:
    • Nightclubs and bars: 2G for customers, 2.5G for staff
    • 2G at events or gatherings with 500 people or more
    • 2.5G for events or gatherings with 25 people or more
    • 2.5G in restaurants
    • 2.5G in all areas where 3G applies to date
  • FFP2 masks will be required in the entire retail sector in Vienna for customers
  • No changes planned to the current rules in place in Vienna for children under 12.
  • The legal text on nationwide measures in Austria (“2. COVID-19 Massnahmenverordnung“), with updates, is available here.
  • The legal text on specific additional measures in place in Vienna is available here. The legal text on the measures planned in Vienna from 1 October is not yet available.
  • The latest update to the legal text (in German) on entering Austria is available here.
  • There is information on Austria's overall vaccination programme in German and on Vienna's programme in German with links to other languages, including English.
  • There is a wide range of information on COVID-19 measures, vaccination and testing in 17 different languages, including English, here.
  • Austrian officials encourage all those in Austria to download the Stopp Corona app to help with contact tracing. The app is available in English and German.
  • The official Austrian dashboard has the latest data on COVID-19. It is available in English as well as German and is updated each day at 14:00.
  • Austria's national vaccination dashboard is online here in English and German. It works best using Firefox or Google Chrome.
  • DISCLAIMER: The VBOs cannot vouch for legal accuracy or completeness of the summaries in this update. Personnel are advised to refer to the original legal texts and to make their own checks before travelling.

COVID-19 WEBSITE FOR ALL UN SYSTEM PERSONNEL (includes 24/7 COVID-19 helpline):

https://www.un.org/en/coronavirus/info-for-un-staff

FEEDBACK/SUGGESTIONS:

​Please write to martin.nesirky@un.org

Vienna International Centre COVID-19 update – 14 September 2021

In today's update:

  • Message from the four main Vienna International Centre (VIC)-based organizations 
  • Latest Austrian developments and measures

NOTE: New items in bold

MESSAGE FROM THE MAIN VIC-BASED ORGANIZATIONS (VBOs)

UNOV/UNODC – IAEA – UNIDO – CTBTO

 Anyone entering the VIC - including VIC personnel, diplomats and meeting participants - is strongly encouraged to ensure that they meet the criteria for posing a low epidemiological risk as defined by the Host Country legislation.

Also, from 15 September, in line with guidance of the Host Country and recommendations of the VIC Medical Service, conference participants are required to comply with the low epidemiological risk criteria at meetings, conferences and events with 25 or more participants.

By swiping their grounds pass/badge, these meeting participants entering the VIC will be declaring that they possess valid documentation meeting one or more of the 3G criteria as defined below. They will also confirm that they will produce the documentation to the conference, meeting and event organizers, organizations or VIC Medical Service if required.

According to the Host Country, low epidemiological risk applies to people older than 12 and is defined as meeting one or more of the following criteria, broadly referred to in German as “3G" - “geimpft, getestet, genesen" or “vaccinated, tested, recovered" in English:

  • proof of a negative PCR test not older than 48 hours, or a rapid antigen test not older than 24 hours;
  • proof of a full vaccination not older than 360 days and valid from the date of second vaccination, or proof of full vaccination with a vaccine that does not require a booster shot (e.g. Johnson & Johnson) not older than 360 days and valid from the 22nd day after vaccination; or
  • a certificate of recovery from COVID-19 illness not older than 180 days, or proof of positive COVID-19 antibody test (with a result of 15 BAU or above) not older than 90 days.

Latest guidance from the VIC Medical Service on organizing in-person meetings at the Vienna International Centre (VIC) is available here.

Personnel, delegates and visitors to the VIC are reminded that masks must always be worn in meeting rooms and in all other common spaces in the VIC, including corridors, elevators, the Rotunda and kitchens. The use of a FFP2 mask is, as of the 15 September, generally recommended and mandatory at the Commissary, banks, pharmacy and the post office.

All those at the VIC are reminded that the maximum number of people in each elevator is four.

Greater vigilance and adherence to the measures at the VIC are crucial for the health and well-being of everyone, including in our Host Country.

Information on the number of cases of SARS CoV-2 involving VBO personnel is available here.

  • Updates will be issued whenever there is fresh information from the VBOs, the Host Country or the Host City.
  • Between updates, you can keep up to date and refer to previous material by visiting our VBO COVID-19 website.
  • On the site you can find all past updates and guidelines, including on the procedure for obtaining EU Digital COVID Certificates, as well as useful links including to official information in English and other languages.
  • No log-in is needed.
  • Link to the site: https://nucleus.iaea.org/sites/covid19/SitePages/Home.aspx

VIC Medical Service update and reminders:

The City of Vienna is offering vaccinations without prior booking at a number of sites. An updated list of locations is available here (in German).

Taking part in a national vaccination programme is in line with the practice of the other UN system organizations. As part of our occupational health measures, personnel from VBOs are able to inform the VIC Medical Service when they are completely vaccinated, through EarthMed Portal. The steps to do so can be found in the update from 22 July, which is available here.

While all VIC personnel are strongly encouraged to record their vaccination in EarthMed, please note it is now mandatory for UN Secretariat personnel to register their vaccination status through the portal.

All personnel are encouraged to take advantage of the free COVID-19 testing services provided by the Austrian authorities. Those coming to the VIC are especially encouraged to test themselves weekly with either PCR or rapid antigen tests to contain the spread of COVID-19. Please note that no testing is required for entry to the VIC. You can find more information on how and where you can test yourself here.

LATEST AUSTRIAN DEVELOPMENTS AND MEASURES:

  • Step 1: In force from 15 September when COVID-related ICU occupancy is expected to reach 10 per cent (200 beds): (NOTE: the figure on Tuesday was 189 beds):
  • FFP2 masks are mandatory where masks have been required in public transport and essential retail;
  • FFP2 masks recommended also in non-essential retail for all, and mandatory for people not vaccinated;
  • Antigen tests valid 24 hours, rather than 48 (nationwide). This does not apply to tests done in schools;
  • 3G applies to all events with more than 25 people, rather than 100;
  • Full vaccinations are valid for 360 days rather 270 days.
  • Step 2: COVID-related ICU occupancy 15 per cent (300 beds):
    • If this threshold is reached, night clubs, as well as large events (from 500 non-seated), would be accessible only to those vaccinated or recovered.
    • Home antigen tests would no longer be accepted as evidence of 3G (nationwide).
  • Step 3: COVID-related ICU occupancy 20 per cent (400 beds):
    • Only PCR tests will be accepted as valid tests to meet 3G requirements, in addition to vaccination and recovery (in other words; vaccinated, recovered, PCR-tested).
  • The legal text on measures in Austria (“2. COVID-19 Öffnungsverordnung,“ with updates) is available here.
  • The legal text on specific additional measures in Vienna is available here.
  • The latest update to the legal text (in German) on entering Austria is available here.
  • There is information on Austria's overall vaccination programme in German and on Vienna's programme in German with links to other languages, including English.
  • There is a wide range of information on COVID-19 measures, vaccination and testing in 17 different languages, including English, here.
  • Austrian officials encourage all those in Austria to download the Stopp Corona app to help with contact tracing. The app is available in English and German.
  • The official Austrian dashboard has the latest data on COVID-19. It is available in English as well as German and is updated each day at 14:00.
  • Austria's national vaccination dashboard is online here in English and German. It works best using Firefox or Google Chrome.
  • DISCLAIMER: The VBOs cannot vouch for legal accuracy or completeness of the summaries in this update. Personnel are advised to refer to the original legal texts and to make their own checks before travelling.

COVID-19 WEBSITE FOR ALL UN SYSTEM PERSONNEL (includes 24/7 COVID-19 helpline):

https://www.un.org/en/coronavirus/info-for-un-staff

FEEDBACK/SUGGESTIONS:​

Please write to martin.nesirky@un.org


In today's update:

  • Message from the four main Vienna International Centre (VIC)-based organizations 
  • Latest Austrian developments and measures

NOTE: New items in bold

MESSAGE FROM THE MAIN VIC-BASED ORGANIZATIONS (VBOs)

UNOV/UNODC – IAEA – UNIDO – CTBTO

Information on the number of cases of SARS CoV-2 involving VBO personnel is available here.

  • Updates will be issued whenever there is fresh information from the VBOs, the Host Country or the Host City.
  • Between updates, you can keep up to date and refer to previous material by visiting our VBO COVID-19 website.
  • On the site you can find all past updates and guidelines, including on the procedure for obtaining EU Digital COVID Certificates, as well as useful links including to official information in English and other languages.
  • No log-in is needed.
  • Link to the site:

https://nucleus.iaea.org/sites/covid19/SitePages/Home.aspx

VIC Medical Service update and reminders:

The VIC Medical Service has issued updated guidelines for organizing in-person meetings at the VIC. They are available here.

The VIC Medical Service reminds staff that masks must always be worn in meeting rooms and in all other common spaces in the VIC, including corridors, elevators, the Rotunda and kitchens, as well as the Commissary, banks and the post office.

The City of Vienna is offering vaccinations without prior booking at a number of sites. An updated list of locations is available here.

Taking part in a national vaccination programme is in line with the practice of the other UN system organizations. As part of our occupational health measures, personnel from VBOs are encouraged to inform the VIC Medical Service when they are completely vaccinated, through EarthMed Portal. The steps to do so can be found in the update from 22 July, which is available here.

All personnel are encouraged to take advantage of the free COVID-19 testing services provided by the Austrian authorities. Those coming to the VIC are especially encouraged to test themselves weekly with either PCR or rapid antigen tests to contain the spread of COVID-19. Please note that no testing is required for entry to the VIC. You can find more information on how and where you can test yourself here.

LATEST AUSTRIAN DEVELOPMENTS AND MEASURES:

  • In a televised briefing on Wednesday, Education Minister Heinz Faßmann and Health Minister Wolfgang Mückstein provided details on how the return to school would be handled.
  • Mückstein said the priority was to prevent school closures.
  • Providing more details on the government's four-point plan for returning to school, Faßmann said:
    • The installation of an early warning system is in full swing. Wastewater analysis is a valuable tool to track infections. PCR tests from 300 selected schools, testing one class at a time, would be an additional way to identify regional hotspots. 
    • Testing: school students will be tested once a week using a non-invasive PCR test (Alles spült, or roughly translated "Everyone swills"), similar to the gargling test used in Vienna. In the initial three-week safety phase, there will be three tests a week. There may be a fourth test in Vienna. Test results will be recorded in the children's "Ninja Pass", which is their 3G proof. The frequency of testing after the safety phase will be based on the latest official epidemiological assessments.
    • Vaccination: this is decided by the federal provinces, but all those eligible are encouraged to get vaccinated. 
    • Air purification systems are being installed where ventilation is difficult.
  • In a televised briefing on Tuesday, Mayor Michael Ludwig said the City of Vienna would shorten the validity period of tests for access from 1 September: PCR tests from 72 to 48 hours, except for children under the age of 12, and antigen tests from 48 to 24 hours.
  • Ludwig emphasized the pandemic was not over. He said he believed there would be strongly rising numbers in the autumn because of more indoor activities, including schools, as well as the effect of the Delta variant.
  • Vaccination was the best protection, said the Mayor, although he was against mandatory vaccination. He said he hoped more people would get vaccinated as they return from their holidays.
  • In response to questions, the Mayor said possible further measures such as "1G" (vaccinated-only) access or mandatory FFP2 masks would be considered, also depending on decisions of the Federal Government. The key indicator would be the occupancy of hospitals and intensive care units.
  • The Mayor said the City would continue to offer testing free of charge for the time being.
  • The legal text on measures in place from 18 August in Austria is available here.
  • The latest update to the legal text (in German) on entering Austria is available here.
  • Austria's national vaccination dashboard is online here in English and German. It works best using Firefox or Google Chrome.
  • There is information on Austria's overall vaccination programme in German and on Vienna's programme in German with links to other languages, including English.
  • There is a wide range of information on COVID-19 measures, vaccination and testing in 17 different languages, including English, here.
  • Austrian officials encourage all those in Austria to download the Stopp Corona app to help with contact tracing. The app is available in English and German.
  • The official Austrian dashboard has the latest data on COVID-19. It is available in English as well as German and is updated each day at 14:00.
  • DISCLAIMER: The VBOs cannot vouch for legal accuracy or completeness of the summaries in this update. Personnel are advised to refer to the original legal texts and to make their own checks before travelling.

COVID-19 WEBSITE FOR ALL UN SYSTEM PERSONNEL (includes 24/7 COVID-19 helpline):

https://www.un.org/en/coronavirus/info-for-un-staff

FEEDBACK/SUGGESTIONS:

Please write to martin.nesirky@un.org

In today's update: 

  • Message from the four main Vienna International Centre (VIC)-based organizations 
  • Latest Austrian developments and measures 

NOTE: New items in bold 

MESSAGE FROM THE MAIN VIC-BASED ORGANIZATIONS (VBOs)

UNOV/UNODC – IAEA – UNIDO – CTBTO 

Information on the number of cases of SARS CoV-2 involving VBO personnel is available here. 

  • Updates will be issued whenever there is fresh information from the VBOs, the Host Country or the Host City.
  • Between updates, you can keep up to date and refer to previous material by visiting our VBO COVID-19 website.
  • On the site you can find all past updates and guidelines, including on the procedure for obtaining EU Digital COVID Certificates, as well as useful links including to official information in English and other languages.
  • No log-in is needed.
  • Link to the site: 

https://nucleus.iaea.org/sites/covid19/SitePages/Home.aspx  

VIC Medical Service update and reminders: 

The VIC Medical Service has issued updated guidelines for organizing in-person meetings at the VIC. They are available here. 

The VIC Medical Service reminds staff that masks must always be worn in meeting rooms and in all other common spaces in the VIC, including corridors, elevators, the Rotunda and kitchens, as well as the Commissary, banks and the post office.

The City of Vienna is offering vaccinations without prior booking at a number of sites and on two buses that are making stops around the city. A list of locations and a link to the bus routes is available here

Taking part in a national vaccination programme is in line with the practice of the other UN system organizations. As part of our occupational health measures, personnel from VBOs are encouraged to inform the VIC Medical Service when they are completely vaccinated, through EarthMed Portal. The steps to do so can be found in the update from 22 July, which is available here.

All personnel are encouraged to take advantage of the free COVID-19 testing services provided by the Austrian authorities. Those coming to the VIC are especially encouraged to test themselves weekly with either PCR or rapid antigen tests to contain the spread of COVID-19. Please note that no testing is required for entry to the VIC. You can find more information on how and where you can test yourself here.

LATEST AUSTRIAN DEVELOPMENTS AND MEASURES: 

  • In a televised briefing on Wednesday, Education Minister Heinz Fassmann and experts presented plans for the coming school year.
  • Fassmann said there was one declared policy goal: in-person schooling at all school types and levels.
  • This goal would be pursued using a four-point plan: vaccination, testing, air filtering and an early-warning system.
  • The early-warning system will consist of regional wastewater analysis to monitor for the virus locally, combined with testing at 300 selected schools that would regularly report data. This system would help identify local measures at schools.
  • During the first two weeks of the school year, there would be a "safety phase" in all schools with three weekly tests at school, including PCR tests using a mouth wash technique called "Alles spült" to be introduced in schools to be used at least once a week, in combination with antigen tests on other days. The "Alles spült" tests are modelled on existing "Alles gurgelt" tests first introduced in Vienna, but children will swill the solution in their closed mouths rather than gargling with open mouths. This will help avoid water droplets spreading.
  • The Education Minister added that the different provinces, including Vienna, may use different testing plans. Also, those vaccinated will have to participate in the tests during the safety phase. Masks will also have to be worn in schools, although they can be removed when children are seated in the classroom.
  • Details for the time after the two-week safety phase will be announced at a later stage, including on the test plans at schools. It is envisaged, for example, that vaccinated students would no longer have to be tested after the safety phase.
  • Vaccinations are a central element of the strategy. Vaccination buses are offering vaccinations at summer schools. The more students and staff who are vaccinated, the safer the schools will be, Fassmann said. So far, 19 per cent of 12- to 15-year-olds and 45 per cent of 16- to 19-year-olds have received at least one shot.
  • Air filters are to be installed in schools as an additional measure, but only in specific rooms where regular ventilation is not possible or where there are heightened aerosol levels, such as in music rooms.
  • Recommendations for kindergartens are also planned. These recommendations are under development and it is planned to publish them later this month.
  • The legal text on measures in place from 22 July in Austria is available here.
  • Updated information on SARS-CoV2 cases in Austria can be found in English and German on the COVID Dashboard of the Austrian Agency for Health and Food Safety (AGES) available here
  • The latest updates to the legal text (in German) on entering Austria are available here and here
  • Austria's national vaccination dashboard is online in English and German – it works best using Firefox or Google Chrome.
  • There is information on Austria's overall vaccination programme in German and on Vienna's programme in German.
  • There is a wide range of information on COVID-19 measures, vaccination and testing in 17 different languages, including English, here.
  • Austrian officials encourage all those in Austria to download the Stopp Corona app to help with contact tracing. The app is available in English and German.
  • The official Austrian dashboard has the latest data on COVID-19. It is available in English as well as German and is updated each day at 14:00.
  • DISCLAIMER: The VBOs cannot vouch for legal accuracy or completeness of the summaries in this update. Personnel are advised to refer to the original legal texts and to make their own checks before travelling.

COVID-19 WEBSITE FOR ALL UN SYSTEM PERSONNEL (includes 24/7 COVID-19 helpline): 

https://www.un.org/en/coronavirus/info-for-un-staff 

FEEDBACK/SUGGESTIONS: 

Please write to martin.nesirky@un.org

In today's update: 

  • Message from the four main Vienna International Centre (VIC)-based organizations 
  • Latest Austrian developments and measures 

NOTE: New items in bold 

MESSAGE FROM THE MAIN VIC-BASED ORGANIZATIONS (VBOs)

UNOV/UNODC – IAEA – UNIDO – CTBTO 

NOTE ON COVID-19 UPDATES: 

Weekly updates on the number of cases of SARS CoV-2 involving VBO personnel will no longer be issued. Updated information will remain available here. 

  • Updates will be issued whenever there is fresh information from the VBOs, the Host Country or the Host City.
  • Between updates, you can keep up to date and refer to previous material by visiting our VBO COVID-19 website.
  • On the site you can find all past updates and guidelines, including on the procedure for obtaining EU Digital COVID Certificates, as well as useful links including to official information in English and other languages.
  • No log-in is needed.
  • Link to the site: https://nucleus.iaea.org/sites/covid19/SitePages/Home.aspx  

VIC Medical Service update and reminders: 

The vaccination service of the City of Vienna announced that people may choose between BioNTech/Pfizer, Moderna and Johnson & Johnson vaccines from now on when making an appointment. (For those aged 12-18 only BioNTech/Pfizer is administered.) 

The City of Vienna is offering vaccinations without prior booking:

  • At the film festival on Rathausplatz, 3 July - 4 September, 17:00 – 22:00, using the Johnson & Johnson vaccine for those 18-plus and the BioNTech Pfizer vaccine for those under 18.
  • On Donauinsel near the U6 station Neue Donau, Fridays 14:00 - 22:00 and Saturdays and Sundays 11:00 – 22:00, using the Johnson & Johnson vaccine for those 18-plus and the BioNTech Pfizer vaccine for those under 18. 

Taking part in a national vaccination programme is in line with the practice of the other UN system organizations. In this context, and as part of our occupational health measures, personnel from VBOs are encouraged to inform the VIC Medical Service when they are completely vaccinated, through EarthMed Portal by following these steps:

    • From your official email address go to: https://medical.un.org/earthmedportal/
    • Click on the logo of your organization
    • Click on "Questionnaire"
    • Choose the questionnaire "COVID-19 Vaccination self-reporting"
    • Fill in the required information and upload your documentation as indicated.
    • Press "submit".

All personnel are encouraged to take advantage of the free COVID-19 testing services provided by the Austrian authorities. Those coming to the VIC are especially encouraged to test themselves weekly with either PCR or rapid antigen tests to contain the spread of COVID-19. Please note that no testing is required for entry to the VIC. You can find more information on how and where you can test yourself here. 

LATEST AUSTRIAN DEVELOPMENTS AND MEASURES: 

  • The City of Vienna announced that from Thursday, 22 July, masks will still be required in all shops and other retail premises as well as at indoor cultural venues, including cinemas.
  • From Thursday, all Austria's other provinces will not require masks, except, for example, in essential services such as supermarkets, pharmacies, banks and post offices. 
  • The legal text on measures in place from 22 July in Austria is available here.
  • Updated information on SARS-CoV2 cases in Austria can be found in English and German on the COVID Dashboard of the Austrian Agency for Health and Food Safety (AGES) available here
  • The latest updates to the legal text (in German) on entering Austria are available here and here
  • Austria's national vaccination dashboard is online in English and German – it works best using Firefox or Google Chrome.
  • There is information on Austria's overall vaccination programme in German and on Vienna's programme in German.
  • There is a wide range of information on COVID-19 measures, vaccination and testing in 17 different languages, including English, here.
  • Austrian officials encourage all those in Austria to download the Stopp Corona app to help with contact tracing. The app is available in English and German.
  • The official Austrian dashboard has the latest data on COVID-19. It is available in English as well as German and is updated each day at 14:00. 
  • DISCLAIMER: The VBOs cannot vouch for legal accuracy or completeness of the summaries in this update. Personnel are advised to refer to the original legal texts and to make their own checks before travelling. 

COVID-19 WEBSITE FOR ALL UN SYSTEM PERSONNEL (includes 24/7 COVID-19 helpline): 

https://www.un.org/en/coronavirus/info-for-un-staff 

FEEDBACK/SUGGESTIONS: 

Please write to martin.nesirky@un.org

In today's update: 

  • Message from the four main Vienna International Centre (VIC)-based organizations 
  • Latest Austrian developments and measures 

NOTE: New items in bold 

MESSAGE FROM THE MAIN VIC-BASED ORGANIZATIONS (VBOs)

UNOV/UNODC – IAEA – UNIDO – CTBTO 

Since Monday 12 July, the VIC Medical Service has been notified that two people who work for VBOs tested positive for SARS CoV-2. One person works for UNIDO and the other one for IAEA. Close contacts of one person who tested positive for SARS CoV-2 have been informed. For the other person there was no workplace exposure. When there is no workplace exposure it means the individual concerned was not at work during the time of potential infectivity. Weekly textual updates will be provided, usually on Mondays. 

Information on the numbers of SARS CoV-2 cases involving VBO personnel is available here and will be updated as necessary.

Important reminders: 

  • VIC personnel in a position to do so are strongly encouraged to get fully vaccinated. This is particularly important given the more transmissible Delta variant.
  • Those not yet fully vaccinated are strongly encouraged to get tested regularly, as recommended by the Austrian authorities.
  • Anyone entering the VIC - including VIC personnel, diplomats or conference participants - is strongly encouraged to ensure that they meet the criteria for posing a low epidemiological risk as defined by the Host Country legislation.
  • Additionally, in line with Host Country legislation and recommendations of the VIC Medical Service, conference participants are required to comply with the low epidemiological risk criteria at meetings, conferences or events with 100 or more participants.  
  • By swiping their grounds pass/badge, such participants entering the VIC will be declaring that they possess valid documentation meeting one or more of the 3G criteria as defined below. They will also confirm that they will produce the documentation to the conference, meeting or event organizers, organizations or VIC Medical Service if required.

According to Austrian law, low epidemiological risk is defined as meeting one or more of the following criteria, broadly referred to in German as "3G" - "geimpft, getestet, genesen" or "vaccinated, tested, recovered" in English:

·                    proof of a negative PCR test not older than 72 hours, or a rapid antigen test not older than 48 hours

·                    proof of COVID-19 vaccination between 22 days and 90 days after the first dose, or proof of a full vaccination not older than 270 days (see below on rule from 15 August); or

·                    a certificate of recovery from COVID-19 illness not older than 180 days, or proof of positive COVID-19 antibody test (with a result of 15 BAU or above) not older than 90 days. 

COVID Vaccination Certificates to facilitate travel 

International vaccination booklet:

 - Entry of the vaccination into the international vaccination booklet (yellow booklet) is globally the most widely accepted certificate for vaccination for international travel. This proof of vaccination is also valid for travel within many countries in the EU. However, travellers should check the exact requirements for their destination country or countries. 

- If you received your vaccination in Austria, your vaccination should normally have been entered into your yellow booklet. If the proof of COVID vaccination was not entered into your booklet, VIC Medical Service can transfer vaccinations received by VBO personnel outside Austria into the yellow booklet, based on valid documentation provided (CDC cards, NHS vaccination cards, etc.). 

EU Digital COVID Certificates:

- As an alternative to the yellow booklet, an EU Digital COVID Certificate (including an EU-compliant QR code) has been created to further simplify travel within the EU, the EEA countries and Switzerland. The EU Digital COVID Certificates issued in Austria are implemented in accordance with the EU requirements (including related QR code) in both analogue (printed) and digital form. 

Personnel with an Austrian social security number and/or an ecard, i.e. individuals who are covered under the Austrian health insurance scheme, would normally be sent an EU Digital Certificate related to their COVID vaccination via email and/or by regular mail. Printouts can also be obtained free of charge from most pharmacies (including the pharmacy at the VIC), doctors, service points of the Austrian health insurance (ÖGK) and municipal offices. Printouts are also available from the vaccination service at the Austria Center. 

Personnel without an Austrian social security number who have been vaccinated by the City of Vienna (e.g. the vaccination campaign for the diplomatic community) must first be entered into the registry and obtain an Austrian social security number in order to obtain the EU Digital COVID Certificate and are advised to follow these steps (Details of the process, required information and points of contact can be found here):

  1. Submit an application to the Federal Ministry for Digitization and Business Location (Bundesministerium für Digitalisierung und Wirtschaftsstandort) for an entry into the supplementary register for natural persons (Ergänzungsregister für natürliche Personen - ERnP).  Personnel with a valid "Meldezettel" may skip this step (Note: a legitimation card is not considered a "Meldezettel".)
  2. Once registration has been completed, submit an application to the Austrian Health Insurance Fund (ÖGK) requesting a social security number.
  3. When a social security number has been provided, a request to retroactively record the vaccination into the electronic vaccination record (ELGA) can be submitted to the City of Vienna. This will enable a printout of the EU Digital Certificate with a QR code to be obtained free of charge, e.g. in pharmacies or directly at the Austria Centre (as noted above). 


- Personnel vaccinated outside of Austria should consult the vaccination authority of the place of vaccination regarding eligibility for the EU Digital COVID Certificate. Only vaccines approved by the EU are eligible for inclusion in the EU Digital COVID Certificate. 

- The EU Digital COVID Certificate for COVID tests performed by authorized bodies in Austria (pharmacies, test lanes, laboratories, "Alles Gurgelt, etc.) is also available. Test certificates are issued with an EU-compliant QR code and can, as required, also be used to facilitate travel within Europe. Finally, in accordance with EU requirements, the EU Digital Certificate standard can also be used for recovery certificates. 

Handy Signature for a Digital EU "Green Pass":

- Although not required, personnel may also choose to store their "EU Digital COVID Certificate" in digital form. The EU standard QR code contains the relevant information regarding vaccination or test and a clear printout of this code enables retrieval. The QR code can also be stored in a "digital wallet" that Austria and several European countries have launched as a "Green Pass". After downloading the App you can scan the QR code of a "EU Digital COVID Certificate". The Austrian App ("Gruene Pass") can also load the electronic files that are available from the Austrian centrally stored 3G records (ELGA). To obtain access to the Austrian centrally stored 3G records, a mobile phone signature – "Handy Signature" is required. This can be obtained with a valid national passport and an Austrian cell phone from any of the following:

-          At the Vienna Service Office in the VIC:

Vienna Service Office C-OE14

Vienna International Centre

Phone          +43 1 26026 4234,  +43 1 4000 82577

Mobile:          +43 676 811 800 980

E-Mail:           ViennaServiceOffice@wien.gv.at

Office hours: Monday to Wednesday, Friday 08:00 a.m. – 3.00 p.m.

-          At any registration office ( locations can be found at https://www.handy-signatur.at/hs2/#!infos/getyourhandysignatur-registration)

-          The City of Vienna has set up a walk-in registration office in the Volkshalle in the City Hall (opening hours: Monday-Friday, 7:30 am - 5:00 pm). No pre-registration is necessary here!

-          In the district offices of the City of Vienna with pre-registration!

-          Stores of the mobile phone provider A1

- Once this is done, it is possible to access the digital "Green Pass," register in the Austrian health care system at https://www.gesundheit.gv.at/service/gruener-pass/hilfe using social security number and mobile phone signature.
 

VIC Medical Service update and reminders: 

The City of Vienna is offering vaccinations without prior booking:

  • At the film festival on Rathausplatz, 3 July - 4 September, 17:00 – 22:00, using the Johnson & Johnson vaccine for those 18-plus and the BioNTech Pfizer vaccine for those under 18.
  • On Donauinsel near the U6 station Neue Donau, Fridays 14:00 - 22:00 and Saturdays and Sundays 11:00 – 22:00, using the Johnson & Johnson vaccine for those 18-plus and the BioNTech Pfizer vaccine for those under 18. 

Taking part in a national vaccination programme is in line with the practice of the other UN system organizations. In this context, and as part of our occupational health measures, personnel from VBOs are encouraged to inform the VIC Medical Service when they are completely vaccinated, through EarthMed Portal by following these steps:

    • From your official email address go to: https://medical.un.org/earthmedportal/
    • Click on the logo of your organization
    • Click on "Questionnaire"
    • Choose the questionnaire "COVID-19 Vaccination self-reporting"
    • Fill in the required information and upload your documentation as indicated.
    • Press "submit".

All personnel are encouraged to take advantage of the free COVID-19 testing services provided by the Austrian authorities. Those coming to the VIC are especially encouraged to test themselves weekly with either PCR or rapid antigen tests to contain the spread of COVID-19. Please note that no testing is required for entry to the VIC. You can find more information on how and where you can test yourself here. 

LATEST AUSTRIAN DEVELOPMENTS AND MEASURES: 

  • Late last week, the Austrian Government announced targeted measures aimed at reducing the rise in infections, some 90 per cent of which are the Delta variant.
  • From Thursday, 22 July:
  • To enter restaurants, bars and clubs operating at night either a negative PCR test not older than 72 hours or proof of vaccination will be required.
  • From Sunday, 15 August:
  • Full vaccination will be needed as proof of low epidemiological risk. This means from the day of the second shot of a two-dose vaccination or 22 days after the single-jab Johnson & Johnson vaccination. (The requirements for tests and proof of recovery are not scheduled to change.)
  • The legal text on measures in place from 22 July in Austria is available here.
  • The latest figures from the Austrian agency for health and food safety (AGES) show 31.1 per cent of new cases reported in the week 5-11 July were linked to travel, compared with 25.3 per cent the week before. Household infections were 33.4 per cent and 49.4 percent respectively.
  • The legal text on additional measures in place from 1 July in Vienna is available here.
  • The latest updates to the legal text (in German) on entering Austria are available here and here
  • Austria's national vaccination dashboard is online in English and German – it works best using Firefox or Google Chrome.
  • There is information on Austria's overall vaccination programme in German and on Vienna's programme in German.
  • There is a wide range of information on COVID-19 measures, vaccination and testing in 17 different languages, including English, here.
  • Austrian officials encourage all those in Austria to download the Stopp Corona app to help with contact tracing. The app is available in English and German.
  • The official Austrian dashboard has the latest data on COVID-19. It is available in English as well as German and is updated each day at 14:00. 
  • DISCLAIMER: The VBOs cannot vouch for legal accuracy or completeness of the summaries in this update. Personnel are advised to refer to the original legal texts and to make their own checks before travelling. 

 NOTE ON COVID-19 UPDATES: 

  • Updates are issued whenever there is fresh information from the VBOs or the Host Country.
  • Between updates, you can keep up to date and refer to previous material by visiting our VBO COVID-19 website.
  • On the site you can find all updates, guidelines, reminders and messages issued so far, as well as useful links including to official information in English and other languages.
  • No log-in is needed.
  • Link to the site: 

https://nucleus.iaea.org/sites/covid19/SitePages/Home.aspx 

COVID-19 WEBSITE FOR ALL UN SYSTEM PERSONNEL (includes 24/7 COVID-19 helpline): 

https://www.un.org/en/coronavirus/info-for-un-staff 

FEEDBACK/SUGGESTIONS: 

Please write to martin.nesirky@un.org

In today's update:

  • Message from the four main Vienna International Centre (VIC)-based organizations 
  • Latest Austrian developments and measures

NOTE: New items in bold

MESSAGE FROM THE MAIN VIC-BASED ORGANIZATIONS (VBOs)

UNOV/UNODC – IAEA – UNIDO – CTBTO

Since Monday 5 July until 12 July, the VIC Medical Service has been notified that four people who work for VBOs tested positive for SARS CoV-2. Two work for UNIDO, one for UNOV/UNODC and one for IAEA. There was no workplace exposure. When there is no workplace exposure it means the individual concerned was not at work during the time of potential infectivity. Weekly textual updates will be provided, usually on Mondays.

Information on the numbers of SARS CoV-2 cases involving VBO personnel is available here and will be updated as necessary.

COVID Vaccination Certificates to facilitate travel

International vaccination booklet:

 - Entry of the vaccination into the international vaccination booklet (yellow booklet) is globally the most widely accepted certificate for vaccination for international travel. This proof of vaccination is also valid for travel within the EU. 

- If you received your vaccination in Austria, your vaccination should normally have been entered into your yellow booklet. If the proof of COVID vaccination was not entered into your booklet, VIC Medical Service offers to transfer vaccinations from outside Austria into the yellow booklet, based on valid documentation provided (CDC cards, NHS vaccination cards, etc.). 

EU Digital COVID Certificates:

- As an alternative to the yellow booklet, an EU Digital COVID Certificate (including an EU-compliant QR code) has been created to further simplify travel within the EU, the EEA countries and Switzerland. The EU Digital COVID Certificates issued in Austria are implemented in accordance with the EU requirements (including related QR code) in both analogue (printed) and digital form. 

Personnel with an Austrian social security number and/or an ecard, i.e. individuals who are covered under the Austrian health insurance scheme, would normally be sent an EU Digital Certificate related to their COVID vaccination via email and/or by regular mail. Printouts can also be obtained free of charge from most pharmacies (including the pharmacy at the VIC), doctors, service points of the Austrian health insurance (ÖGK) and municipal offices. Printouts are also available from the vaccination service at the Austria Center. 

Personnel without an Austrian social security number who have been vaccinated by the City of Vienna (e.g. the vaccination campaign for the diplomatic community) must first be entered into the registry and obtain an Austrian social security number in order to obtain the EU Digital COVID Certificate and are advised to follow these steps (Details of the process, required information and points of contact can be found here):

1.      Submit an application to the Federal Ministry for Digitization and Business Location (Bundesministerium für Digitalisierung und Wirtschaftsstandort) for an entry into the supplementary register for natural persons (Ergänzungsregister für natürliche Personen - ERnP).  Personnel with a valid "Meldezettel" may skip this step (Note: a legitimation card is not considered a "Meldezettel".)

2.       Once registration has been completed, submit an application to the Austrian Health Insurance Fund (ÖGK) requesting a social security number.

3.       When a social security number has been provided, a request to retroactively record the vaccination into the electronic vaccination record (ELGA) can be submitted to the City of Vienna. This will enable a printout of the EU Digital Certificate with a QR code to be obtained free of charge, e.g. in pharmacies or directly at the Austria Centre (as noted above). 

- Personnel vaccinated outside of Austria should consult the vaccination authority of the place of vaccination regarding eligibility for the EU Digital COVID Certificate. Only vaccines approved by the EU are eligible for inclusion in the EU Digital COVID Certificate. 

- The EU Digital COVID Certificate for COVID tests performed by authorized bodies in Austria (pharmacies, test lanes, laboratories, "Alles Gurgelt, etc.) is also available. Test certificates are issued with an EU-compliant QR code and can, as required, also be used to facilitate travel within Europe. Finally, in accordance with EU requirements, the EU Digital Certificate standard can also be used for recovery certificates. 

Handy Signature for a Digital EU "Green Pass":

- Although not required, personnel may also choose to store their "EU Digital COVID Certificate" in digital form. The EU standard QR code contains the relevant information regarding vaccination or test and a clear printout of this code enables retrieval. The QR code can also be stored in a "digital wallet" that Austria and several European countries have launched as a "Green Pass". After downloading the App you can scan the QR code of a "EU Digital COVID Certificate". The Austrian App ("Gruene Pass") can also load the electronic files that are available from the Austrian centrally stored 3G records (ELGA). To obtain access to the Austrian centrally stored 3G records, a mobile phone signature – "Handy Signature" is required. This can be obtained with a valid national passport and an Austrian cell phone from any of the following:

At the Vienna Service Office in the VIC:

Vienna Service Office C-OE14
Vienna International Centre

Phone:     +43 1 26026 4234,  +43 1 4000 82577
Mobile:    +43 676 811 800 980
E-Mail:      ViennaServiceOffice@wien.gv.at

Office hours: Monday to Wednesday, Friday 08:00 a.m. – 3.00 p.m.

-          At any registration office ( locations can be found at https://www.handy-signatur.at/hs2/#!infos/getyourhandysignatur-registration)

-          The City of Vienna has set up a walk-in registration office in the Volkshalle in the City Hall (opening hours: Monday-Friday, 7:30 am - 5:00 pm). No pre-registration is necessary here!

-          In the district offices of the City of Vienna with pre-registration!

-          Stores of the mobile phone provider A1

- Once this is done, it is possible to access the digital "Green Pass," register in the Austrian health care system at https://www.gesundheit.gv.at/service/gruener-pass/hilfe using social security number and mobile phone signature. 

VIC Medical Service update and reminders: 

Updated vaccination guidelines from the Austrian National Vaccination Council

Key points:

  • Vaccination after PCR-confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection: Latest guidance provides that after laboratory-confirmed (by means of a PCR test) diagnosis of SARS-CoV-2 infection, vaccination is recommended from approximately 4 weeks after infection or illness (after recovery) in order to ensure the best possible protection against the Delta variant.
  • A single vaccination is sufficient for people who have been infected, confirmed by PCR or neutralizing antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 (neutralization tests / corresponding NT correlates), even if the infection was more than 8 months ago. The use of one dose of a two-dose vaccine after recovery is not an official indication from the manufacturer but from an immunological point of view, this corresponds to a booster shot. According to Austrian authorities, studies show that those previously infected only need one vaccination to obtain protection comparable to that of non-previously infected, regularly vaccinated people following the regular vaccination schedule for the relevant vaccination. Please note that regardless of the medical / immunological assessment, for vaccines where 2 doses are normally recommended, a second dose may be required for some international travel. In such cases, individuals who would not otherwise need one, may be given a second dose to facilitate international travel. This would be given in line with the approved vaccination interval between the two doses and must be given if requested.  Those who have already recovered may experience an increased tendency to have vaccine side effects, if vaccinated twice. 

The City of Vienna is offering vaccinations without prior booking:

  • At the film festival on Rathausplatz, 3 July - 4 September, 17:00 – 22:00, using the Johnson&Johnson vaccine for those 18-plus and the Biontech Pfizer vaccine for those under 18.
  • On Donauinsel near the U6 station Neue Donau, Fridays 14:00 - 22:00 and Saturdays and Sundays 11:00 – 22:00, using the Johnson&Johnson vaccine for those 18-plus and the Biontech Pfizer vaccine for those under 18.
  • At the Austria Centre Vienna 12 – 18 July July 07:00 – 19:00 using the Johnson&Johnson vaccine for those 18-plus. 

Taking part in a national vaccination programme is in line with the practice of the other UN system organizations. In this context, and as part of our occupational health measures, personnel from VBOs are invited to inform the VIC Medical Service when they are completely vaccinated, through EarthMed Portal by following these steps:

    • From your official email address go to: https://medical.un.org/earthmedportal/
    • Click on the logo of your organization
    • Click on "Questionnaire"
    • Choose the questionnaire "COVID-19 Vaccination self-reporting"
    • Fill in the required information and upload your documentation as indicated.
    • Press "submit".

All personnel are encouraged to take advantage of the free COVID-19 testing services provided by the Austrian authorities. Those coming to the VIC are especially encouraged to test themselves weekly with either PCR or rapid antigen tests to contain the spread of COVID-19. Please note that no testing is required for entry to the VIC. You can find more information on how and where you can test yourself here. 

LATEST AUSTRIAN DEVELOPMENTS AND MEASURES: 

  • The legal text on measures in place from 1 July in Austria is available here.
  • The legal text on additional measures in place from 1 July in Vienna is available here.
  • A summary of both is available in the VBO update dated 30 June.
  • The text of the latest amendment to the Epidemics Law 1950 and the COVID-19 Measures Law is available (in German) here.
  • A new legal text on fines under the COVID-19 Measures Law, enabling the police to impose fines for not adhering to "3G" (vaccinated, tested, recovered) access rules is available here.
  • The latest updates to the legal text (in German) on entering Austria are available here and here
  • A summary is available in the VBO update dated 30 June.
  • Austria's national vaccination dashboard is online in English and German – it works best using Firefox or Google Chrome.
  • There is information on Austria's overall vaccination programme in German and on Vienna's programme in German.
  • There is a wide range of information on COVID-19 measures, vaccination and testing in 17 different languages, including English, here.
  • Austrian officials encourage all those in Austria to download the Stopp Corona app to help with contact tracing. The app is available in English and German.
  • The official Austrian dashboard has the latest data on COVID-19. It is available in English as well as German and is updated each day at 14:00.
  • DISCLAIMER: The VBOs cannot vouch for legal accuracy or completeness of the summaries in this update. Personnel are advised to refer to the original legal texts. 

 NOTE ON COVID-19 UPDATES: 

COVID-19 WEBSITE FOR ALL UN SYSTEM PERSONNEL (includes 24/7 COVID-19 helpline): https://www.un.org/en/coronavirus/info-for-un-staff 

FEEDBACK/SUGGESTIONS: Please write to sonja.wintersberger@un.org


In today's update: 

  • Message from the four main Vienna International Centre (VIC)-based organizations 
  • Latest Austrian developments and measures 

NOTE: New items in bold 

MESSAGE FROM THE MAIN VIC-BASED ORGANIZATIONS (VBOs)

UNOV/UNODC – IAEA – UNIDO – CTBTO 

Further to the information on measures in place at the VIC from 1 July 2021 outlined in the VIC COVID-19 update dated 30 June, personnel are advised that:

  • Masks are not required outdoors, for example in the Plaza.
  • The maximum number of people allowed in each elevator remains four.
  • Masks must be worn at Security checkpoints whether on foot, in a vehicle or on a motorcycle or bicycle.

Since Tuesday 29 June, the VIC Medical Service has been notified that one person who works for VBOs tested positive for SARS CoV-2. The person works for UNIDO. There was no workplace exposure. When there is no workplace exposure it means the individual concerned was not at work during the time of potential infectivity. Weekly textual updates will be provided, usually on Mondays. 

Information on the numbers of SARS CoV-2 cases involving VBO personnel is available here and will be updated as necessary. 

VIC Medical Service update and reminders: 

The City of Vienna is offering vaccinations without prior booking:

  • At the film festival on Rathausplatz, 3 July - 4 September, 17:00 – 22:00, using the Johnson&Johnson vaccine for those 18-plus and the Biontech Pfizer vaccine for those under 18.
  • At the Austria Centre Vienna 5-11 July 07:00 – 19:00 using the Astra Zeneca vaccine for those 18-plus.

The Austrian authorities have given some details on the way those without an e-card or Austrian social security number will be able to get a QR code in a digital "green pass" to indicate 3G status. The VBOs are clarifying some aspects of this and will inform VIC personnel as soon as possible how the scheme will work. 

Taking part in a national vaccination programme is in line with the practice of the other UN system organizations. In this context, and as part of our occupational health measures, personnel from VBOs are invited to inform the VIC Medical Service when they are completely vaccinated, through EarthMed Portal by following these steps:

    • From your official email address go to: https://medical.un.org/earthmedportal/
    • Click on the logo of your organization
    • Click on "Questionnaire"
    • Choose the questionnaire "COVID-19 Vaccination self-reporting"
    • Fill in the required information and upload your documentation as indicated.
    • Press "submit".

All personnel are encouraged to take advantage of the free COVID-19 testing services provided by the Austrian authorities. Those coming to the VIC are especially encouraged to test themselves weekly with either PCR or rapid antigen tests to contain the spread of COVID-19. Please note that no testing is required for entry to the VIC. You can find more information on how and where you can test yourself here. 

LATEST AUSTRIAN DEVELOPMENTS AND MEASURES: 

  • The legal text on measures in place from 1 July in Austria is available here.
  • The legal text on additional measures in place from 1 July in Vienna is available here.
  • A summary of both is available in the VIC COVID-19 update dated 30 June.
  • The text of the latest amendment to the Epidemics Law 1950 and the COVID-19 Measures Law is available (in German) here.
  • The updated legal text (in German) on entering Austria is available here
  • A summary is available in the VIC COVID-19 update dated 30 June.
  • Austria's national vaccination dashboard is online in English and German – it works best using Firefox or Google Chrome.
  • There is information on Austria's overall vaccination programme in German and on Vienna's programme in German.
  • There is a wide range of information on COVID-19 measures, vaccination and testing in 17 different languages, including English, here.
  • Austrian officials encourage all those in Austria to download the Stopp Corona app to help with contact tracing. The app is available in English and German.
  • The official Austrian dashboard has the latest data on COVID-19. It is available in English as well as German and is updated each day at 14:00. 
  • DISCLAIMER: The VBOs cannot vouch for legal accuracy or completeness of the summaries in this update. Personnel are advised to refer to the original legal texts. 

 NOTE ON COVID-19 UPDATES: 

COVID-19 WEBSITE FOR ALL UN SYSTEM PERSONNEL (includes 24/7 COVID-19 helpline):

https://www.un.org/en/coronavirus/info-for-un-staff 

FEEDBACK/SUGGESTIONS: 

Please write to sonja.wintersberger@un.org

In today’s update:

  • Message from the four main Vienna International Centre (VIC)-based organizations
  • Latest Austrian developments and measures

NOTE: New items in bold

MESSAGE FROM THE MAIN VIC-BASED ORGANIZATIONS (VBOs) UNOV/UNODC – IAEA – UNIDO – CTBTO

From 1 July 2021, the VIC will be accessible again to family members, retirees, private visitors and accredited journalists.

From that date, anyone entering the VIC - including VIC personnel, diplomats and conference participants - is strongly encouraged to ensure that they meet the criteria for posing a low epidemiological risk as defined by the Host Country legislation.

Additionally, in line with Host Country legislation and recommendations of the VIC Medical Service, conference participants are required to comply with the low epidemiological risk criteria at meetings, conferences and events with 100 or more participants.

By swiping their grounds pass/badge, these meeting participants entering the VIC will be declaring that they possess valid documentation meeting one or more of the 3G criteria as defined below. They will also confirm that they will produce the documentation to the conference, meeting and event organizers, organizations or VIC Medical Service if required.

According to Austrian law, low epidemiological risk applies to people older than 12 and is defined as meeting one or more of the following criteria, broadly referred to in German as “3G” - “geimpft, getestet, genesen” or “vaccinated, tested, recovered” in English:

  • proof of a negative PCR test not older than 72 hours, or a rapid antigen test not older than 48 hours
  • proof of COVID-19 vaccination between 22 days and 90 days after the first dose, or proof of a full vaccination not older than 270 days; or
  • a certificate of recovery from COVID-19 illness not older than 180 days, or proof of positive COVID-19 antibody test (with a result of 15 BAU or above) not older than 90 days.
  • VIC Medical Service update and reminders:

    Measures at the VIC will continue to be aligned with recommendations and assessments of the Austrian Authorities and the VIC Medical Service.

    In this context, with mitigation measures in place at the VIC and an increasing percentage of vaccinated people, the residual infection/transmission risk at the workplace is considered low. This allows the safe return of all personnel to the VIC, including those who are not yet fully vaccinated or do not wish to or are not able to be vaccinated.

    VIC personnel in a position to do so are strongly encouraged to get fully vaccinated. This is particularly important given the more transmissible Delta variant.

    Those not yet fully vaccinated are strongly encouraged to get tested regularly, as recommended by the Austrian authorities.

    From 1 July 2021, in line with Host Country regulations, a close-fitting mouth-nose covering (mask) will be accepted in lieu of an FFP2 mask where masks are required.

    Masks will be required in all common/public locations and settings at the VIC, including the pharmacy, cafeteria, bank, Commissary and other indoor services as well as in elevators and hallways.

    From 1 July 2021, there will be no more minimal distancing requirement under the Host Country regulations. All personnel are encouraged to continue to take precautionary measures such as keeping one metre distance at the VIC.

    As a precautionary measure, the minimum distance requirement of one metre between workstations will continue in shared offices. Together with the air conditioning system that uses fresh air the residual risk is considered very low.

    Staff are reminded of their own responsibility not to come to work when feeling ill.

    --------

    The Austrian authorities have given some details on the way those without an e-card or Austrian social security number will be able to get a QR code in a digital “green pass” to indicate 3G status. The VBOs are clarifying some aspects of this and will inform VIC personnel as soon as possible how the scheme will work.

    • - Personnel who registered for the international community vaccination programme but did not receive an e-mail with a link to book an appointment should book their appointment by telephone by calling 1450. This is because personnel who registered for the Austrian vaccination programme for the international community after a certain date did not, and will not, receive an email with a link to book an appointment.
    • - The Austrian Foreign Ministry and City of Vienna said the programme for the international community continues to operate. The waiting time for slots to open up is between one week and 10 days.
    • - The international community vaccination programme is open to personnel who work in Vienna for an international organization regardless of whether they have a Vienna home address or live in another province. Personnel who encounter difficulties with booking an appointment because they do not live in Vienna should call 1450.
    • - People who have been diagnosed with PCR-confirmed COVID-19 will not be vaccinated for the following 6 to 8 months under the current Austrian vaccination programme. VIC Medical Service advises affected personnel to try booking an appointment under the general vaccination programme at a later stage.
    • - At the Austria Centre Vienna, all those being vaccinated are required to fill out a health check form.
    • - The form is available at the vaccination centre, but you can also print it out and fill it in beforehand.
    • - The form is in German. There is an English translation available to assist those who do not speak German. The German form must be completed. The English version is just for reference.
    • - More detailed information on the Austrian vaccination programme for the international community, including VIC personnel, can be found in the 31 May update.
    • - Taking part in a national vaccination programme is in line with the practice of the other UN system organizations. In this context, and as part of our occupational health measures, personnel from VBOs are invited to inform the VIC Medical Service when they are completely vaccinated, through EarthMed Portal by following these steps:
      • o From your official email address go to:
      • EarthMed Portal
    • o Click on the logo of your organization
    • o Click on “Questionnaire”
    • o Choose the questionnaire “COVID-19 Vaccination self-reporting”
    • o Fill in the required information and upload your documentation as indicated.
    • o Press “submit”.

    All personnel are encouraged to take advantage of the free COVID-19 testing services provided by the Austrian authorities. Those coming to the VIC are especially encouraged to test themselves weekly with either PCR or rapid antigen tests to contain the spread of COVID-19. Please note that no testing is required for entry to the VIC. You can find more information on how and where you can test yourself here.

    Information on the numbers of SARS CoV-2 cases involving VBO personnel is available here and will be updated as necessary.

    LATEST AUSTRIAN DEVELOPMENTS AND MEASURES:

    • From 1 July the following changes will come into effect in Austria. The list includes additional measures Major Michael Ludwig announced on Wednesday for the City of Vienna.
      • • The 3G rule of access only for those vaccinated, tested or recovered will continue to apply where it does now.
      • • The limits on group sizes in restaurants and cultural venues and on participants at events will be lifted.
      • • Contact tracing will be maintained throughout the summer in Vienna, including in restaurants.
      • • Gatherings with 100 or more participants are subject to the 3G rule. Advance notification or approval by local authorities will be required from organizers of events above certain participant numbers.
      • • In Austria, the 3G rule will be required from children from the age of 12. In Vienna, children from the age of six will need to provide a proof of negative PCR or antigen tests, or recovery to gain access.
      • • FFP2 masks will generally no longer be required except in very specific settings. Other types of masks can be worn in settings where masks are required.
      • • FFP2 masks will be required when visiting a hospitalin Vienna and access will continue to be limited.
      • • Masks will not be required at hairdressers or for similar personal services.
      • • The COVID-19 curfew hour (24:00) will be removed altogether and nightclubs can open, but with 75 per cent capacity.
      • • In Vienna, antigen tests done at home, with a 24-hour validity, will no longer be valid for 3G access. Antigen tests will only be valid if done in controlled settings like test centres and pharmacies.
      • - The text of the latest amendment to the Epidemics Law 1950 and the COVID-19 Measures Law is available (in German) here.

        - The updated legal text (in German) on entering Austria is available here.

        - There are three categories of countries and territories:

        • • Annex 1: Low epidemiological risk. Entry with 3G or test within 24 hours after entry.
        • • Annex 2: Virus variant areas: no entry, with some exceptions. PCR test and quarantine. Holders of a legitimation card and duty travel to Vienna exempt from quarantine.
        • • Other countries and territories: Entry with 3G and quarantine. Holders of a legitimation card, duty travel to Vienna and those 14 days who have been fully immunized for a minimum of 14 days are exempt from quarantine.
        • - Testing after entry to Austria no longer accepted for travellers from Annex 2 areas and other countries and territories.

          - All those entering Austria from high-risk areas need to complete an online pre-clearance form in English or German, regardless of whether they have diplomatic status.

          - Austria’s national vaccination dashboard is online in English and German – it works best using Firefox or Google Chrome.

          - There is information on Austria’s overall vaccination programme in German and on Vienna’s programme in German.

          - There is a wide range of information on COVID-19 measures, vaccination and testing in 17 different languages, including English, here.

          - Austrian officials encourage all those in Austria to download the English Stopp Corona app to help with contact tracing. The app is available in English and German.

          - The official Austrian dashboard has the latest data on COVID-19. It is available in English as well as German and is updated each day at 1400.

          DISCLAIMER: The VBOs cannot vouch for legal accuracy or completeness of the summaries in this update. Personnel are advised to refer to the original legal texts.

        NOTE ON COVID-19 UPDATES:

        Updates are issued whenever there is fresh information from the VBOs or the Host Country.

        Between updates, you can keep up to date and refer to previous material by visiting our VBO COVID-19 website.

        On the site you can find all updates, guidelines, reminders and messages issued so far, as well as useful links including to official information in English and other languages.

        No log-in is needed.

        Link to the site:

        You can also find updated resources on carrying out tasks and maintaining health and wellbeing here

        COVID-19 WEBSITE FOR ALL UN SYSTEM PERSONNEL(includes 24/7 COVID-19 helpline):

        FEEDBACK/SUGGESTIONS: Please write to martin.nesirky@un.org

In today’s update:

  • Message from the four main Vienna International Centre (VIC)-based organizations
  • Latest Austrian developments and measures

NOTE: New items in bold

MESSAGE FROM THE MAIN VIC-BASED ORGANIZATIONS (VBOs) UNOV/UNODC – IAEA – UNIDO – CTBTO

The VBOs note the Austrian authorities have published legislation covering the eased measures that will take effect from Thursday 1 July. The VBOs will soon advise what measures will be in place at the VIC from that date.

From Monday 21 June, the VIC Medical Service has been notified that four people who work for VBOs tested positive for SARS CoV-2. Three work for UNIDO and one for UNODC/UNOV. There was no workplace exposure. When there is no workplace exposure it means the individual concerned was not at work during the time of potential infectivity. Weekly textual updates will be provided, usually on Mondays.

The information on the numbers of SARS CoV-2 cases involving VBO personnel is available here

VIC Medical Service update and reminders:

Personnel who registered for the international community vaccination programme but did not receive an e-mail with a link to book an appointment should book their appointment by telephone by calling 1450. This is because personnel who registered for the Austrian vaccination programme for the international community after a certain date did not, and will not, receive an email with a link to book an appointment.

- The Austrian Foreign Ministry and City of Vienna said the programme for the international community continues to operate. The waiting time for slots to open up is between one week and 10 days.

The international community vaccination programme is open to personnel who work in Vienna for an international organization regardless of whether they have a Vienna home address or live in another province. Personnel who encounter difficulties with booking an appointment because they do not live in Vienna should call 1450.

People who have been diagnosed with PCR-confirmed COVID-19 will not be vaccinated for the following 6 to 8 months under the current Austrian vaccination programme. VIC Medical Service advises affected personnel to try booking an appointment under the general vaccination programme at a later stage.

At the Austria Centre Vienna, all those being vaccinated are required to fill out a health check form.

The form is available at the vaccination centre, but you can also print it out and fill it in beforehand.

The form is in German. There is an English translation available to assist those who do not speak German. The German form must be completed. The English version is just for reference.

More detailed information on the Austrian vaccination programme for the international community, including VIC personnel, can be found in the 31 May update.

Taking part in a national vaccination programme is in line with the practice of the other UN system organizations. In this context, and as part of our occupational health measures, personnel from VBOs are invited to inform the VIC Medical Service when they are completely vaccinated, through EarthMed Portal by following these steps:

  • From your official email address go to: https://medical.un.org/earthmedportal/
  • Click on the logo of your organization
  • Click on “Questionnaire”
  • Choose the questionnaire “COVID-19 Vaccination self-reporting”
  • Fill in the required information and upload your documentation as indicated.
  • Press “submit”.
  • The VBOs and the VIC Medical Service remain in touch with the Host Country authorities to ascertain how those in the international community without an e-card or Austrian social security number will be able to register their vaccinations digitally for the “green pass”. As soon as details are available from the Austrian authorities, they will be communicated.

All personnel are encouraged to take advantage of the free COVID-19 testing services provided by the Austrian authorities. Those coming to the VIC are especially encouraged to test themselves weekly with either PCR or rapid antigen tests to contain the spread of COVID-19. Please note that no testing is required for entry to the VIC. You can find more information on how and where you can test yourself here here.

All personnel are reminded to follow the precautionary measures such as keeping one metre distance, and wearing FFP2 masks as required, including in the meeting rooms when speaking, to help prevent the spread of COVID-19 at the VIC. You can watch a short video with measures here.

LATEST AUSTRIAN DEVELOPMENTS AND MEASURES:

  • More than 4.4 million people – 50.14 per cent of those living in Austria - have received at least one vaccination shot, Health Minister Wolfgang Mückstein said on Monday.
  • “The pace of COVID-19 vaccinations remains high,” Mückstein said, urging those requiring a second shot to get it.
  • The vaccination rate among younger age groups has increased sharply in recent days, the minister said.
    • Late on Monday, the Austrian authorities published legislation that covers the easing of measures from 1 July. See below.

    From Thursday 10 June the following changes took effect across the whole country:

    • In restaurants, eight adults – and their children - will be able to sit at a table indoors and 16 outdoors. Closing time will be 24:00. Minimal distancing will be reduced to one metre from the current two metres.
    • In the cultural sector, venues can be filled to 75 per cent of capacity.
    • In the recreation, sports and retail sector, the minimum space per person will be reduced from 20 to 10 square metres per person.
    • The pre-travel clearance form for entering Austria will be required only for travellers arriving from high-risk areas.
    • Note: the “3G rule” of access only for those vaccinated, tested or recovered will continue to apply where it applies now. This includes children over the age of 10.

    From 1 July the following changes will come into effect in Austria. (Please note the City of Vienna may announce separate measures):

    • The 3G rule will continue to apply where it does now.
    • The limits on group sizes in restaurants and cultural venues and on participants at events will be lifted.
    • Gatherings with 100 or more participants are subject to the 3G rule. Advance notification or approval by local authorities will be required from organizers of events above certain participant numbers.
    • 3G rule will be required from children from the age of 12.
    • FFP2 masks will generally no longer be required except in very specific settings. Other types of masks can be worn in settings where masks are required.
    • Masks will not be required at hairdressers or for similar personal services.
    • The COVID-19 curfew hour (24:00) will be removed altogether and nightclubs can open, but with 75 per cent capacity.
    • The text of the latest amendment to the Epidemics Law 1950 and the COVID-19 Measures Law is available (in German) here.

      The updated legal text (in German) on entering Austria is available

      here.

      There are three categories of countries and territories:

      • Annex 1: Low epidemiological risk. Entry with 3G or test within 24 hours after entry..
      • Annex 2: Virus variant areas: no entry, with some exceptions. PCR test and quarantine. Holders of a legitimation card and duty travel to Vienna exempt from quarantine..
      • Other countries and territories: Entry with 3G and quarantine. Holders of a legitimation card, duty travel to Vienna and those 14 days who have been fully immunized for a minimum of 14 days are exempt from quarantine..
      • All those entering Austria from high-risk areas need to complete an online pre-clearance form in English or German, regardless of whether they have diplomatic status.

        Austria’s national vaccination dashboard is online in

         English  and German  – it works best using Firefox or Google Chrome.

        There is information on Austria’s overall vaccination programme in   German  and on Vienna’s programme in   English  and German

        There is a wide range of information on COVID-19 measures, vaccination and testing in 17 different languages, including English, here

        Austrian officials encourage all those in Austria to download the Stopp Corona app to help with contact tracing. The app is available in English  as well as   German.

        The official Austrian dashboard has the latest data on COVID-19. It is available in English as well as German and is updated each day at 1400.

        DISCLAIMER: The VBOs cannot vouch for legal accuracy or completeness of the summaries in this update. Personnel are advised to refer to the original legal texts.

      NOTE ON COVID-19 UPDATES:

      Updates are issued whenever there is fresh information from the VBOs or the Host Country.

      Between updates, you can keep up to date and refer to previous material by visiting our VBO COVID-19 website.

      On the site you can find all updates, guidelines, reminders and messages issued so far, as well as useful links including to official information in English and other languages.

      No log-in is needed.

      Link to the site:

      You can also find updated resources on carrying out tasks and maintaining health and wellbeing here

      COVID-19 WEBSITE FOR ALL UN SYSTEM PERSONNEL(includes 24/7 COVID-19 helpline):

      FEEDBACK/SUGGESTIONS: Please write to martin.nesirky@un.org

In today’s update:

  • Message from the four main Vienna International Centre (VIC)-based organizations
  • Latest Austrian developments and measures

NOTE: New items in bold

MESSAGE FROM THE MAIN VIC-BASED ORGANIZATIONS (VBOs) UNOV/UNODC – IAEA – UNIDO – CTBTO

Since Monday 14 June, the VIC Medical Service has been notified that two people who work for VBOs tested positive for SARS CoV-2. One works for UNIDO and one for IAEA. There was no workplace exposure. When there is no workplace exposure it means the individual concerned was not at work during the time of potential infectivity. Weekly textual updates will be provided, usually on Mondays.

The information on the numbers of SARS CoV-2 cases involving VBO personnel is available here

VIC Medical Service update and reminders:

Personnel who registered for the international community vaccination programme but did not receive an e-mail with a link to book an appointment should book their appointment by telephone by calling 1450. This is because personnel who registered for the Austrian vaccination programme for the international community after a certain date did not, and will not, receive an email with a link to book an appointment.

The international community vaccination programme is open to personnel who work in Vienna for an international organization regardless of whether they have a Vienna home address or live in another province. Personnel who encounter difficulties with booking an appointment because they do not live in Vienna should call 1450.

People who have been diagnosed with PCR-confirmed COVID-19 will not be vaccinated for the following 6 to 8 months under the current Austrian vaccination programme. VIC Medical Service advises affected personnel to try booking an appointment under the general vaccination programme at a later stage.

At the Austria Centre Vienna, all those being vaccinated are required to fill out a health check form.

The form is available at the vaccination centre, but you can also print it out and fill it in beforehand.

The form is in German. There is an English translation available to assist those who do not speak German. The German form must be completed. The English version is just for reference.

More detailed information on the Austrian vaccination programme for the international community, including VIC personnel, can be found in the 31 May update.

Taking part in a national vaccination programme is in line with the practice of the other UN system organizations. In this context, and as part of our occupational health measures, personnel from VBOs are invited to inform the VIC Medical Service when they are completely vaccinated, through EarthMed Portal by following these steps:

  • From your official email address go to: https://medical.un.org/earthmedportal/
  • Click on the logo of your organization
  • Click on “Questionnaire”
  • Choose the questionnaire “COVID-19 Vaccination self-reporting”
  • Fill in the required information and upload your documentation as indicated.
  • Press “submit”.
  • The VBOs and the VIC Medical Service remain in touch with the Host Country authorities to ascertain how those in the international community without an e-card or Austrian social security number will be able to register their vaccinations digitally for the “green pass”. As soon as details are available from the Austrian authorities, they will be communicated.

All personnel are encouraged to take advantage of the free COVID-19 testing services provided by the Austrian authorities. Those coming to the VIC are especially encouraged to test themselves weekly with either PCR or rapid antigen tests to contain the spread of COVID-19. Please note that no testing is required for entry to the VIC. You can find more information on how and where you can test yourself here here.

All personnel are reminded to follow the precautionary measures such as keeping one metre distance, and wearing FFP2 masks as required, to help prevent the spread of COVID-19 at the VIC. You can watch a short video with measures here.

LATEST AUSTRIAN DEVELOPMENTS AND MEASURES:

  • More than 4.4 million people – 50.14 per cent of those living in Austria - have received at least one vaccination shot, Health Minister Wolfgang Mückstein said on Monday.
  • “The pace of COVID-19 vaccinations remains high,” Mückstein said, urging those requiring a second shot to get it.
  • The vaccination rate among younger age groups has increased sharply in recent days, the minister said.
  • From Thursday 10 June the following changes took effect across the whole country:

    • In restaurants, eight adults – and their children - will be able to sit at a table indoors and 16 outdoors. Closing time will be 24:00. Minimal distancing will be reduced to one metre from the current two metres.
    • In the cultural sector, venues can be filled to 75 per cent of capacity.
    • In the recreation, sports and retail sector, the minimum space per person will be reduced from 20 to 10 square metres per person.
    • The pre-travel clearance form for entering Austria will be required only for travellers arriving from high-risk areas.
    • Note: the “3G rule” of access only for those vaccinated, tested or recovered will continue to apply where it applies now. This includes children over the age of 10.

    From 1 July the follwing changes are planned accros Ausstria, including additional easing measures announced on Thursday:

    • Sports and cultural events can take place without minimum distancing or masks. There will be no limits on participant numbers, but advance notification or approval by local authorities will be required above certain limits that will be set out in regulations.
    • The COVID-19 curfew hour (24:00) will be removed altogether and nightclubs can open, but with reduced capacity.
    • FFP2 masks will be required only in hospitals and nursing homes.
    • Other types of masks can be worn in other settings such as shops and public transport where masks are required.
    • The “3G” rule will continue to apply wherever it is already in place.
    • The limits on group sizes in restaurants and cultural venues and on participants at events to be lifted.
    • The text of the latest amendment to the Epidemics Law 1950 and the COVID-19 Measures Law is available (in German) here.

      The legal text (in German) on COVID-19 opening steps as of 19 May is available

      here.

      Amendments to this text are available here, here and here

      .

      The updated legal text (in German) on schools is available here.

      The updated legal text (in German) on entering Austria is available here.  

      More details on entry and travel requirements in the 31 May update.

      The updated legal text (in German) on landing bans is available here.

      All those entering Austria from high-risk areas need to complete an online pre-clearance form in English or German, regardless of whether they have diplomatic status.

      Austria’s national vaccination dashboard is online in  English  and German  – it works best using Firefox or Google Chrome.

      There is information on Austria’s overall vaccination programme in   German  and on Vienna’s programme in   English  and German

      There is a wide range of information on COVID-19 measures, vaccination and testing in 17 different languages, including English, here

      Austrian officials encourage all those in Austria to download the Stopp Corona app to help with contact tracing. The app is available in English  as well as   German.

      The official Austrian dashboard has the latest data on COVID-19. It is available in English as well as German and is updated each day at 1400.

    NOTE ON COVID-19 UPDATES:

    Updates are issued whenever there is fresh information from the VBOs or the Host Country.

    Between updates, you can keep up to date and refer to previous material by visiting our VBO COVID-19 website.

    On the site you can find all updates, guidelines, reminders and messages issued so far, as well as useful links including to official information in English and other languages.

    No log-in is needed.

    Link to the site:

    You can also find updated resources on carrying out tasks and maintaining health and wellbeing here

    COVID-19 WEBSITE FOR ALL UN SYSTEM PERSONNEL(includes 24/7 COVID-19 helpline):

    FEEDBACK/SUGGESTIONS: Please write to martin.nesirky@un.org

In today’s update:

  • Message from the four main Vienna International Centre (VIC)-based organizations
  • Latest Austrian developments and measures

NOTE: New items in bold

MESSAGE FROM THE MAIN VIC-BASED ORGANIZATIONS (VBOs) UNOV/UNODC – IAEA – UNIDO – CTBTO

The Austrian Government announced today an additional easing of measures from 1 July (see Latest Austrian Developments and Measures section below).

The VIC VBOs will advise on any impact the changed measures have for operations at the VIC.

VIC Medical Service update and reminders:

Personnel who registered for the international community vaccination programme but did not receive an e-mail with a link to book an appointment should book their appointment by telephone by calling 1450. This is because personnel who registered for the Austrian vaccination programme for the international community after a certain date did not, and will not, receive an email with a link to book an appointment.

The international community vaccination programme is open to personnel who work in Vienna for an international organization regardless of whether they have a Vienna home address or live in another province. Personnel who encounter difficulties with booking an appointment because they do not live in Vienna should call 1450.

People who have been diagnosed with PCR-confirmed COVID-19 will not be vaccinated for the following 6 to 8 months under the current Austrian vaccination programme. VIC Medical Service advises affected personnel to try booking an appointment under the general vaccination programme at a later stage.

At the Austria Centre Vienna, all those being vaccinated are required to fill out a health check form.

The form is available at the vaccination centre, but you can also print it out and fill it in beforehand.

The form is in German. There is an English translation available to assist those who do not speak German. The German form must be completed. The English version is just for reference.

More detailed information on the Austrian vaccination programme for the international community, including VIC personnel, can be found in the 31 May update.

Taking part in a national vaccination programme is in line with the practice of the other UN system organizations. In this context, and as part of our occupational health measures, personnel from VBOs are invited to inform the VIC Medical Service when they are completely vaccinated, through EarthMed Portal by following these steps:

  • From your official email address go to: https://medical.un.org/earthmedportal/
  • Click on the logo of your organization
  • Click on “Questionnaire”
  • Choose the questionnaire “COVID-19 Vaccination self-reporting”
  • Fill in the required information and upload your documentation as indicated.
  • Press “submit”.

All personnel are encouraged to take advantage of the free COVID-19 testing services provided by the Austrian authorities. Those coming to the VIC are especially encouraged to test themselves weekly with either PCR or rapid antigen tests to contain the spread of COVID-19. Please note that no testing is required for entry to the VIC. You can find more information on how and where you can test yourself here here.

All personnel are reminded to follow the precautionary measures such as keeping one metre distance, and wearing FFP2 masks as required, to help prevent the spread of COVID-19 at the VIC. You can watch a short video with measures here.

LATEST AUSTRIAN DEVELOPMENTS AND MEASURES:

  • Austrian Chancellor Sebastian Kurz and other cabinet members said in a televised briefing on Thursday the data on COVID-19 was clearly better than expected. They announced an additional easing of measures from 1 July (see below). Further reopening steps are planned from 22 July.
  • The Government said more and more people were being vaccinated and the seven-day incidence was around 15 per 100,000 people.
  • The Chancellor emphasized that Austria was “world champion at testing”, doing more tests than any other country.
  • The Government appealed to all those eligible to get vaccinated.
  • The Vice Rector of Vienna Medical University said the pandemic was not over. The Delta variant that is more infectious than the earlier variants is already spreading in Austria and would become dominant. Vaccines were effective against this variant too, he said.
  • From Thursday 10 June the following changes took effect across the whole country:

    • In restaurants, eight adults – and their children - will be able to sit at a table indoors and 16 outdoors. Closing time will be 24:00. Minimal distancing will be reduced to one metre from the current two metres.
    • In the cultural sector, venues can be filled to 75 per cent of capacity.
    • In the recreation, sports and retail sector, the minimum space per person will be reduced from 20 to 10 square metres per person.
    • The pre-travel clearance form for entering Austria will be required only for travellers arriving from high-risk areas.
    • Note: the “3G rule” of access only for those vaccinated, tested or recovered will continue to apply where it applies now. This includes children over the age of 10.

    From 1 July the follwing changes are planned accros Ausstria, including additional easing measures announced on Thursday:

    • Sports and cultural events can take place without minimum distancing or masks. There will be no limits on participant numbers, but advance notification or approval by local authorities will be required above certain limits that will be set out in regulations.
    • The COVID-19 curfew hour (24:00) will be removed altogether and nightclubs can open, but with reduced capacity.
    • FFP2 masks will be required only in hospitals and nursing homes.
    • Other types of masks can be worn in other settings such as shops and public transport where masks are required.
    • The “3G” rule will continue to apply wherever it is already in place.
    • The limits on group sizes in restaurants and cultural venues and on participants at events to be lifted.
    • The text of the latest amendment to the Epidemics Law 1950 and the COVID-19 Measures Law is available (in German) here.

      The legal text (in German) on COVID-19 opening steps as of 19 May is available

      here.

      Amendments to this text are available here, here and here

      .

      The updated legal text (in German) on schools is available here.

      The updated legal text (in German) on entering Austria is available here.  

      More details on entry and travel requirements in the 31 May update.

      The updated legal text (in German) on landing bans is available here.

      All those entering Austria from high-risk areas need to complete an online pre-clearance form in English or German, regardless of whether they have diplomatic status.

      Austria’s national vaccination dashboard is online in  English  and German  – it works best using Firefox or Google Chrome.

      There is information on Austria’s overall vaccination programme in   German  and on Vienna’s programme in   English  and German

      There is a wide range of information on COVID-19 measures, vaccination and testing in 17 different languages, including English, here

      Austrian officials encourage all those in Austria to download the Stopp Corona app to help with contact tracing. The app is available in English  as well as   German.

      The official Austrian dashboard has the latest data on COVID-19. It is available in English as well as German and is updated each day at 1400.

    NOTE ON COVID-19 UPDATES:

    Updates are issued whenever there is fresh information from the VBOs or the Host Country.

    Between updates, you can keep up to date and refer to previous material by visiting our VBO COVID-19 website.

    On the site you can find all updates, guidelines, reminders and messages issued so far, as well as useful links including to official information in English and other languages.

    No log-in is needed.

    Link to the site: https://nucleus.iaea.org/sites/covid19/SitePages/Home.aspx 

    You can also find updated resources on carrying out tasks and maintaining health and wellbeing here

    COVID-19 WEBSITE FOR ALL UN SYSTEM PERSONNEL(includes 24/7 COVID-19 helpline):

    FEEDBACK/SUGGESTIONS: Please write to martin.nesirky@un.org

In today’s update:

  • Message from the four main Vienna International Centre (VIC)-based organizations
  • Latest Austrian developments and measures

NOTE: New items in bold

MESSAGE FROM THE MAIN VIC-BASED ORGANIZATIONS (VBOs) UNOV/UNODC – IAEA – UNIDO – CTBTO

Since Monday 7 June, the VIC Medical Service has been notified that three people who work for VBOs tested positive for SARS CoV-2. One works for UNIDO, one for UNOV/UNODC and one for IAEA. There was no workplace exposure. When there is no workplace exposure it means the individual concerned was not at work during the time of potential infectivity. Weekly textual updates will be provided, usually on Mondays.

Information on the numbers of SARS CoV-2 cases involving VBO personnel is available here and will be updated as necessary.

VIC Commissary reminder:

  1. As of 10 June, the number of customers permitted in the VIC Commissary will be increased, in alignment with the latest Austrian regulations as well as the recommendations of the VIC Medical Service (ensuring a minimum space of one person per 10 square metres).
  2. Effective 14 June, the temporary requirements for pre-registration and issuance of tokens at the entrances to the VIC Commissary will be suspended.
  3. The customer headcount will be monitored by the Commissary's electronic access system and customers may experience waiting times to access the VIC Commissary in case the upper limit is reached.
  4. Both primary and family-card holders can access the VIC Commissary. Please note that children are currently not allowed to enter the VIC, including the Commissary.
  5. Customers should wear an FFP2 certified face mask upon accessing the VIC and throughout their visit to the VIC Commissary and maintain the required distance from other customers.
  6. The VIC Commissary temporary daily business hours remain effective until further notice: 11 a.m. – 6 p.m. (Monday to Friday)

VIC Medical Service update and reminders:

Personnel who registered for the international community vaccination programme but did not receive an e-mail with a link to book an appointment should book their appointment by telephone by calling 1450. This is because personnel who registered for the Austrian vaccination programme for the international community after a certain date did not, and will not, receive an email with a link to book an appointment.

The international community vaccination programme is open to personnel who work in Vienna for an international organization regardless of whether they have a Vienna home address or live in another province. Personnel who encounter difficulties with booking an appointment because they do not live in Vienna should call 1450.

People who have been diagnosed with PCR-confirmed COVID-19 will not be vaccinated for the following 6 to 8 months under the current Austrian vaccination programme. VIC Medical Service advises affected personnel to try booking an appointment under the general vaccination programme at a later stage.

At the Austria Centre Vienna, all those being vaccinated are required to fill out a health check form.

The form is available at the vaccination centre, but you can also print it out and fill it in beforehand.

The form is in German. There is an English translation available to assist those who do not speak German. The German form must be completed. The English version is just for reference.

More detailed information on the Austrian vaccination programme for the international community, including VIC personnel, can be found in the 31 May update.

Taking part in a national vaccination programme is in line with the practice of the other UN system organizations. In this context, and as part of our occupational health measures, personnel from VBOs are invited to inform the VIC Medical Service when they are completely vaccinated, through EarthMed Portal by following these steps:

  • From your official email address go to: https://medical.un.org/earthmedportal/
  • Click on the logo of your organization
  • Click on “Questionnaire”
  • Choose the questionnaire “COVID-19 Vaccination self-reporting”
  • Fill in the required information and upload your documentation as indicated.
  • Press “submit”.

All personnel are encouraged to take advantage of the free COVID-19 testing services provided by the Austrian authorities. Those coming to the VIC are especially encouraged to test themselves weekly with either PCR or rapid antigen tests to contain the spread of COVID-19. Please note that no testing is required for entry to the VIC. You can find more information on how and where you can test yourself here here.

All personnel are reminded to follow the precautionary measures such as keeping one metre distance, and wearing FFP2 masks as required, to help prevent the spread of COVID-19 at the VIC. You can watch a short video with measures here.

LATEST AUSTRIAN DEVELOPMENTS AND MEASURES:

From Thursday 10 June the following changes take effect across the whole country:

  • In restaurants, eight adults – and their children - will be able to sit at a table indoors and 16 outdoors. Closing time will be 24:00. Minimal distancing will be reduced to one metre from the current two metres.
  • In the cultural sector, venues can be filled to 75 per cent of capacity.
  • In the recreation, sports and retail sector, the minimum space per person will be reduced from 20 to 10 square metres per person.
  • The pre-travel clearance form for entering Austria will be required only for travellers arriving from high-risk areas.
  • Note: the “3G rule” of access only for those vaccinated, tested or recovered will continue to apply where it applies now. This includes children over the age of 10.
  • From 1 July the following changes are planned across Austria:
    • The limits on group sizes in restaurants and cultural venues and on participants at events to be lifted.
    • Note: The “3G” rule will continue to apply.
    • Masks will continue to be required in those areas where the “3G rule” does not apply, such as public transport or retail.

    Tests for entrance under the “3G” system will be required from children over the age of 12.

    The text of the latest amendment to the Epidemics Law 1950 and the COVID-19 Measures Law is available (in German) here.

    The legal text (in German) on COVID-19 opening steps as of 19 May is available

    here. An amendment to this text is available here.

    Amendments to this text are available here, here and here

    .

    The updated legal text (in German) on schools is available here.

    The updated legal text (in German) on entering Austria is available here.  

    More details on entry and travel requirements in the 31 May update.

    The updated legal text (in German) on landing bans is available here.

    All those entering Austria from high-risk areas need to complete an online pre-clearance form in English or German, regardless of whether they have diplomatic status.

    Austria’s national vaccination dashboard is online in  English  and German  – it works best using Firefox or Google Chrome.

    There is information on Austria’s overall vaccination programme in   German  and on Vienna’s programme in   English  and German

    There is a wide range of information on COVID-19 measures, vaccination and testing in 17 different languages, including English, here

    Austrian officials encourage all those in Austria to download the Stopp Corona app to help with contact tracing. The app is available in English  as well as   German.

    The official Austrian dashboard has the latest data on COVID-19. It is available in English as well as German and is updated each day at 1400.

NOTE ON COVID-19 UPDATES:

Updates are issued whenever there is fresh information from the VBOs or the Host Country.

Between updates, you can keep up to date and refer to previous material by visiting our VBO COVID-19 website.

On the site you can find all updates, guidelines, reminders and messages issued so far, as well as useful links including to official information in English and other languages. No log-in is needed.

Link to the site: https://nucleus.iaea.org/sites/covid19/SitePages/Home.aspx 

COVID-19 WEBSITE FOR ALL UN SYSTEM PERSONNEL

FEEDBACK/SUGGESTIONS: Please write to martin.nesirky@un.org

In today’s update:

  • Message from the four main Vienna International Centre (VIC)-based organizations
  • Latest Austrian developments and measures

NOTE: New items in bold

MESSAGE FROM THE MAIN VIC-BASED ORGANIZATIONS (VBOs) UNOV/UNODC – IAEA – UNIDO – CTBTO

From Thursday 10 June, several COVID-19 measures are being eased or removed in Austria. An overview is below in the Austrian developments and measures section, as is a link to the legislation governing the measures.

Throughout the VIC, as in our Host Country, the minimum distancing is reduced to one metre from two metres.

VIC Commissary update:

1. As of 10 June, the number of customers permitted in the VIC Commissary will be increased, in alignment with the latest Austrian regulations as well as the recommendations of the VIC Medical Service (ensuring a minimum space of one person per 10 square metres).

2. Effective 14 June, the temporary requirements for pre-registration and issuance of tokens at the entrances to the VIC Commissary will be suspended.

3. The customer headcount will be monitored by the Commissary's electronic access system and customers may experience waiting times to access the VIC Commissary in case the upper limit is reached.

4. Both primary and family-card holders can access the VIC Commissary. Please note that children are currently not allowed to enter the VIC, including the Commissary.

5. Customers should wear an FFP2 certified face mask upon accessing the VIC and throughout their visit to the VIC Commissary and maintain the required distance from other customers.

6. The VIC Commissary temporary daily business hours remain effective until further notice: 11 a.m. – 6 p.m. (Monday to Friday).

VIC Medical Service update and reminders:

Personnel who registered for the international community vaccination programme but did not receive an e-mail with a link to book an appointment should book their appointment by telephone by calling 1450. This is because personnel who registered for the Austrian vaccination programme for the international community after a certain date did not, and will not, receive an email with a link to book an appointment.

The international community vaccination programme is open to personnel who work in Vienna for an international organization regardless of whether they have a Vienna home address or live in another province. Personnel who encounter difficulties with booking an appointment because they do not live in Vienna should call 1450.

People who have been diagnosed with PCR-confirmed COVID-19 will not be vaccinated for the following 6 to 8 months under the current Austrian vaccination programme. VIC Medical Service advises affected personnel to try booking an appointment under the general vaccination programme at a later stage.

At the Austria Centre Vienna, all those being vaccinated are required to fill out a health check form.

The form is available at the vaccination centre, but you can also print it out and fill it in beforehand.

The form is in German. There is an English translation available to assist those who do not speak German. The German form must be completed. The English version is just for reference.

More detailed information on the Austrian vaccination programme for the international community, including VIC personnel, can be found in the 31 May update.

Taking part in a national vaccination programme is in line with the practice of the other UN system organizations. In this context, and as part of our occupational health measures, personnel from VBOs are invited to inform the VIC Medical Service when they are completely vaccinated, through EarthMed Portal by following these steps:

  • From your official email address go to: https://medical.un.org/earthmedportal/
  • Click on the logo of your organization
  • Click on “Questionnaire”
  • Choose the questionnaire “COVID-19 Vaccination self-reporting”
  • Fill in the required information and upload your documentation as indicated.
  • Press “submit”.

Information on the numbers of SARS CoV-2 cases involving VBO personnel is available here and will be updated as necessary.

All personnel are encouraged to take advantage of the free COVID-19 testing services provided by the Austrian authorities. Those coming to the VIC are especially encouraged to test themselves weekly with either PCR or rapid antigen tests to contain the spread of COVID-19. Please note that no testing is required for entry to the VIC. You can find more information on how and where you can test yourself here here.

All personnel are reminded to follow the precautionary measures such as keeping two metres distance, and wearing FFP2 masks as required, to help prevent the spread of COVID-19 at the VIC. You can watch a short video with measures here.

LATEST AUSTRIAN DEVELOPMENTS AND MEASURES:

From Thursday 10 June the following changes take effect across the whole country:

  • In restaurants, eight adults – and their children - will be able to sit at a table indoors and 16 outdoors. Closing time will be 24:00. Minimal distancing will be reduced to one metre from the current two metres.
  • In the cultural sector, venues can be filled to 75 per cent of capacity.
  • In the recreation, sports and retail sector, the minimum space per person will be reduced from 20 to 10 square metres per person.
  • The pre-travel clearance form for entering Austria will be required only for travellers arriving from high-risk areas.
  • Note: the “3G rule” of access only for those vaccinated, tested or recovered will continue to apply where it applies now. This includes children over the age of 10.
  • From 1 July the following changes are planned across Austria:
    • The limits on group sizes in restaurants and cultural venues and on participants at events to be lifted.
    • Note: The “3G” rule will continue to apply.
    • Masks will continue to be required in those areas where the “3G rule” does not apply, such as public transport or retail.

    Tests for entrance under the “3G” system will be required from children over the age of 12.

    The text of the latest amendment to the Epidemics Law 1950 and the COVID-19 Measures Law is available (in German) here.

    The legal text (in German) on COVID-19 opening steps as of 19 May is available

    here. An amendment to this text is available here.

    Amendments to this text are available here, here and here

    .

    The updated legal text (in German) on schools is available here.

    The updated legal text (in German) on entering Austria is available here.  

    More details on entry and travel requirements in the 31 May update.

    The updated legal text (in German) on landing bans is available here.

    All those entering Austria from high-risk areas need to complete an online pre-clearance form in English or German, regardless of whether they have diplomatic status.

    Austria’s national vaccination dashboard is online in  English  and German  – it works best using Firefox or Google Chrome.

    There is information on Austria’s overall vaccination programme in   German  and on Vienna’s programme in   English  and German

    There is a wide range of information on COVID-19 measures, vaccination and testing in 17 different languages, including English, here

    Austrian officials encourage all those in Austria to download the Stopp Corona app to help with contact tracing. The app is available in English  as well as   German.

    The official Austrian dashboard has the latest data on COVID-19. It is available in English as well as German and is updated each day at 1400.

NOTE ON COVID-19 UPDATES:

Updates are issued whenever there is fresh information from the VBOs or the Host Country.

Between updates, you can keep up to date and refer to previous material by visiting our VBO COVID-19 website.

On the site you can find all updates, guidelines, reminders and messages issued so far, as well as useful links including to official information in English and other languages. No log-in is needed.

Link to the site: https://nucleus.iaea.org/sites/covid19/SitePages/Home.aspx 

COVID-19 WEBSITE FOR ALL UN SYSTEM PERSONNEL

FEEDBACK/SUGGESTIONS: Please write to martin.nesirky@un.org

In today’s update:

  • Message from the four main Vienna International Centre (VIC)-based organizations
  • Latest Austrian developments and measures

NOTE: New items in bold

MESSAGE FROM THE MAIN VIC-BASED ORGANIZATIONS (VBOs) UNOV/UNODC – IAEA – UNIDO – CTBTO

VIC Medical Service update and reminders:

  • At the Austria Centre Vienna, all those being vaccinated are required to fill out a health check form.
  • The form is available at the vaccination centre, but you can also print it out and fill it in beforehand.
  • The form is in German. There is an English translation available to assist those who do not speak German. The German form must be completed. The English version is just for reference.
  • More detailed information on the Austrian vaccination programme for the international community, including VIC personnel, can be found in the 31 May update.
  • Taking part in a national vaccination programme is in line with the practice of the other UN system organizations. In this context, and as part of our occupational health measures, personnel from VBOs are invited to inform the VIC Medical Service when they are completely vaccinated, through EarthMed Portal by following these steps:
    • From your official email address go to: https://medical.un.org/earthmedportal/
    • Click on the logo of your organization
    • Click on “Questionnaire”
    • Choose the questionnaire “COVID-19 Vaccination self-reporting”
    • Fill in the required information and upload your documentation as indicated.
    • Press “submit”.

Since Monday 31 May, the VIC Medical Service has been notified that seven people who work for VBOs tested positive for SARS CoV-2. Three work for UNIDO, two for UNOV/UNODC and two for IAEA. There was no workplace exposure. When there is no workplace exposure it means the individual concerned was not at work during the time of potential infectivity. Weekly textual updates will be provided, usually on Mondays.

Information on the numbers of SARS CoV-2 cases involving VBO personnel is available here and will be updated as necessary.

All personnel are encouraged to take advantage of the free COVID-19 testing services provided by the Austrian authorities. Those coming to the VIC are especially encouraged to test themselves weekly with either PCR or rapid antigen tests to contain the spread of COVID-19. Please note that no testing is required for entry to the VIC. You can find more information on how and where you can test yourself here here.

All personnel are reminded to follow the precautionary measures such as keeping two metres distance, and wearing FFP2 masks as required, to help prevent the spread of COVID-19 at the VIC. You can watch a short video with measures here.

LATEST AUSTRIAN DEVELOPMENTS AND MEASURES:

Austrian Chancellor Sebastian Kurz and Health Minister Wolfgang Mückstein said last week the number of people in Austria wanting to get vaccinated was higher than expected.

The Government had planned for around five million eligible people wanting to be vaccinated. The plan had been to offer a first dose to all who wanted to be vaccinated by the end of June.

It was now estimated that the number of those who wanted to be vaccinated was around 500,000 higher than projected, due to an increased willingness to be vaccinated and the approval of the vaccine for 12 to 15-year-olds and pregnant women.

The plan is still to offer a first dose to five million by the end of June, and a further 500,000 first doses by the end of July, said the Chancellor and the Health Minister.

From 10 June the following changes are planned across the whole country:

  • In restaurants, eight adults – and their children - will be able to sit at a table indoors and 16 outdoors. Closing time would be 24:00. Minimal distancing would be reduced to one metre from the current two metres.
  • In the cultural sector, venues can be filled to 75 per cent of capacity.
  • In the recreation, sports and retail sector, the minimum space per person will be reduced from 20 to 10 square metres per person.
  • The pre-travel clearance form for entering Austria will be required only from travellers from high-risk areas.
  • Note: the “3G rule” of access only for those vaccinated, tested or recovered will continue to apply where it applies now.
  • The limits on group sizes in restaurants and cultural venues and on participants at events to be lifted.
  • Note: The “3G” rule will continue to apply.
  • Masks will continue to be required in those areas where the “3G rule” does not apply, such as public transport or retail.
  • Tests for entrance under the “3G” system will be required from children over the age of 12.
  • The text of the latest amendment to the Epidemics Law 1950 and the COVID-19 Measures Law is available (in German) here.
  • li>The legal text (in German) on COVID-19 opening steps as of 19 May is available here. An amendment to this text is available here.
  • Amendments to this text are available here, here and here
  • .
  • The updated legal text (in German) on schools is available here.
  • The updated legal text (in German) on entering Austria is available here.  
  • More details on entry and travel requirements in the 31 May update.
  • The updated legal text (in German) on landing bans is available here.
  • All those entering Austria need to complete an online pre-clearance form in English or German, regardless of whether they have diplomatic status.
  • Austria’s national vaccination dashboard is online in  English  and German  – it works best using Firefox or Google Chrome.
  • There is information on Austria’s overall vaccination programme in   German  and on Vienna’s programme in   English  and German
  • There is a wide range of information on COVID-19 measures, vaccination and testing in 17 different languages, including English, here
  • Austrian officials encourage all those in Austria to download the Stopp Corona app to help with contact tracing. The app is available in English  as well as   German.
  • The official Austrian dashboard has the latest data on COVID-19. It is available in English as well as German and is updated each day at 1400.

NOTE ON COVID-19 UPDATES:

Updates are issued whenever there is fresh information from the VBOs or the Host Country.

Between updates, you can keep up to date and refer to previous material by visiting our VBO COVID-19 website.

On the site you can find all updates, guidelines, reminders and messages issued so far, as well as useful links including to official information in English and other languages. No log-in is needed.

Link to the site: https://nucleus.iaea.org/sites/covid19/SitePages/Home.aspx 

COVID-19 WEBSITE FOR ALL UN SYSTEM PERSONNEL

FEEDBACK/SUGGESTIONS: Please write to martin.nesirky@un.org

In today’s update:

  • Message from the four main Vienna International Centre (VIC)-based organizations
  • Latest Austrian developments and measures

NOTE: New items in bold

MESSAGE FROM THE MAIN VIC-BASED ORGANIZATIONS (VBOs) UNOV/UNODC – IAEA – UNIDO – CTBTO

Since Monday 24 May, the VIC Medical Service has been notified that two people who work for VBOs tested positive for SARS CoV-2. Both work for IAEA. There was no workplace exposure. When there is no workplace exposure it means the individual concerned was not at work during the time of potential infectivity. Weekly textual updates will be provided, usually on Mondays.

Information on the numbers of SARS CoV-2 cases involving VBO personnel is available here and will be updated as necessary.

From today, 31 May, the changing rooms and showers on F09 are available for use by VIC personnel. Users must follow these COVID-19 measures:

  • Keep two-metre physical distance
  • Wear your FFP2 mask in the changing rooms
  • Fill out the COVID-19 contact tracing form at the entrance (name, telephone number, date and time. This is in line with Austrian regulations).

The Federal Ministry for European and International Affairs of Austria informed all diplomatic missions, permanent missions, international organizations and consulates general resident in Austria about the possibility of a COVID-19 vaccination at the Austria Centre Vienna (ACV). The programme for the international community is being organized by the City of Vienna on behalf of the federal authorities.

All UN system personnel are encouraged to receive the COVID-19 vaccination, but it is not mandatory. Vaccination is voluntary and free of charge.

The vaccination programme will take place from 31 May to at least 20 June 2021 at the ACV, which is adjacent to the VIC.

Staff and other categories of personnel such as consultants, individual contractors, UN volunteers and interns and their family members older than 18 years residing in the same household in Austria will be eligible to participate in the programme.

A legitimation card or alternative confirmation of eligibility will be required. The alternative confirmation of eligibility will be provided by each organization’s human resources office.

The VIC Medical Service encourages all personnel to accept the first possible vaccination appointment offered to them, whether through this particular programme or through the general Austrian vaccination programme.

Those who have already been vaccinated with at least one dose should not pre-register under this scheme. People who belong to prioritized groups eligible for vaccination from the City of Vienna before 31 May can decide if they would like to get vaccinated under this scheme.

What type of vaccine will be available?

  • Those vaccinated under this scheme will receive the single-dose Johnson & Johnson (Janssen) vaccine.
  • The Johnson & Johnson vaccine is only approved from the age of 18 but has the advantage that only one shot is required for the desired vaccination effect.
  • Unfortunately, it is not possible to select a vaccine.
p>It is possible to remain registered in the main Austrian programme rather than change your registration category to “International Community”. The main Austrian programme is using more than one type of vaccine. It is important to remember it is not possible to choose a vaccine type.

It is possible to speak to your GP about vaccination; if your GP is not going to provide COVID-19 vaccinations the doctor may be able to recommend other GPs who will.

It is possible to pre-register children from the age of 12 in the main Austrian programme, pending European and then Austrian approval on the use of vaccines for this age group.

If you have further questions, please contact the VIC Medical Service.

More information from WHO on the Janssen vaccine is available here.

How can you register for a vaccination?

  • Go to the COVID-19 vaccination website of the City of Vienna here: https://impfservice.wien/;
  • If you have not yet done so, please first register;
  • In Profile, please select or change the category to “Internationale Gemeinschaft” (international community);
  • The registered persons entitled to vaccination will receive via e-mail and/or SMS a link with the option to book an appointment in the middle of the week 24-30 May.
  • Personnel who have not yet registered under the category “Internationale Gemeinschaft” but would like to do so, should proceed and register under this category, and then call 1450 to seek assistance on booking their appointments manually.

What documents should I bring to the vaccination?

  • Legitimation card or confirmation of eligibility (see above on how this will be provided);
  • Photo ID;
  • The booking code received upon confirmation of your appointment;
  • An FFP-2 mask;
  • If available, an international vaccination certificate/booklet;
  • If available, E-Card (proof of the Austria health insurance); personnel at the ACV vaccination site are aware many in the international community do not have E-Cards and can register you with or without such a card.

Where should you go on the day of vaccination?

From underground U1 Kaisermühlen/VIC, follow the signs of Austria Centre Vienna. You will find the entrance for the vaccination at the Hall X4 (next to the Austria Centre Vienna). More information is available here.

All personnel are reminded to follow the precautionary measures such as keeping two metres distance, and wearing FFP2 masks as required, to help prevent the spread of COVID-19 at the VIC. You can watch a short video with measures here.

All personnel are encouraged to take advantage of the free COVID-19 testing services provided by the Austrian authorities. Those coming to the VIC are especially encouraged to test themselves weekly with either PCR or rapid antigen tests to contain the spread of COVID-19. Please note that no testing is required for entry to the VIC. You can find more information on how and where you can test yourself here here.

VIC Medical Service update:

COVID Vaccination: CORRECTION: Transfer of Vaccinations into international vaccination booklet or green passport:

  • Contrary to earlier information; MA15, Vienna’s health department, will not be able to transfer vaccinations into international vaccination booklets or the planned green passport. Your GP is able to provide that service (for the green passport only GPs who are connected to the electronic system can enter such data, please check with your GP whether they are taking part in that system)
  • As the situation regarding the green passport is still evolving, VMS recommends that anyone who has been vaccinated with a non-EMA-recognized vaccine to test themselves for antibodies. A positive result will be valid for three months (irrespective of the original vaccine received).

Persons who were sick with COVID-19 and wish to receive their official certificate of past COVID-19 infection (Absonderungsbescheid) from MA15, they can request this via email from: bescheidauskunft@ma15.wien.gv.at

COVID-19 Austria Entry Requirements:

  • On 19 May, entry rules changed, and travellers from listed countries are able to travel to Austria for holidays again. New underlying key principle is the “3 G” requirement (Tested, Recovered or Vaccinated).
  • All travellers need to obtain pre-travel clearance before travelling to Austria, Link:   https://entry.ptc.gv.at/ .
  • They also need to show either a negative COVID-19 test or proof of vaccination/past infection upon entry. Travellers from certain countries with low incidence rates will no longer need to self-isolate: https://www.ris.bka.gv.at/Dokumente/BgblAuth/BGBLA_2021_II_222/BGBLA_2021_II_222.html  (German)
  • A good general overview can be found here .

COVID-19 AUSTRIA / VIC: Updated entry requirements for duty travellers:

  • When arriving from an annex B-1 or other country the essential duty travellers will fall under the exemption of § 5 Abs.5 (berufliche Zwecke and/or Lichtbildausweis gem. § 5 ASG, i.e. legitimation card). They need to be tested or recovered or vaccinated.
  • When arriving from an annex B-2 country (South Africa, Brazil, India) essential duty travellers would fall under the exemption of § 5 a Z 2 (legitimation card and/or professional visit to an international organization in Austria). They need to have a valid PCR test.
  • When arriving from an annex A country they need to be tested or recovered or vaccinated.

VIC Medical Service reminders:

  • Wear your FFP2 mask over nose and mouth
  • Observe the physical distance rule in the cafeteria  
  • Do not gather in groups (for example for coffee breaks)
  • Especially vulnerable persons (including pregnant women) should work from home. If that is not possible those individuals should adhere to the special mitigation measures for them at the workplace
  • If not already done, VIC personnel are encouraged to pre-register for vaccination on the respective Austrian provincial websites. Those living in Vienna can register here . Information is available in English. These are the sites for  Burgenland  and Lower Austria.

Message from UN Security and Safety Service:

New Opening Hours of VIC Entrances Effective Tuesday, 1 June 2021

The United Nations Security and Safety Service would like to inform all VIC patrons of the enhanced opening hours of entrances to the VIC, effective Tuesday, 1 June 2021:

Gate 1: 24/7 (Main entrance/exit for pedestrians)

Gate 2: 0700-19:00 (Working days Monday – Friday) Diplomatic and bicycle entrance/exit.

Gate 3: 11:00-19:00

Gate 4: 24/7 (Vehicle entrance/exit)

Gate 5: 06:00-12:00 (Vehicle and delivery entrance; deliveries between 06:00-08:00 and 10:00-12:00)

Gate 7: 12:00-14:00 (Access gate to Donaupark, open on working days Monday-Friday when the weather is not inclement, until further notice)

Please note that all staff members using the Donaupark bridge (Gate 7) to leave the VIC must take their VIC access card with them. It is not permitted to leave access cards at the gate.

SSS Vienna is pleased to provide enhanced opening hours and additional entrances and exits for the Vienna International Centre. SSS Vienna appreciates the continued understanding and cooperation of our patrons during these difficult times.

LATEST AUSTRIAN DEVELOPMENTS AND MEASURES:

  • The planned introduction of a digital “green pass” with a QR code will be delayed by a week, the Health Ministry announced.
  • The plan had been for the pass to be available from 4 June, allowing people to prove digitally they have been vaccinated or tested negative or recovered from COVID-19. The aim is now for the digital pass to be introduced from 11 June. In the meantime, the existing method remains in place – producing paper documents such as a vaccination booklet.
  • Health Minister Wolfgang Mückstein said on Austrian television on Sunday that COVID-19 tests would remain free at least through the summer.
  • Twelve- to 15-year-olds would be able to get vaccinated in July and August, he said, adding that he favoured offering vaccination to those under 12 once the European Medicines Agency approves use for this age group.
  • From 10 June the following changes are planned across the whole country:
    • In restaurants, eight adults – and their children - will be able to sit at a table indoors and 16 outdoors. Closing time would be 24:00. Minimal distancing would be reduced to one metre from the current two metres.
    • In the cultural sector, venues can be filled to 75 per cent of capacity.
    • In the recreation, sports and retail sector, the minimum space per person will be reduced from 20 to 10 square metres per person.
    • The pre-travel clearance form for entering Austria will be required only from travellers from high-risk areas.
    • Note: the “3G rule” of access only for those vaccinated, tested or recovered will continue to apply where it applies now. A digital pass is envisaged from June; details are still be worked out.
  • From 1 July the following changes are planned across Austria:
    • The limits on group sizes in restaurants and cultural venues and on participants at events will be lifted.
    • Note: The “3G” rule will continue to apply.
    • Masks will continue to be required in those areas where the “3G rule” does not apply, such as public transport or retail.
    • Tests for entrance under the “3G” system will be required from children over the age of 12.
  • The text of the latest amendment to the Epidemics Law 1950 and the COVID-19 Measures Law is available (in German) here.
  • li>The legal text (in German) on COVID-19 opening steps as of 19 May is available here. An amendment to this text is available here.
  • The updated legal text (in German) on schools is available here.
  • The updated legal text (in German) on entering Austria is available here.  
  • The updated legal text (in German) on landing bans is available here.
  • All those entering Austria need to complete an online pre-clearance form in English or German, regardless of whether they have diplomatic status.
  • Austria’s national vaccination dashboard is online in  English  and German  – it works best using Firefox or Google Chrome.
  • There is information on Austria’s overall vaccination programme in   German  and on Vienna’s programme in   English  and German
  • There is a wide range of information on COVID-19 measures, vaccination and testing in 17 different languages, including English, here
  • Austrian officials encourage all those in Austria to download the Stopp Corona app to help with contact tracing. The app is available in English  as well as   German.
  • The official Austrian dashboard has the latest data on COVID-19. It is available in English as well as German and is updated each day at 1400.

NOTE ON COVID-19 UPDATES:

Updates are issued whenever there is fresh information from the VBOs or the Host Country.

Between updates, you can keep up to date and refer to previous material by visiting our VBO COVID-19 website.

On the site you can find all updates, guidelines, reminders and messages issued so far, as well as useful links including to official information in English and other languages. No log-in is needed.

Link to the site: https://nucleus.iaea.org/sites/covid19/SitePages/Home.aspx 

COVID-19 WEBSITE FOR ALL UN SYSTEM PERSONNEL

FEEDBACK/SUGGESTIONS: Please write to martin.nesirky@un.org

In today’s update:

  • Message from the four main Vienna International Centre (VIC)-based organizations
  • Latest Austrian developments and measures

NOTE: New items in bold

MESSAGE FROM THE MAIN VIC-BASED ORGANIZATIONS (VBOs) UNOV/UNODC – IAEA – UNIDO – CTBTO

Austria announced on Friday two further dates from when measures will be eased – Thursday 10 June and Thursday 1 July. An overview is provided below.

The VBOs will advise on any impact the eased measures have for operations at the VIC.

The Federal Ministry for European and International Affairs of Austria informed all diplomatic missions, permanent missions, international organizations and consulates general resident in Austria about the possibility of a COVID-19 vaccination at the Austria Centre Vienna (ACV). The programme for the international community is being organized by the City of Vienna on behalf of the federal authorities.

All UN system personnel are encouraged to receive the COVID-19 vaccination, but it is not mandatory. Vaccination is voluntary and free of charge.

The vaccination programme will take place from 31 May to at least 20 June 2021 at the ACV, which is adjacent to the VIC.

Staff and other categories of personnel such as consultants, individual contractors, UN volunteers and interns and their family members older than 18 years residing in the same household in Austria will be eligible to participate in the programme.

A legitimation card or alternative confirmation of eligibility will be required. The alternative confirmation of eligibility will be provided by each organization’s human resources office.

The VIC Medical Service encourages all personnel to accept the first possible vaccination appointment offered to them, whether through this particular programme or through the general Austrian vaccination programme.

Those who have already been vaccinated with at least one dose should not pre-register under this scheme. People who belong to prioritized groups eligible for vaccination from the City of Vienna before 31 May can decide if they would like to get vaccinated under this scheme.

What type of vaccine will be available?

  • Those vaccinated under this scheme will receive the single-dose Johnson & Johnson (Janssen) vaccine.
  • The Johnson & Johnson vaccine is only approved from the age of 18 but has the advantage that only one shot is required for the desired vaccination effect.
  • Unfortunately, it is not possible to select a vaccine.

It is possible to remain registered in the main Austrian programme rather than change your registration category to “International Community”. The main Austrian programme is using more than one type of vaccine. It is important to remember it is not possible to choose a vaccine type.

It is possible to speak to your GP about vaccination; if your GP is not going to provide COVID-19 vaccinations the doctor may be able to recommend other GPs who will.

It is possible to pre-register children from the age of 12 in the main Austrian programme, pending European and then Austrian approval on the use of vaccines for this age group.

If you have further questions, please contact the VIC Medical Service.

More information from WHO on the Janssen vaccine is available here.

How can you register for a vaccination?

  • Go to the COVID-19 vaccination website of the City of Vienna here: https://impfservice.wien/;
  • If you have not yet done so, please first register;
  • In Profile, please select or change the category to “Internationale Gemeinschaft” (international community);
  • The registered persons entitled to vaccination will receive via e-mail and/or SMS a link with the option to book an appointment in the middle of the week 24-30 May.
  • Personnel who have not yet registered under the category “Internationale Gemeinschaft” but would like to do so, should proceed and register under this category, and then call 1450 to seek assistance on booking their appointments manually.

What documents should I bring to the vaccination?

  • Legitimation card or confirmation of eligibility (see above on how this will be provided);
  • Photo ID;
  • The booking code received upon confirmation of your appointment;
  • An FFP-2 mask;
  • If available, an international vaccination certificate/booklet;
  • If available, E-Card (proof of the Austria health insurance); personnel at the ACV vaccination site are aware many in the international community do not have E-Cards and can register you with or without such a card.

Where should you go on the day of vaccination?

From underground U1 Kaisermühlen/VIC, follow the signs of Austria Centre Vienna. You will find the entrance for the vaccination at the Hall X4 (next to the Austria Centre Vienna). More information is available here.

Information on the numbers of SARS CoV-2 cases involving VBO personnel is available here and will be updated as necessary.

All personnel are reminded to follow the precautionary measures such as keeping two metres distance, and wearing FFP2 masks as required, to help prevent the spread of COVID-19 at the VIC. You can watch a short video with measures here.

All personnel are encouraged to take advantage of the free COVID-19 testing services provided by the Austrian authorities. Those coming to the VIC are especially encouraged to test themselves weekly with either PCR or rapid antigen tests to contain the spread of COVID-19. Please note that no testing is required for entry to the VIC. You can find more information on how and where you can test yourself here here.

VIC Medical Service update:

COVID Vaccination: CORRECTION: Transfer of Vaccinations into international vaccination booklet or green passport:

  • Contrary to earlier information; MA15, Vienna’s health department, will not be able to transfer vaccinations into international vaccination booklets or the planned green passport. Your GP is able to provide that service (for the green passport only GPs who are connected to the electronic system can enter such data, please check with your GP whether they are taking part in that system)
  • As the situation regarding the green passport is still evolving, VMS recommends that anyone who has been vaccinated with a non-EMA-recognized vaccine to test themselves for antibodies. A positive result will be valid for three months (irrespective of the original vaccine received).  

Persons who were sick with COVID-19 and wish to receive their official certificate of past COVID-19 infection (Absonderungsbescheid) from MA15, they can request this via email from: bescheidauskunft@ma15.wien.gv.at

C

COVID-19 Austria Entry Requirements:

  • On 19 May, entry rules changed, and travellers from listed countries are able to travel to Austria for holidays again. New underlying key principle is the “3 G” requirement (Tested, Recovered or Vaccinated).
  • All travellers need to obtain pre-travel clearance before travelling to Austria, Link:   https://entry.ptc.gv.at/ .
  • They also need to show either a negative COVID-19 test or proof of vaccination/past infection upon entry. Travellers from certain countries with low incidence rates will no longer need to self-isolate: https://www.ris.bka.gv.at/Dokumente/BgblAuth/BGBLA_2021_II_222/BGBLA_2021_II_222.html  (German)
  • A good general overview can be found here

COVID-19 AUSTRIA / VIC: Updated entry requirements for duty travellers:

  • When arriving from an annex B-1 or other country the essential duty travellers will fall under the exemption of § 5 Abs.5 (berufliche Zwecke and/or Lichtbildausweis gem. § 5 ASG, i.e. legitimation card). They need to be tested or recovered or vaccinated.
  • When arriving from an annex B-2 country (South Africa, Brazil, India) essential duty travellers would fall under the exemption of § 5 a Z 2 (legitimation card and/or professional visit to an international organization in Austria). They need to have a valid PCR test.
  • When arriving from an annex A country they need to be tested or recovered or vaccinated.

VIC Medical Service reminders:

  • Wear your FFP2 mask over nose and mouth
  • Observe the physical distance rule in the cafeteria  
  • Do not gather in groups (for example for coffee breaks)
  • Especially vulnerable persons (including pregnant women) should work from home. If that is not possible those individuals should adhere to the special mitigation measures for them at the workplace
  • If not already done, VIC personnel are encouraged to pre-register for vaccination on the respective Austrian provincial websites. Those living in Vienna can register here . Information is available in English. These are the sites for  Burgenland  and Lower Austria.

Message from UN Security and Safety Service:

New Opening Hours of VIC Entrances Effective Tuesday, 1 June 2021

The United Nations Security and Safety Service would like to inform all VIC patrons of the enhanced opening hours of entrances to the VIC, effective Tuesday, 1 June 2021:

Gate 1: 24/7 (Main entrance/exit for pedestrians)

Gate 2: 0700-19:00 (Working days Monday – Friday) Diplomatic and bicycle entrance/exit.

Gate 3: 11:00-19:00

Gate 4: 24/7 (Vehicle entrance/exit)

Gate 5: 06:00-12:00 (Vehicle and delivery entrance; deliveries between 06:00-08:00 and 10:00-12:00)

Gate 7: 12:00-14:00 (Access gate to Donaupark, open on working days Monday-Friday when the weather is not inclement, until further notice)

Please note that all staff members using the Donaupark bridge (Gate 7) to leave the VIC must take their VIC access card with them. It is not permitted to leave access cards at the gate.

SSS Vienna is pleased to provide enhanced opening hours and additional entrances and exits for the Vienna International Centre. SSS Vienna appreciates the continued understanding and cooperation of our patrons during these difficult times.

LATEST AUSTRIAN DEVELOPMENTS AND MEASURES:

  • Austrian Chancellor Sebastian Kurz and other cabinet members gave a televised briefing on Friday on the planned next steps to ease COVID-19 measures following consultations with representatives of the provinces and experts.
  • Kurz said there were positive developments in all areas. More than half of those who wished to be vaccinated had received a first dose. This was an ideal foundation for the next opening steps. However, the Chancellor urged all people to remain cautious.
  • Kurz said all those who wished to be vaccinated would receive a first shot by the end of June.
  • From 10 June the following changes are planned across the whole country:
    • In restaurants, eight adults – and their children - will be able to sit at a table indoors and 16 outdoors. Closing time would be 24:00. Minimal distancing would be reduced to one metre from the current two metres.
    • In the cultural sector, venues can be filled to 75 per cent of capacity.
    • In the recreation, sports and retail sector, the minimum space per person will be reduced from 20 to 10 square metres per person.
    • The pre-travel clearance form for entering Austria will be required only from travellers from high-risk areas.
    • Note: the “3G rule” of access only for those vaccinated, tested or recovered will continue to apply where it applies now. A digital pass is envisaged from June; details are still be worked out.
  • From 1 July the following changes are planned across Austria:
    • The limits on group sizes in restaurants and cultural venues and on participants at events will be lifted.
    • Note: The “3G” rule will continue to apply.
    • Masks will continue to be required in those areas where the “3G rule” does not apply, such as public transport or retail.
    • Tests for entrance under the “3G” system will be required from children over the age of 12.
  • Health Minister Wolfgang Mückstein emphasized that measures would be tightened again at any time if necessary. The pandemic was not over. He urged all those eligible to get vaccinated. He said the aim was also to vaccinate as many children and adolescents over the age of 12 by the end of August, and there would be enough supplies to do so.
  • Tourism Minister Elisabeth Köstinger said a loosening of rules on entering Austria was envisaged for mid-June.
  • Professor Oswald Wagner, Vice Rector of Vienna Medical University, said he hoped later in the year COVID-19 would become an illness like any other, to be handled by medical personnel and not the government. This would also return responsibility to the individual, said Wagner, appealing to all to get vaccinated.
  • The text of the latest amendment to the Epidemics Law 1950 and the COVID-19 Measures Law is available (in German) here.
  • li>The legal text (in German) on COVID-19 opening steps as of 19 May is available here. An amendment to this text is available here.
  • The updated legal text (in German) on schools is available here.
  • The updated legal text (in German) on entering Austria is available here.  
  • The updated legal text (in German) on landing bans is available here.
  • All those entering Austria need to complete an online pre-clearance form in English or German, regardless of whether they have diplomatic status.
  • Austria’s national vaccination dashboard is online in  English  and German  – it works best using Firefox or Google Chrome.
  • There is information on Austria’s overall vaccination programme in   German  and on Vienna’s programme in   English  and German
  • There is a wide range of information on COVID-19 measures, vaccination and testing in 17 different languages, including English, here
  • Austrian officials encourage all those in Austria to download the Stopp Corona app to help with contact tracing. The app is available in English  as well as   German.
  • The official Austrian dashboard has the latest data on COVID-19. It is available in English as well as German and is updated each day at 1400.

NOTE ON COVID-19 UPDATES:

Updates are issued whenever there is fresh information from the VBOs or the Host Country.

Between updates, you can keep up to date and refer to previous material by visiting our VBO COVID-19 website.

On the site you can find all updates, guidelines, reminders and messages issued so far, as well as useful links including to official information in English and other languages. No log-in is needed.

Link to the site: https://nucleus.iaea.org/sites/covid19/SitePages/Home.aspx 

COVID-19 WEBSITE FOR ALL UN SYSTEM PERSONNEL

FEEDBACK/SUGGESTIONS: Please write to martin.nesirky@un.org

In today’s update:

  • Message from the four main Vienna International Centre (VIC)-based organizations
  • Latest Austrian developments and measures

NOTE: New items in bold 

MESSAGE FROM THE MAIN VIC-BASED ORGANIZATIONS (VBOs) UNOV/UNODC – IAEA – UNIDO – CTBTO

Since Monday 17 May, the VIC Medical Service has been notified that three people who work for VBOs tested positive for SARS CoV-2. Two work for UNOV/UNODC and one for UNIDO. There was no workplace exposure. When there is no workplace exposure it means the individual concerned was not at work during the time of potential infectivity. Weekly textual updates will be provided, usually on Mondays.

The Federal Ministry for European and International Affairs of Austria informed all diplomatic missions, permanent missions, international organizations and consulates general resident in Austria about the possibility of a COVID-19 vaccination at the Austria Centre Vienna (ACV). The programme for the international community is being organized by the City of Vienna on behalf of the federal authorities.

All UN system personnel are encouraged to receive the COVID-19 vaccination, but it is not mandatory. Vaccination is voluntary and free of charge.

The vaccination programme will take place from 31 May to at least 20 June 2021 at the ACV, which is adjacent to the VIC.

Staff and other categories of personnel such as consultants, individual contractors, UN volunteers and interns and their family members older than 18 years residing in the same household in Austria will be eligible to participate in the programme.

The alternative confirmation of eligibility will be provided by each organization’s human resources office.

The human resources office of each VBO will contact their personnel over the coming days with instructions on how those without legitimation cards request alternative confirmation of eligibility. The IAEA has already informed its personnel on the procedure.

The VIC Medical Service encourages all personnel to accept the first possible vaccination appointment offered to them, whether through this particular programme or through the general Austrian vaccination programme.

Those who have already been vaccinated with at least one dose should not pre-register under this scheme. People who belong to prioritized groups eligible for vaccination from the City of Vienna before 31 May can decide if they would like to get vaccinated under this scheme.

What type of vaccine will be available?

  • Those vaccinated under this scheme will receive the single-dose Johnson & Johnson (Janssen) vaccine.
  • The Johnson & Johnson vaccine is only approved from the age of 18 but has the advantage that only one shot is required for the desired vaccination effect.
  • Unfortunately, it is not possible to select a vaccine.
  • More information on the vaccine from WHO is available here.

How can you register for a vaccination?

  • Go to the COVID-19 vaccination website of the City of Vienna here.
  • If you have not yet done so, please first register;
  •  In Profile, please select or change the category to “Internationale Gemeinschaft” (international community);
  • The registered persons entitled to vaccination will receive via e-mail and/or SMS a link with the option to book an appointment in the middle of the week 24-30 May.

What documents should I bring to the vaccination?

  • Legitimation card or confirmation of eligibility (see above on how this will be provided);
  •  Photo ID;
  •  The booking code received upon confirmation of your appointment;
  •  An FFP-2 mask;
  • If available, E-Card (proof of the Austria health insurance); personnel at the ACV vaccination site are aware many in the international community do not have E-Cards and can register you with or without such a card.

Where should you go on the day of vaccination?

  •  From underground U1 Kaisermühlen/VIC, follow the signs of Austria Centre Vienna. You will find the entrance for the vaccination at the Hall X4 (next to the Austria Centre Vienna). More information is available here.

Information on the numbers of SARS CoV-2 cases involving VBO personnel is available here and will be updated as necessary.

All personnel are reminded to follow the precautionary measures such as keeping two metres distance, and wearing FFP2 masks as required, to help prevent the spread of COVID-19 at the VIC. You can watch a short video with measures here.

All personnel are encouraged to take advantage of the free COVID-19 testing services provided by the Austrian authorities. Those coming to the VIC are especially encouraged to test themselves weekly with either PCR or rapid antigen tests to contain the spread of COVID-19. Please note that no testing is required for entry to the VIC. You can find more information on how and where you can test yourself here here.

In response to questions from personnel, the VIC Medical Service notes:

  • The vaccine campaign for the international community will offer the Johnson & Johnson (Janssen) vaccine only.
  • It is possible to remain registered in the main Austrian programme rather than change your registration category to “International Community”. The main Austrian programme is using more than one type of vaccine. It is important to remember it is not possible to choose a vaccine type.
  • It is possible to speak to your GP about vaccination; if your GP is not going to provide COVID-19 vaccinations the doctor may be able to recommend other GPs who will.
  • If you have further questions, please contact the VIC Medical Service.

VIC Medical Service update:

COVID Vaccination: CORRECTION: Transfer of Vaccinations into international vaccination booklet or green passport:

  • Contrary to earlier information; MA15, Vienna’s health department, will not be able to transfer vaccinations into international vaccination booklets or the planned green passport. Your GP is able to provide that service (for the green passport only GPs who are connected to the electronic system can enter such data, please check with your GP whether they are taking part in that system)
  • As the situation regarding the green passport is still evolving, VMS recommends that anyone who has been vaccinated with a non-EMA-recognized vaccine to test themselves for antibodies. A positive result will be valid for three months (irrespective of the original vaccine received).  

Persons who were sick with COVID-19 and wish to receive their official certificate of past COVID-19 infection (Absonderungsbescheid) from MA15, they can request this via email from: bescheidauskunft@ma15.wien.gv.at

COVID-19 Austria Entry Requirements:

  • On 19 May, entry rules changed, and travellers from listed countries are able to travel to Austria for holidays again. New underlying key principle is the “3 G” requirement (Tested, Recovered or Vaccinated).
  • All travellers need to obtain pre-travel clearance before travelling to Austria, Link:   https://entry.ptc.gv.at/ .
  • They also need to show either a negative COVID-19 test or proof of vaccination/past infection upon entry. Travellers from certain countries with low incidence rates will no longer need to self-isolate: https://www.ris.bka.gv.at/Dokumente/BgblAuth/BGBLA_2021_II_222/BGBLA_2021_II_222.html  (German)
  • A good general overview can be found here

COVID-19 AUSTRIA / VIC: Updated entry requirements for duty travellers:

  • When arriving from an annex B-1 or other country the essential duty travellers will fall under the exemption of § 5 Abs.5 (berufliche Zwecke and/or Lichtbildausweis gem. § 5 ASG, i.e. legitimation card). They need to be tested or recovered or vaccinated.
  • When arriving from an annex B-2 country (South Africa, Brazil, India) essential duty travellers would fall under the exemption of § 5 a Z 2 (legitimation card and/or professional visit to an international organization in Austria). They need to have a valid PCR test.
  • When arriving from an annex A country they need to be tested or recovered or vaccinated.

VIC Medical Service reminders:

  • Wear your FFP2 mask over nose and mouth
  • Observe the physical distance rule in the cafeteria  
  • Do not gather in groups (for example for coffee breaks)
  • Especially vulnerable persons (including pregnant women) should work from home. If that is not possible those individuals should adhere to the special mitigation measures for them at the workplace
  • If not already done, VIC personnel are encouraged to pre-register for vaccination on the respective Austrian provincial websites. Those living in Vienna can register here . Information is available in English. These are the sites for  Burgenland  and Lower Austria.

LATEST AUSTRIAN DEVELOPMENTS AND MEASURES:

  • The legal text (in German) on COVID-19 opening steps as of 19 May is available here. An amendment to this text is available here.
  • The updated legal text (in German) on schools is available here.
  • The updated legal text (in German) on entering Austria is available here.  
  • The updated legal text (in German) on landing bans is available here.
  • All those entering Austria need to complete an online pre-clearance form in English or German, regardless of whether they have diplomatic status.
  • Austria’s national vaccination dashboard is online in  English  and German  – it works best using Firefox or Google Chrome.
  • There is information on Austria’s overall vaccination programme in   German  and on Vienna’s programme in   English  and German
  • There is a wide range of information on COVID-19 measures, vaccination and testing in 17 different languages, including English, here
  • Austrian officials encourage all those in Austria to download the Stopp Corona app to help with contact tracing. The app is available in English  as well as   German.
  • The official Austrian dashboard has the latest data on COVID-19. It is available in English as well as German and is updated each day at 1400.

NOTE ON COVID-19 UPDATES:

Updates are issued whenever there is fresh information from the VBOs or the Host Country.

Between updates, you can keep up to date and refer to previous material by visiting our VBO COVID-19 website.

On the site you can find all updates, guidelines, reminders and messages issued so far, as well as useful links including to official information in English and other languages. No log-in is needed.

Link to the site: https://nucleus.iaea.org/sites/covid19/SitePages/Home.aspx 

COVID-19 WEBSITE FOR ALL UN SYSTEM PERSONNEL

FEEDBACK/SUGGESTIONS: Please write to martin.nesirky@un.org

In today’s update:

  • Message from the four main Vienna International Centre (VIC)-based organizations
  • Latest Austrian developments and measures

NOTE: New items in bold 

MESSAGE FROM THE MAIN VIC-BASED ORGANIZATIONS (VBOs) UNOV/UNODC – IAEA – UNIDO – CTBTO

The Federal Ministry for European and International Affairs of Austria informed all diplomatic missions, permanent missions, international organizations and consulates general resident in Austria about the possibility of a COVID-19 vaccination at the Austria Centre Vienna (ACV). The programme for the international community is being organized by the City of Vienna on behalf of the federal authorities.

All UN system personnel are encouraged to receive the COVID-19 vaccination, but it is not mandatory. Vaccination is voluntary and free of charge.

The vaccination programme will take place from 31 May to at least 20 June 2021 at the ACV, which is adjacent to the VIC.

Staff and other categories of personnel such as consultants, individual contractors, UN volunteers and interns and their family members older than 18 years residing in the same household in Austria will be eligible to participate in the programme.

The alternative confirmation of eligibility will be provided by each organization’s human resources office.

The human resources office of each VBO will contact their personnel over the coming days with instructions on how those without legitimation cards request alternative confirmation of eligibility. The IAEA has already informed its personnel on the procedure.

The VIC Medical Service encourages all personnel to accept the first possible vaccination appointment offered to them, whether through this particular programme or through the general Austrian vaccination programme.

Those who have already been vaccinated with at least one dose should not pre-register under this scheme. People who belong to prioritized groups eligible for vaccination from the City of Vienna before 31 May can decide if they would like to get vaccinated under this scheme.

What type of vaccine will be available?

  • Those vaccinated under this scheme will receive the single-dose Johnson & Johnson (Janssen) vaccine.
  • The Johnson & Johnson vaccine is only approved from the age of 18 but has the advantage that only one shot is required for the desired vaccination effect.
  •   Unfortunately, it is not possible to select a vaccine.
  • More information on the vaccine from WHO is available here.

How can you register for a vaccination?

  •  Go to the COVID-19 vaccination website of the City of Vienna here.  
  •   If you have not yet done so, please first register;
  • In Profile, please select or change the category to “Internationale Gemeinschaft” (international community);
  • The registered persons entitled to vaccination will receive via e-mail and/or SMS a link with the option to book an appointment in the middle of the week 24-30 May.

What documents should I bring to the vaccination?

  • Legitimation card or confirmation of eligibility (see above on how this will be provided);
  •  Photo ID;
  •  The booking code received upon confirmation of your appointment;
  •  An FFP-2 mask;
  •  If available, an international vaccination certificate/booklet;
  •  If available, E-Card (proof of the Austria health insurance); personnel at the ACV vaccination site are aware many in the international community do not have E-Cards and can register you with or without such a card.

Where should you go on the day of vaccination?

  •  From underground U1 Kaisermühlen/VIC, follow the signs of Austria Centre Vienna. You will find the entrance for the vaccination at the Hall X4 (next to the Austria Centre Vienna). More information is available here.

Information on the numbers of SARS CoV-2 cases involving VBO personnel is available here and will be updated as necessary.

All personnel are reminded to follow the precautionary measures such as keeping two metres distance, and wearing FFP2 masks as required, to help prevent the spread of COVID-19 at the VIC. You can watch a short video with measures here.

All personnel are encouraged to take advantage of the free COVID-19 testing services provided by the Austrian authorities. Those coming to the VIC are especially encouraged to test themselves weekly with either PCR or rapid antigen tests to contain the spread of COVID-19. Please note that no testing is required for entry to the VIC. You can find more information on how and where you can test yourself here here.

VIC Medical Service update:

COVID Vaccination: CORRECTION: Transfer of Vaccinations into international vaccination booklet or green passport:

  • Contrary to earlier information; MA15, Vienna’s health department, will not be able to transfer vaccinations into international vaccination booklets or the planned green passport. Your GP is able to provide that service (for the green passport only GPs who are connected to the electronic system can enter such data, please check with your GP whether they are taking part in that system)
  • As the situation regarding the green passport is still evolving, VMS recommends that anyone who has been vaccinated with a non-EMA-recognized vaccine to test themselves for antibodies. A positive result will be valid for three months (irrespective of the original vaccine received).  

Persons who were sick with COVID-19 and wish to receive their official certificate of past COVID-19 infection (Absonderungsbescheid) from MA15, they can request this via email from: bescheidauskunft@ma15.wien.gv.at

COVID-19 Austria Entry Requirements:

  • On 19 May, entry rules changed, and travellers from listed countries are able to travel to Austria for holidays again. New underlying key principle is the “3 G” requirement (Tested, Recovered or Vaccinated).
  • All travellers need to obtain pre-travel clearance before travelling to Austria, Link:   https://entry.ptc.gv.at/ .
  • They also need to show either a negative COVID-19 test or proof of vaccination/past infection upon entry. Travellers from certain countries with low incidence rates will no longer need to self-isolate: https://www.ris.bka.gv.at/Dokumente/BgblAuth/BGBLA_2021_II_222/BGBLA_2021_II_222.html  (German)
  • A good general overview can be found here

COVID-19 AUSTRIA / VIC: Updated entry requirements for duty travellers:

  • When arriving from an annex B-1 or other country the essential duty travellers will fall under the exemption of § 5 Abs.5 (berufliche Zwecke and/or Lichtbildausweis gem. § 5 ASG, i.e. legitimation card). They need to be tested or recovered or vaccinated.
  • When arriving from an annex B-2 country (South Africa, Brazil, India) essential duty travellers would fall under the exemption of § 5 a Z 2 (legitimation card and/or professional visit to an international organization in Austria). They need to have a valid PCR test.
  • When arriving from an annex A country they need to be tested or recovered or vaccinated.

VIC Medical Service reminders:

  • Wear your FFP2 mask over nose and mouth
  • Observe the physical distance rule in the cafeteria  
  • Do not gather in groups (for example for coffee breaks)
  • Especially vulnerable persons (including pregnant women) should work from home. If that is not possible those individuals should adhere to the special mitigation measures for them at the workplace
  • If not already done, VIC personnel are encouraged to pre-register for vaccination on the respective Austrian provincial websites. Those living in Vienna can register here . Information is available in English. These are the sites for  Burgenland  and Lower Austria.

LATEST AUSTRIAN DEVELOPMENTS AND MEASURES:

  •  In a televised briefing on Thursday Federal Chancellor Sebastian Kurz said the aim was to return to normality by the summer and offer all those eligible a vaccine by the end of June. He expected the provinces would soon open vaccinations to all age groups. It is planned to offer booster vaccinations in autumn. At the end of next week there would be a further meeting to discuss the way ahead on mandatory mask wearing.
  •  Health Minister Wolfgang Mückstein called on everyone to go to their first possible vaccination appointment. The required prioritization of vaccinations in general practitioners’ practices would be lifted, and each doctor could decide autonomously on whom to vaccinate when. This would be regulated in a new ministerial decree to be published over the coming days. He expected the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine to be approved for 12-16-year-olds soon by the European Medicines Agency.
  •  Vienna’s City Councillor for Health said on Friday there were no changes planned to Vienna’s vaccination plan.
  • The legal text (in German) on COVID-19 opening steps as of 19 May is available here. An amendment to this text is available here.
  • The updated legal text (in German) on schools is available here.
  • The updated legal text (in German) on entering Austria is available here.  
  • The updated legal text (in German) on landing bans is available here.
  • All those entering Austria need to complete an online pre-clearance form in English or German, regardless of whether they have diplomatic status.
  • Austria’s national vaccination dashboard is online in  English  and German  – it works best using Firefox or Google Chrome.
  • There is information on Austria’s overall vaccination programme in   German  and on Vienna’s programme in   English  and German
  • There is a wide range of information on COVID-19 measures, vaccination and testing in 17 different languages, including English, here
  • Austrian officials encourage all those in Austria to download the Stopp Corona app to help with contact tracing. The app is available in English  as well as   German.
  • The official Austrian dashboard has the latest data on COVID-19. It is available in English as well as German and is updated each day at 1400.

NOTE ON COVID-19 UPDATES:

Updates are issued whenever there is fresh information from the VBOs or the Host Country.

Between updates, you can keep up to date and refer to previous material by visiting our VBO COVID-19 website.

On the site you can find all updates, guidelines, reminders and messages issued so far, as well as useful links including to official information in English and other languages. No log-in is needed.

Link to the site: https://nucleus.iaea.org/sites/covid19/SitePages/Home.aspx 

COVID-19 WEBSITE FOR ALL UN SYSTEM PERSONNEL

FEEDBACK/SUGGESTIONS: Please write to martin.nesirky@un.org

In today’s update:

  • Message from the four main Vienna International Centre (VIC)-based organizations
  • Latest Austrian developments and measures

NOTE: New items in bold 

MESSAGE FROM THE MAIN VIC-BASED ORGANIZATIONS (VBOs) UNOV/UNODC – IAEA – UNIDO – CTBTO

Austria’s regulations on first opening steps come into force on 19 May. See the VIC CMT update of 10 May for an overview and the links below for the full texts.

The VBOs note the improved epidemiological picture in Austria, with fewer reported cases and an easing of the pressure on the health system. In line with the Austrian measures, as well as the recommendations of the VIC Medical Service, the below measures will apply to operations at the VIC to help contain the spread of COVID-19 and reduce the risk of transmission at the VIC and elsewhere.

ACCESS

Access to the VIC for non-VBO personnel remains limited as previously advised.

As of 19 May 2021, Gate 3 will open for normal operations from 07:00 a.m. to 07:00 p.m. for authorized pedestrian access card holders and personnel with bicycles as well as departing vehicles.

MEETINGS

In-person meetings are discouraged and should be held only if absolutely necessary to maintain professional activities that cannot be postponed or held virtually.

SOCIAL CONTACTS

Personnel working at the VIC are required to keep contacts in social settings (coffee or lunches) to a minimum and limit interactions.

Since Monday 10 May until 17 May, the VIC Medical Service has been notified that three people who work for VBOs tested positive for SARS CoV-2. Two work for IAEA and one for UNOV/UNODC. Close contacts of one person who tested positive for SARS CoV-2 have been informed. For the other two people there was no workplace exposure. When there is no workplace exposure it means the individual concerned was not at work during the time of potential infectivity. Weekly textual updates will be provided, usually on Mondays.

Information on the numbers of SARS CoV-2 cases involving VBO personnel is available here and will be updated as necessary.

All personnel are reminded to follow the precautionary measures such as keeping two metres distance, and wearing FFP2 masks as required, to help prevent the spread of COVID-19 at the VIC. You can watch a short video with measures here.

All personnel are encouraged to take advantage of the free COVID-19 testing services provided by the Austrian authorities. Those coming to the VIC are especially encouraged to test themselves weekly with either PCR or rapid antigen tests to contain the spread of COVID-19. Please note that no testing is required for entry to the VIC. You can find more information on how and where you can test yourself here here.

VIC Medical Service message:

  • Mixing vaccination brands is not recommended by the Austrian Health authorities.
  • The time period in between the FSME (tick) vaccine and COVID-19 vaccine should be at least 14 days.
  • If you contract COVID-19, you should normally wait between two and six months after recovery until you have a single dose of COVID-19 vaccine. In Austria, the guidance and practice is to have one vaccination six months after recovery.
  • VIC Medical Service is not in a position to transfer COVID-19 vaccination records, such as those done outside Austria, into the international vaccination (yellow) booklet.
  • Staff can arrange the transfer of EMA-approved vaccines into the international vaccine booklet through the main office of MA 15, Vienna’s health department, at Thomas Klestil Platz 8. This can also be done at any registered GP and official District Health Authority “Impfstelle” (vaccination centre) in Vienna.

VIC Medical Service reminders:

  • Wear your FFP2 mask over nose and mouth
  • Observe the physical distance rule in the cafeteria  
  • Do not gather in groups (for example for coffee breaks)
  • Especially vulnerable persons (including pregnant women) should work from home. If that is not possible those individuals should adhere to the special mitigation measures for them at the workplace
  • If not already done, VIC personnel are encouraged to pre-register for vaccination on the respective Austrian provincial websites. Those living in Vienna can register here . Information is available in English. These are the sites for  Burgenland  and Lower Austria.

LATEST AUSTRIAN DEVELOPMENTS AND MEASURES:

  • Austrian Chancellor Sebastian Kurz said on Monday the opening measures that take effect on 19 May were the starting point for efforts to return the country to normality.
  • Speaking at the same news conference to promote domestic tourism, the governor of Lower Austria (Niederösterreich), Johanna Mikl-Leitner, said public health safety measures were the decisive factor.
  • Both leaders said the safety measures required were a challenge for the hospitality sector. Kurz said further progress vaccinating residents in Austria would allow such measures to be eased further.
  • The text of the amendment to the Epidemics Law 1950 and the COVID-19 Measures Law is available here.
  • The legal text (in German) on COVID-19 opening steps as of 19 May is available here.
  • The updated legal text (in German) on schools is available here.
  • The updated legal text (in German) on entering Austria is available here.  
  • The updated legal text (in German) on landing bans is available here.
  • All those entering Austria need to complete an online pre-clearance form in English or German, regardless of whether they have diplomatic status.
  • Austria’s national vaccination dashboard is online in  English  and German  – it works best using Firefox or Google Chrome.
  • There is information on Austria’s overall vaccination programme in   German  and on Vienna’s programme in   English  and German
  • There is a wide range of information on COVID-19 measures, vaccination and testing in 17 different languages, including English, here
  • Austrian officials encourage all those in Austria to download the Stopp Corona app to help with contact tracing. The app is available in English  as well as   German.
  • The official Austrian dashboard has the latest data on COVID-19. It is available in English as well as German and is updated each day at 1400.

NOTE ON COVID-19 UPDATES:

Updates are issued whenever there is fresh information from the VBOs or the Host Country.

Between updates, you can keep up to date and refer to previous material by visiting our VBO COVID-19 website.

On the site you can find all updates, guidelines, reminders and messages issued so far, as well as useful links including to official information in English and other languages. No log-in is needed.

Link to the site: https://nucleus.iaea.org/sites/covid19/SitePages/Home.aspx 

COVID-19 WEBSITE FOR ALL UN SYSTEM PERSONNEL

FEEDBACK/SUGGESTIONS: Please write to martin.nesirky@un.org

In today’s update:

  • Message from the four main Vienna International Centre (VIC)-based organizations
  • Latest Austrian developments and measures

NOTE: New items in bold 

MESSAGE FROM THE MAIN VIC-BASED ORGANIZATIONS (VBOs) UNOV/UNODC – IAEA – UNIDO – CTBTO

Further to Friday’s update on the 31 May start date for the Austrian authorities’ vaccination programme for VBO staff and their families as well as other VBO personnel, here are some more details:

  • Those not yet registered on the City of Vienna vaccination site should register and choose the newly added category of “Internationale Gemeinschaft” (international community) in the drop-down list
  • Those already registered do not need to register again but just change their status to the new category
  • Those who live outside Vienna should register on the City of Vienna vaccination site. This is because the programme is being run by the City of Vienna on behalf of the federal authorities).

Further information will be provided as it becomes available.

Important reminder:

VBO personnel must wear FFP2 masks at the VIC including, for example, when walking in corridors.

Please do not congregate, with or without masks, at the C07 coffee area after buying your refreshments.

Since Monday 3 May, the VIC Medical Service has been notified that four people who work for VBOs tested positive for SARS CoV-2. Two work for IAEA, one for UNOV/UNODC and one for UNIDO. There was no workplace exposure. When there is no workplace exposure it means the individual concerned was not at work during the time of potential infectivity. Weekly textual updates will be provided, usually on Mondays.

Information on the numbers of SARS CoV-2 cases involving VBO personnel is available here and will be updated as necessary.

All personnel are reminded to follow the precautionary measures such as keeping two metres distance, and wearing FFP2 masks as required, to help prevent the spread of COVID-19 at the VIC. You can watch a short video with measures here .

All personnel are encouraged to take advantage of the free COVID-19 testing services provided by the Austrian authorities. Those coming to the VIC are especially encouraged to test themselves weekly with either PCR or rapid antigen tests to contain the spread of COVID-19. Please note that no testing is required for entry to the VIC. You can find more information on how and where you can test yourself here here.

VIC Medical Service message:

Due to the deteriorating COVID-19 situation in India, the following procedure must be followed by all VIC-based personnel returning from India. Effective immediately, all travellers returning from India or who have been to India within the past ten days must:

  • quarantine for 10 days upon return to Austria;
  • can end the quarantine only after five days with a PCR test (not a rapid antigen test);
  • All travellers returning from India may only return to the office after receiving the negative PCR test result.

The “Alles gurgelt” (Everyone gargles) free PCR test initiative provided by the City of Vienna has now widened its scope to all those living in Vienna, not just specific registered organizations or businesses.

For VIC personnel already using the service:

  • As announced today, no new bar codes will be sent each week by SMS.
  • To continue using the system, a personal bar code will be needed.
  • To obtain this bar code, go to www.allesgurgelt.at   
  • Log in with current username and password and follow the steps (for example, an authentication code will be sent to you by email).
  • Go to the “personal pick-up code” link and save this bar code as it will be required in the future.
  • Please check regularly in case this personal bar code is updated.
  • Four test kits per person per week (instead of eight previously) due to the increased population coverage and demand.

Those who have not yet used the service can register throughwww.allesgurgelt.at

VIC Medical Service reminders:

  • Wear your FFP2 mask over nose and mouth
  • Observe the physical distance rule in the cafeteria 
  • Do not gather in groups (for example for coffee breaks)
  • Especially vulnerable persons (including pregnant women) should work from home. If that is not possible those individuals should adhere to the special mitigation measures for them at the workplace
  • If not already done, VIC personnel are encouraged to pre-register for vaccination on the respective Austrian provincial websites. Those living in Vienna can register here . Information is available in English. These are the sites for  Burgenland  and Lower Austria.
  • See also the guidance above on registering for Austria’s vaccination scheme for the international community.
  • Taking part in a national programme is in line with the practice of the other UN system organizations. In this context, and as part of occupational health measures, personnel from VBOs are invited to inform the VIC Medical Service when they are completely vaccinated, through  EarthMed Portal  by following these steps:
  • From your official email address go to:  https://medical.un.org/earthmedportal/  
  • Click on the logo of your organization
  • Click on “Questionnaire”
  • Choose the questionnaire “COVID-19 Vaccination self-reporting”
  • Fill in the required information and upload your documentation as indicated.
  • Press “submit”.

LATEST AUSTRIAN DEVELOMENTS AND MEASURES:

Chancellor Sebastian Kurz and other cabinet members gave details on Monday of the planned opening measures for Austria. These are to be codified in a ministerial decree, which is at the draft stage.

“On 19 May we will be able to take a big step back toward normality,” Kurz told a televised briefing, noting the number of positive cases registered each day was falling.

Health Minister Wolfgang Mückstein said the regulations easing measures had been structured to provide as much public health security as possible. They would only work if everyone stuck to the rules, he said, adding that measures could be tightened again regionally if the caseload increased.

These are some of the details provided by the Austrian Government at the briefing (from 19 May unless otherwise stated):

  • Schools are to return to full-time in-person schooling from 17 May.
  • The overnight restrictions on leaving home will be lifted.
  • Up to four adults plus a maximum of six children will be able to meet indoors, for example in restaurants, and up to 10 adults plus a maximum of 10 children outdoors. From 22:00 to 05:00, all gatherings are limited to up to four adults plus a maximum of six children.
  • Events with assigned seating will be allowed for up to 50 per cent of maximum capacity and up to 1,500 people indoors and 3,000 outdoors.
  • The regulations on entering Austria will be amended with entry requirements for travellers differentiated according to three risk categories of countries, to be set out in a specific ministerial decree.
  • The core principle for entering restaurants, bars, cafes, cultural venues such as theatres, and sports venues is that a person should be able to prove low epidemiological risk. This means having a valid negative test result, having recovered from COVID-19 or having been vaccinated with a vaccine approved for use by the European Medicines Agency.
  • This is the first phase of a “green health pass” that requires the following proof of low risk from 19 May:
    • PCR tests: valid 72 hours
    • Antigen tests conducted at a testing location: valid 48 hours
    • Antigen self-tests registered in a data processing system: valid 24 hours
    • Antigen self-tests not registered in a data processing system if conducted on the spot under the supervision of a service provider such as restaurant staff for access to that site. This is meant to help those, for example, who live in the countryside without easy test centre access.
    • School COVID-19 tests for children from 10 years are valid.
    • Vaccination first dose: valid from 22 days until three months after the first dose.
    • The second vaccination dose extends that validity for a further six months.
    • Evidence of past COVID-19 infection: quarantine notice (Absonderungsbescheid) or medical certificate: Valid for six months.
    • Positive neutralizing antibodies test: valid for three months.
    • In addition to the above, access to many locations, such as restaurants, will require mandatory registration for contact tracing.
  • FFP2 masks and physical distancing will still be required as now.
  • [DISCLAIMER: The CMT cannot vouch for legal accuracy or completeness of this summary. Personnel are advised to refer to the original legal texts once available.]
  • The updated legal text on landing bans is available here in German.
  • From Friday 15 January, all those entering Austria need to complete an  online pre-clearance form in English or German, regardless of whether they have diplomatic status.
  • Austria’s national vaccination dashboard is online in  English  and German  – it works best using Firefox or Google Chrome.
  • There is information on Austria’s overall vaccination programme in   German  and on Vienna’s programme in   English  and   German
  • There is a wide range of information on COVID-19 measures, vaccination and testing in 17 different languages, including English, here
  • Austrian officials encourage all those in Austria to download the Stopp Corona app to help with contact tracing. The app is available in English  as well as   German.
  • The official Austrian dashboard has the latest data on COVID-19. It is available in English as well as German and is updated each day at 1400.

NOTE ON COVID-19 UPDATES:

Updates are issued whenever there is fresh information from the VBOs or the Host Country.

Between updates, you can keep up to date and refer to previous material by visiting our VBO COVID-19 website.

On the site you can find all updates, guidelines, reminders and messages issued so far, as well as useful links including to official information in English and other languages. No log-in is needed.

Link to the site: https://nucleus.iaea.org/sites/covid19/SitePages/Home.aspx 

COVID-19 WEBSITE FOR ALL UN SYSTEM PERSONNEL

FEEDBACK/SUGGESTIONS: Please write to martin.nesirky@un.org

In today’s update:

  • Message from the four main Vienna International Centre (VIC)-based organizations
  • Latest Austrian developments and measures

NOTE: New items in bold 

MESSAGE FROM THE MAIN VIC-BASED ORGANIZATIONS (VBOs) UNOV/UNODC – IAEA – UNIDO – CTBTO

On 23 March, the Austrian Federal Ministry of European and International Affairs said it planned to offer vaccinations to VBO staff and their families as well as other VBO personnel towards the end of May or in early June. Today, the Ministry confirmed it was planned to start offering vaccinations from Monday 31 May. The likely venue is the Austria Centre Vienna, next to the VIC. In the coming two weeks, the Austrian authorities are expected to provide more details, such as when and how to register and how VBO personnel who live outside Vienna can participate.

Information on the numbers of SARS CoV-2 cases involving VBO personnel is available here and will be updated as necessary.

All personnel are reminded to follow the precautionary measures such as keeping two metres distance, and wearing FFP2 masks as required, to help prevent the spread of COVID-19 at the VIC. You can watch a short video with measures here .

All personnel are encouraged to take advantage of the free COVID-19 testing services provided by the Austrian authorities. Those coming to the VIC are especially encouraged to test themselves weekly with either PCR or rapid antigen tests to contain the spread of COVID-19. Please note that no testing is required for entry to the VIC. You can find more information on how and where you can test yourself here here.

VIC Medical Service message:

Due to the deteriorating COVID-19 situation in India, the following procedure must be followed by all VIC-based personnel returning from India. Effective immediately, all travellers returning from India or who have been to India within the past ten days must:

  • quarantine for 10 days upon return to Austria;
  • can end the quarantine only after five days with a PCR test (not a rapid antigen test);
  • All travellers returning from India may only return to the office after receiving the negative PCR test result.

The “Alles gurgelt” (Everyone gargles) free PCR test initiative provided by the City of Vienna has now widened its scope to all those living in Vienna, not just specific registered organizations or businesses.

For VIC personnel already using the service:

  • As announced today, no new bar codes will be sent each week by SMS.
  • To continue using the system, a personal bar code will be needed.
  • To obtain this bar code, go to www.allesgurgelt.at   
  • Log in with current username and password and follow the steps (for example, an authentication code will be sent to you by email).
  • Go to the “personal pick-up code” link and save this bar code as it will be required in the future.
  • Please check regularly in case this personal bar code is updated.
  • Four test kits per person per week (instead of eight previously) due to the increased population coverage and demand.

Those who have not yet used the service can register throughwww.allesgurgelt.at

VIC Medical Service reminders:

  • Wear your FFP2 mask over nose and mouth
  • Observe the physical distance rule in the cafeteria 
  • Do not gather in groups (for example for coffee breaks)
  • Especially vulnerable persons (including pregnant women) should work from home. If that is not possible those individuals should adhere to the special mitigation measures for them at the workplace
  • If not already done, VIC personnel are encouraged to pre-register for vaccination on the respective Austrian provincial websites. Those living in Vienna can register here . Information is available in English. These are the sites for  Burgenland  and Lower Austria.
  • Taking part in a national programme is in line with the practice of the other UN system organizations. In this context, and as part of occupational health measures, personnel from VBOs are invited to inform the VIC Medical Service when they are completely vaccinated, through  EarthMed Portal  by following these steps:
  • From your official email address go to:  https://medical.un.org/earthmedportal/  
  • Click on the logo of your organization
  • Click on “Questionnaire”
  • Choose the questionnaire “COVID-19 Vaccination self-reporting”
  • Fill in the required information and upload your documentation as indicated.
  • Press “submit”.

LATEST AUSTRIAN DEVELOMENTS AND MEASURES:

More than 2.5 million people in Austria have received at least one COVID-19 vaccination dose, Health Minister Wolfgang Mückstein said on Friday. This is equivalent to one-third of all people over the age of 16 in the country.

The vaccination rate is expected to increase further in the coming weeks, and Chancellor Sebastian Kurz said on Friday the country was on target to administer at least a first dose by the end of June to all those who wish to be vaccinated.

The Austrian authorities estimate about two-thirds of those eligible wish to be vaccinated.

The latest reproduction rate figure (R number) was 0.85, down from 0.93 the week before, the Austrian authorities reported today.

The 24-hour lockdown in Vienna and Niederösterreich (Lower Austria) province ended on 3 May, meaning the curfew period reverted to overnight from 20:00 to 06:00.

All shops reopened in Vienna and Lower Austria on Monday, along with hairdressers and other body-related services. FFP2 masks are required. A negative test is needed for hairdressers and other such services. Museums reopened.

Restaurants, cafes, bars and cultural venues remain closed until 19 May. When they do reopen, stringent safety measures will be in place.

The Austrian Government’s measures related to entering Austria at all borders, including land borders, remain in place until at least 31 May. The latest version of the regulations is available in German.

The updated legal text on landing bans is available here in German.

From Friday 15 January, all those entering Austria need to complete an  online pre-clearance form in English or German, regardless of whether they have diplomatic status.

Austria’s national vaccination dashboard is online in  English  and German  – it works best using Firefox or Google Chrome.

There is information on Austria’s overall vaccination programme in   German  and on Vienna’s programme in   English  and   German

There is a wide range of information on COVID-19 measures, vaccination and testing in 17 different languages, including English, here

Austrian officials encourage all those in Austria to download the Stopp Corona app to help with contact tracing. The app is available in English  as well as   German.

The official Austrian dashboard has the latest data on COVID-19. It is available in English as well as German and is updated each day at 1400.

NOTE ON COVID-19 UPDATES:

Updates are issued whenever there is fresh information from the VBOs or the Host Country.

Between updates, you can keep up to date and refer to previous material by visiting our VBO COVID-19 website.

On the site you can find all updates, guidelines, reminders and messages issued so far, as well as useful links including to official information in English and other languages. No log-in is needed.

Link to the site: https://nucleus.iaea.org/sites/covid19/SitePages/Home.aspx 

COVID-19 WEBSITE FOR ALL UN SYSTEM PERSONNEL

FEEDBACK/SUGGESTIONS: Please write to martin.nesirky@un.org

In today’s update:

  • Message from the four main Vienna International Centre (VIC)-based organizations
  • Latest Austrian developments and measures

MESSAGE FROM THE MAIN VIC-BASED ORGANIZATIONS (VBOs) UNOV/UNODC – IAEA – UNIDO – CTBTO

Information on the numbers of SARS CoV-2 cases involving VBO personnel is available here and will be updated as necessary.

All personnel are reminded to follow the precautionary measures such as keeping two metres distance, and wearing FFP2 masks as required, to help prevent the spread of COVID-19 at the VIC. You can watch a short video with measures here .

All personnel are encouraged to take advantage of the free COVID-19 testing services provided by the Austrian authorities. Those coming to the VIC are especially encouraged to test themselves weekly with either PCR or rapid antigen tests to contain the spread of COVID-19. Please note that no testing is required for entry to the VIC. You can find more information on how and where you can test yourself here here.

VIC Medical Service message:

Due to the deteriorating COVID-19 situation in India, the following procedure must be followed by all VIC-based personnel returning from India. Effective immediately, all travellers returning from India or who have been to India within the past ten days must:

  • quarantine for 10 days upon return to Austria;
  • have a PCR test upon arrival in Austria;
  •  and have a second PCR test 10 days after return to Austria. 

All travellers returning from India may only return to the office after receiving the negative PCR test following the 10-day quarantine.

The “Alles gurgelt” (Everyone gargles) free PCR test initiative provided by the City of Vienna has now widened its scope to all those living in Vienna, not just specific registered organizations or businesses.

For VIC personnel already using the service:

  • As announced today, no new bar codes will be sent each week by SMS.
  • To continue using the system, a personal bar code will be needed.
  • To obtain this bar code, go to www.allesgurgelt.at   
  • Log in with current username and password and follow the steps (for example, an authentication code will be sent to you by email).
  • Go to the “personal pick-up code” link and save this bar code as it will be required in the future.
  • Please check regularly in case this personal bar code is updated.
  • Four test kits per person per week (instead of eight previously) due to the increased population coverage and demand.

Those who have not yet used the service can register throughwww.allesgurgelt.at  

VIC Medical Service reminders:

  • Wear your FFP2 mask over nose and mouth
  • Observe the physical distance rule in the cafeteria 
  • Do not gather in groups (for example for coffee breaks)
  • Especially vulnerable persons (including pregnant women) should work from home. If that is not possible those individuals should adhere to the special mitigation measures for them at the workplace
  • If not already done, VIC personnel are encouraged to pre-register for vaccination on the respective Austrian provincial websites. Those living in Vienna can register here . Information is available in English. These are the sites for  Burgenland  and Lower Austria.
  • Taking part in a national programme is in line with the practice of the other UN system organizations. In this context, and as part of occupational health measures, personnel from VBOs are invited to inform the VIC Medical Service when they are completely vaccinated, through  EarthMed Portal  by following these steps:
  • From your official email address go to:  https://medical.un.org/earthmedportal/  
  • Click on the logo of your organization
  • Click on “Questionnaire”
  • Choose the questionnaire “COVID-19 Vaccination self-reporting”
  • Fill in the required information and upload your documentation as indicated.
  • Press “submit”.

LATEST AUSTRIAN DEVELOMENTS AND MEASURES:

  • The Mayor of Vienna, Michael Ludwig, and Vice Mayor Christoph Wiederkehr outlined plans on Thursday to ease measures in the city from later this month, bringing it into line with the Federal Government’s planned opening announcement.
  • In a televised briefing, Ludwig said the strain on Vienna hospitals had eased but the room for manoeuvre was small. The Mayor stressed that people could still be infected, fall seriously ill and suffer from Long COVID. 
  • Pregnant women would be prioritized for vaccination in May, he said. Vienna would further expand its PCR testing programme, including to schools.
  • Vienna would join the planned national opening steps as follows:
  • Schools in Vienna would return to full-time in-person schooling on 17 May.
  • Cultural institutions and sports venues, including public swimming pools, would open on 19 May with safety measures.
  • Hotels, cafes and restaurants would open on 19 May with stringent safety measures and inspections.
  • Details were yet to be regulated by the Health Ministry in a decree.
  • Two weeks from now there would be a further review meeting with experts, Ludwig said. Great care was needed not to jeopardize the successes achieved over the past weeks.
  • The 24-hour lockdown in Vienna and Niederösterreich (Lower Austria) province ended on 3 May, meaning the curfew period reverts to overnight from 20:00 to 06:00.
  • All shops reopened in Vienna and Lower Austria on Monday, along with hairdressers and other body-related services. FFP2 masks are required. A negative test is needed for hairdressers and other such services. Museums reopened.
  • Restaurants, cafes, bars and cultural venues remain closed until 19 May.
  • <
  • The Austrian Government’s measures related to entering Austria at all borders, including land borders, remain in place until at least 31 May. The latest version of the regulations is available in German .
  • The updated legal text on landing bans is available here in German.
  • From Friday 15 January, all those entering Austria need to complete an  online pre-clearance form in English or German, regardless of whether they have diplomatic status.
  • Austria’s national vaccination dashboard is online in   English  and  German  – it works best using Firefox or Google Chrome.
  • There is information on Austria’s overall vaccination programme in   German  and on Vienna’s programme in   English  and   German .
  • There is a wide range of information on COVID-19 measures, vaccination and testing in 17 different languages, including English, here.
  • Austrian officials encourage all those in Austria to download the Stopp Corona app to help with contact tracing. The app is available in English  as well as   German.
  • The official Austrian dashboard has the latest data on COVID-19. It is available in English as well as German and is updated each day at 1400.

NOTE ON COVID-19 UPDATES:

Updates are issued whenever there is fresh information from the VBOs or the Host Country.

Between updates, you can keep up to date and refer to previous material by visiting our VBO COVID-19 website.

On the site you can find all updates, guidelines, reminders and messages issued so far, as well as useful links including to official information in English and other languages. No log-in is needed.

Link to the site: https://nucleus.iaea.org/sites/covid19/SitePages/Home.aspx 

COVID-19 WEBSITE FOR ALL UN SYSTEM PERSONNEL

FEEDBACK/SUGGESTIONS: Please write to martin.nesirky@un.org

In today’s update:

  • Message from the four main Vienna International Centre (VIC)-based organizations
  • Latest Austrian developments and measures

MESSAGE FROM THE MAIN VIC-BASED ORGANIZATIONS (VBOs) UNOV/UNODC – IAEA – UNIDO – CTBTO

Between Monday 26 April and 3 May, the VIC Medical Service was notified that five people who work for VBOs tested positive for SARS CoV-2. Three work for IAEA, one for UNOV/UNODC and one for UNIDO. There was no workplace exposure. When there is no workplace exposure it means the individual concerned was not at work during the time of potential infectivity. Weekly textual updates will be provided, usually on Mondays.

Information on the numbers of SARS CoV-2 cases involving VBO personnel is available here and will be updated as necessary.

All personnel are reminded to follow the precautionary measures such as keeping two metres distance, and wearing FFP2 masks as required, to help prevent the spread of COVID-19 at the VIC. You can watch a short video with measures here .

All personnel are encouraged to take advantage of the free COVID-19 testing services provided by the Austrian authorities. Those coming to the VIC are especially encouraged to test themselves weekly with either PCR or rapid antigen tests to contain the spread of COVID-19. Please note that no testing is required for entry to the VIC. You can find more information on how and where you can test yourself here.

VIC Medical Service message:

Due to the deteriorating COVID-19 situation in India, the following procedure must be followed by all VIC-based personnel returning from India. Effective immediately, all travellers returning from India or who have been to India within the past ten days must:

  • quarantine for 10 days upon return to Austria;
  • have a PCR test upon arrival in Austria;
  •  and have a second PCR test 10 days after return to Austria. 

All travellers returning from India may only return to the office after receiving the negative PCR test following the 10-day quarantine.

The “Alles gurgelt” (Everyone gargles) free PCR test initiative provided by the City of Vienna has now widened its scope to all those living in Vienna, not just specific registered organizations or businesses.

For VIC personnel already using the service:

  • As announced today, no new bar codes will be sent each week by SMS.
  • To continue using the system, a personal bar code will be needed.
  • To obtain this bar code, go to www.allesgurgelt.at   
  • Log in with current username and password and follow the steps (for example, an authentication code will be sent to you by email).
  • Go to the “personal pick-up code” link and save this bar code as it will be required in the future.
  • Please check regularly in case this personal bar code is updated.
  • Four test kits per person per week (instead of eight previously) due to the increased population coverage and demand.

Those who have not yet used the service can register throughwww.allesgurgelt.at  

VIC Medical Service reminders:

  • Wear your FFP2 mask over nose and mouth
  • Observe the physical distance rule in the cafeteria 
  • Do not gather in groups (for example for coffee breaks)
  • Especially vulnerable persons (including pregnant women) should work from home. If that is not possible those individuals should adhere to the special mitigation measures for them at the workplace
  • If not already done, VIC personnel are encouraged to pre-register for vaccination on the respective Austrian provincial websites. Those living in Vienna can register here . Information is available in English. These are the sites for  Burgenland  and Lower Austria.

LATEST AUSTRIAN DEVELOMENTS AND MEASURES:

  • The 24-hour lockdown in Vienna and Niederösterreich (Lower Austria) province ended on 3 May, meaning the curfew period reverts to overnight from 20:00 to 06:00.
  • All shops reopened in Vienna and Lower Austria on Monday, along with hairdressers and other body-related services. FFP2 masks are required. A negative test is needed for hairdressers and other such services. Museums reopened.
  • Restaurants, cafes, bars and cultural venues remain closed.
  • Vienna’s leaders are expected to meet on Thursday to decide whether and to what extent the national opening steps announced by the Federal Government for 19 May will apply to the city.
  • The Austrian Government’s measures related to entering Austria at all borders, including land borders, remain in place until at least 31 May. The latest version of the regulations is available in German  .
  • The updated legal text on landing bans is available here in German.
  • From Friday 15 January, all those entering Austria need to complete an  online pre-clearance form in English or German, regardless of whether they have diplomatic status.
  • Austria’s national vaccination dashboard is online in   English  and  German  – it works best using Firefox or Google Chrome.
  • There is information on Austria’s overall vaccination programme in   German  and on Vienna’s programme in   English  and   German .
  • There is a wide range of information on COVID-19 measures, vaccination and testing in 17 different languages, including English, here.
  • Austrian officials encourage all those in Austria to download the Stopp Corona app to help with contact tracing. The app is available in English  as well as   German.
  • The official Austrian dashboard has the latest data on COVID-19. It is available in English as well as German and is updated each day at 1400.

NOTE ON COVID-19 UPDATES:

Updates are issued whenever there is fresh information from the VBOs or the Host Country.

Between updates, you can keep up to date and refer to previous material by visiting our VBO COVID-19 website.

On the site you can find all updates, guidelines, reminders and messages issued so far, as well as useful links including to official information in English and other languages. No log-in is needed.

Link to the site: https://nucleus.iaea.org/sites/covid19/SitePages/Home.aspx 

COVID-19 WEBSITE FOR ALL UN SYSTEM PERSONNEL

FEEDBACK/SUGGESTIONS: Please write to martin.nesirky@un.org

In today’s update:

  • Message from the four main Vienna International Centre (VIC)-based organizations
  • Latest Austrian developments and measures

MESSAGE FROM THE MAIN VIC-BASED ORGANIZATIONS (VBOs) UNOV/UNODC – IAEA – UNIDO – CTBTO

Information on the numbers of SARS CoV-2 cases involving VBO personnel is available here and will be updated as necessary.

All personnel are encouraged to take advantage of the free COVID-19 testing services provided by the Austrian authorities. Those coming to the VIC are especially encouraged to test themselves weekly with either PCR or rapid antigen tests to contain the spread of COVID-19. Please note that no testing is required for entry to the VIC. You can find more information on how and where you can test yourself here.

VIC Medical Service message:

Due to the deteriorating COVID-19 situation in India, the following procedure must be followed by all VIC-based personnel returning from India. Effective immediately, all travellers returning from India or who have been to India within the past ten days must:

  • quarantine for 10 days upon return to Austria;
  • have a PCR test upon arrival in Austria;
  •  and have a second PCR test 10 days after return to Austria. 

All travellers returning from India may only return to the office after receiving the negative PCR test following the 10-day quarantine.

The “Alles gurgelt” (Everyone gargles) free PCR test initiative provided by the City of Vienna has now widened its scope to all those living in Vienna, not just specific registered organizations or businesses.

For VIC personnel already using the service:

  • As announced today, no new bar codes will be sent each week by SMS.
  • To continue using the system, a personal bar code will be needed.
  • To obtain this bar code, go to www.allesgurgelt.at   
  • Log in with current username and password and follow the steps (for example, an authentication code will be sent to you by email).
  • Go to the “personal pick-up code” link and save this bar code as it will be required in the future.
  • Please check regularly in case this personal bar code is updated.
  • Four test kits per person per week (instead of eight previously) due to the increased population coverage and demand.

Those who have not yet used the service can register throughwww.allesgurgelt.at  

VIC Medical Service reminders:

  • Wear your FFP2 mask over nose and mouth
  • Observe the physical distance rule in the cafeteria 
  • Do not gather in groups (for example for coffee breaks)
  • Especially vulnerable persons (including pregnant women) should work from home. If that is not possible those individuals should adhere to the special mitigation measures for them at the workplace
  • If not already done, VIC personnel are encouraged to pre-register for vaccination on the respective Austrian provincial websites

LATEST AUSTRIAN DEVELOMENTS AND MEASURES:

  • Niederösterreich (Lower Austria) province will open bookings for vaccination appointments for all age groups in a phased system starting 3-10 May.
  • The Austrian national vaccination commission officially approved the Johnson & Johnson vaccine on Wednesday.
  • The Austrian national vaccination commission has recommended prioritizing pregnant women for vaccination. This is yet to be implemented by the provinces in their vaccination plans.
  • Austria imposed a landing ban on flights from India.
  • The updated legal text on regulations on entering Austria is available  here. The updated legal text on landing bans is available here. (Both in German)
  • Vienna’s 24-hour lockdown will end on 3 May, the city’s mayor said at a televised briefing on Tuesday after meetings with experts and other city officials.
  • Mayor Michael Ludwig said all shops could reopen on that date, along with hairdressers and other body-related services. FFP2 masks would still be required. A negative test would be needed for hairdressers and other such services. Museums will reopen.
  • Restaurants, cafes, bars and cultural venues will remain closed, Ludwig said.
  • The mayor said city leaders would decide next week whether and to what extent the opening steps announced by the Federal Government for 19 May will apply to Vienna. Opening many sectors at the same time would be very difficult, the mayor said.
  • Ludwig said Vienna’s intensive care units were still in a serious position, although there had been an improvement in the numbers. The aim was to get below 33 per cent of intensive care beds being occupied by COVID-19 patients.
  • It was not announced whether Vienna would allow students of all grades to return to full-time in-person schooling from 17 May in line with the Education Ministry’s decision last week.
  • These are the measures that remain in place in Vienna and Lower Austria (Niederösterreich) until 2 May. Lower Austria had already announced it would end its lockdown on that date:
  • Twenty-four-hour lockdown. People should not leave their homes except for the usual exceptions such as essential shopping and exercise. Additionally, in this lockdown it will be possible to leave your home to collect goods.
  • One household can meet maximum one single person to whom there are close relations. This applies to meeting both indoors and outdoors.
  • Non-essential shops, hairdressers, nail shops, museums and libraries, for example, will be closed during these periods.
  • The legal text of the regulations that apply from 1 April is online in German.
  • The City of Vienna decreed that FFP2 masks must be worn in the following public spaces (links to maps of the exact areas on the City of Vienna website). This measure will be lifted from 3 May, but Ludwig said it could be reintroduced if conditions deteriorate:
  • Donaukanal (between Friedensbrücke and Franzensbrücke):  Plan (2,4 MB PDF)
  • Schwedenplatz:   Plan (1,5 MB PDF)
  • Maria-Theresien-Platz and Museumsquartier:   Plan (1,2 MB PDF)
  • Stephansplatz: Plan (1 MB PDF)  
  • Karlsplatz/Resselpark: Plan (1,3 MB PDF)
  • The Austrian Government’s measures related to entering Austria at all borders, including land borders, remain in place until at least 31 May.
  • From Friday 15 January, all those entering Austria need to complete an  online pre-clearance form in English or German, regardless of whether they have diplomatic status.
  • Austria’s national vaccination dashboard is online in   English  and  German  – it works best using Firefox or Google Chrome.
  • Austria national vaccination dashboard is online in   English and   German.
  • There is information on Austria’s overall vaccination programme in   German  and on Vienna’s programme in   English  and   German .
  • There is a wide range of information on COVID-19 measures, vaccination and testing in 17 different languages, including English, here.
  • Austrian officials encourage all those in Austria to download the Stopp Corona app to help with contact tracing. The app is available in English  as well as   German.
  • The official Austrian dashboard has the latest data on COVID-19. It is available in English as well as German and is updated each day at 1400.

NOTE ON COVID-19 UPDATES:

Updates are issued whenever there is fresh information from the VBOs or the Host Country.

Between updates, you can keep up to date and refer to previous material by visiting our VBO COVID-19 website.

On the site you can find all updates, guidelines, reminders and messages issued so far, as well as useful links including to official information in English and other languages. No log-in is needed.

Link to the site: https://nucleus.iaea.org/sites/covid19/SitePages/Home.aspx 

COVID-19 WEBSITE FOR ALL UN SYSTEM PERSONNEL

FEEDBACK/SUGGESTIONS: Please write to martin.nesirky@un.org

In today’s update:

  • Message from the four main Vienna International Centre (VIC)-based organizations
  • Latest Austrian developments and measures

MESSAGE FROM THE MAIN VIC-BASED ORGANIZATIONS (VBOs) UNOV/UNODC – IAEA – UNIDO – CTBTO

Information on the numbers of SARS CoV-2 cases involving VBO personnel is available here and will be updated as necessary.

All personnel are encouraged to take advantage of the free COVID-19 testing services provided by the Austrian authorities. Those coming to the VIC are especially encouraged to test themselves weekly with either PCR or rapid antigen tests to contain the spread of COVID-19. Please note that no testing is required for entry to the VIC. You can find more information on how and where you can test yourself here.

VIC Medical Service message:

The “Alles gurgelt” (Everyone gargles) free PCR test initiative provided by the City of Vienna has now widened its scope to all those living in Vienna, not just specific registered organizations or businesses.

For VIC personnel already using the service:

  • As announced today, no new bar codes will be sent each week by SMS.
  • To continue using the system, a personal bar code will be needed.
  • To obtain this bar code, go to www.allesgurgelt.at   
  • Log in with current username and password and follow the steps (for example, an authentication code will be sent to you by email).
  • Go to the “personal pick-up code” link and save this bar code as it will be required in the future.
  • Please check regularly in case this personal bar code is updated.
  • Four test kits per person per week (instead of eight previously) due to the increased population coverage and demand.

Those who have not yet used the service can register throughwww.allesgurgelt.at  

VIC Medical Service reminders:

  • Wear your FFP2 mask over nose and mouth
  • Observe the physical distance rule in the cafeteria 
  • Do not gather in groups (for example for coffee breaks)
  • Especially vulnerable persons (including pregnant women) should work from home. If that is not possible those individuals should adhere to the special mitigation measures for them at the workplace
  • If not already done, VIC personnel are encouraged to pre-register for vaccination on the respective Austrian provincial websites

LATEST AUSTRIAN DEVELOMENTS AND MEASURES:

  • Vienna’s 24-hour lockdown will end on 3 May, the city’s mayor said at a televised briefing on Tuesday after meetings with experts and other city officials.
  • Mayor Michael Ludwig said all shops could reopen on that date, along with hairdressers and other body-related services. FFP2 masks would still be required. A negative test would be needed for hairdressers and other such services. Museums will reopen.
  • Restaurants, cafes, bars and cultural venues will remain closed, Ludwig said.
  • The mayor said city leaders would decide next week whether and to what extent the opening steps announced by the Federal Government for 19 May will apply to Vienna. Opening many sectors at the same time would be very difficult, the mayor said.
  • Ludwig said Vienna’s intensive care units were still in a serious position, although there had been an improvement in the numbers. The aim was to get below 33 per cent of intensive care beds being occupied by COVID-19 patients.
  • It was not announced whether Vienna would allow students of all grades to return to full-time in-person schooling from 17 May in line with the Education Ministry’s decision last week.
  • These are the measures that remain in place in Vienna and Lower Austria (Niederösterreich) until 2 May. Lower Austria had already announced it would end its lockdown on that date:
  • Twenty-four-hour lockdown. People should not leave their homes except for the usual exceptions such as essential shopping and exercise. Additionally, in this lockdown it will be possible to leave your home to collect goods.
  • One household can meet maximum one single person to whom there are close relations. This applies to meeting both indoors and outdoors.
  • Non-essential shops, hairdressers, nail shops, museums and libraries, for example, will be closed during these periods.
  • The legal text of the regulations that apply from 1 April is online in German.
  • The City of Vienna decreed that FFP2 masks must be worn in the following public spaces (links to maps of the exact areas on the City of Vienna website). This measure will be lifted from 3 May, but Ludwig said it could be reintroduced if conditions deteriorate:
  • Donaukanal (between Friedensbrücke and Franzensbrücke):  Plan (2,4 MB PDF)
  • Schwedenplatz:   Plan (1,5 MB PDF)
  • Maria-Theresien-Platz and Museumsquartier:   Plan (1,2 MB PDF)
  • Stephansplatz: Plan (1 MB PDF)  
  • Karlsplatz/Resselpark: Plan (1,3 MB PDF)
  • The Austrian Government’s measures related to entering Austria at all borders, including land borders, remain in place until at least 31 May.
  • From Friday 15 January, all those entering Austria need to complete an  online pre-clearance form in English or German, regardless of whether they have diplomatic status.
  • Austria’s national vaccination dashboard is online in   English  and  German  – it works best using Firefox or Google Chrome.
  • Austria national vaccination dashboard is online in   English and   German.
  • There is information on Austria’s overall vaccination programme in   German  and on Vienna’s programme in   English  and   German .
  • There is a wide range of information on COVID-19 measures, vaccination and testing in 17 different languages, including English, here.
  • Austrian officials encourage all those in Austria to download the Stopp Corona app to help with contact tracing. The app is available in English  as well as   German.
  • The official Austrian dashboard has the latest data on COVID-19. It is available in English as well as German and is updated each day at 1400.

NOTE ON COVID-19 UPDATES:

Updates are issued whenever there is fresh information from the VBOs or the Host Country.

Between updates, you can keep up to date and refer to previous material by visiting our VBO COVID-19 website.

On the site you can find all updates, guidelines, reminders and messages issued so far, as well as useful links including to official information in English and other languages. No log-in is needed.

Link to the site: https://nucleus.iaea.org/sites/covid19/SitePages/Home.aspx 

COVID-19 WEBSITE FOR ALL UN SYSTEM PERSONNEL

FEEDBACK/SUGGESTIONS: Please write to martin.nesirky@un.org

In today’s update:

  • Message from the four main Vienna International Centre (VIC)-based organizations
  • Latest Austrian developments and measures

MESSAGE FROM THE MAIN VIC-BASED ORGANIZATIONS (VBOs) UNOV/UNODC – IAEA – UNIDO – CTBTO

Since Monday 19 April, the VIC Medical Service has been notified that nine people who work for VBOs tested positive for SARS CoV-2. Five work for UNIDO, two for UNOV/UNODC and two for IAEA. There was no workplace exposure. When there is no workplace exposure it means the individual concerned was not at work during the time of potential infectivity. Weekly textual updates will be provided, usually on Mondays.

Information on the numbers of SARS CoV-2 cases involving VBO personnel is available here and will be updated as necessary.

All personnel are encouraged to take advantage of the free COVID-19 testing services provided by the Austrian authorities. Those coming to the VIC are especially encouraged to test themselves weekly with either PCR or rapid antigen tests to contain the spread of COVID-19. Please note that no testing is required for entry to the VIC. You can find more information on how and where you can test yourself here.

VIC Medical Service message:

The “Alles gurgelt” (Everyone gargles) free PCR test initiative provided by the City of Vienna has now widened its scope to all those living in Vienna, not just specific registered organizations or businesses.

For VIC personnel already using the service:

  • As announced today, no new bar codes will be sent each week by SMS.
  • To continue using the system, a personal bar code will be needed.
  • To obtain this bar code, go to www.allesgurgelt.at
  • Log in with current username and password and follow the steps (for example, an authentication code will be sent to you by email).
  • Go to the “personal pick-up code” link and save this bar code as it will be required in the future.
  • Please check regularly in case this personal bar code is updated.
  • Four test kits per person per week (instead of eight previously) due to the increased population coverage and demand.

Those who have not yet used the service can register through www.allesgurgelt.at

VIC Medical Service reminders:

  • Wear your FFP2 mask over nose and mouth
  • Observe the physical distance rule in the cafeteria
  • Do not gather in groups (for example for coffee breaks)
  • Especially vulnerable persons (including pregnant women) should work from home. If that is not possible those individuals should adhere to the special mitigation measures for them at the workplace
  • If not already done, VIC personnel are encouraged to pre-register for vaccination on the respective Austrian provincial websites

LATEST AUSTRIAN DEVELOMENTS AND MEASURES:

  • According to media, the City of Vienna is to decide on Tuesday on the way ahead after 2 May, when the additional regional regulations (“hard lockdown,”) currently in place in Vienna and Lower Austria, expire. The City is also yet to decide on whether and to what extent the opening steps announced by the Federal Government for 19 May will apply to Vienna or whether to have a slower opening in Vienna.
  • Schools in Vienna and Lower Austria returned to in-person schooling today, with a shift system in middle and high schools.
  • On Saturday, Minister of Education Heinz Fassmann elaborated on the plans announced by the Government on Friday for all schools to return to full-time in-person classes as of 17 May. All students would have to test for COVID-19 three times per week. Final-year high school students taking their leaving exams (Matura) should use the opportunity to go to a COVID-19 test centre on the day before their exam, said Fassmann.
  • These measures remain in place in Vienna and Lower Austria (Niederösterreich) until at least 2 May:
  • Twenty-four-hour lockdown. People should not leave their homes except for the usual exceptions such as essential shopping and exercise. Additionally, in this lockdown it will be possible to leave your home to collect goods.
  • One household can meet maximum one single person to whom there are close relations. This applies to meeting both indoors and outdoors.
  • Non-essential shops, hairdressers, nail shops, museums and libraries, for example, will be closed during these periods.
  • The legal text of the regulations that apply from 1 April is online in German.
  • Lower Austria and Burgenland decided on Wednesday to extend their 1-6 April lockdown to 10 April to be in step with Vienna.
  • Austrian Chancellor Sebastian Kurz and Health Minister Rudolf Anschober are meeting online on Thursday with provincial intensive care coordinators to review the challenges hospitals face.
  • In Vienna, where 206 people are in intensive care, one senior doctor told ORF TV, “We are reaching our limits.”
  • The City of Vienna decreed that FFP2 masks must be worn in the following public spaces between 1 and 10 April (links to maps of the exact areas on the City of Vienna website):
  • Donaukanal (between Friedensbrücke and Franzensbrücke): Plan (2,4 MB PDF)
  • Schwedenplatz: Plan (1,5 MB PDF)
  • Maria-Theresien-Platz and Museumsquartier: Plan (1,2 MB PDF)
  • Stephansplatz: Plan (1 MB PDF)
  • Karlsplatz/Resselpark: Plan (1,3 MB PDF)
  • The Austrian Government’s measures related to entering Austria at all borders, including land borders, remain in place until at least 31 May.
  • From Friday 15 January, all those entering Austria need to complete an online pre-clearance form in English or German, regardless of whether they have diplomatic status.
  • Austria’s national vaccination dashboard is online in English and German – it works best using Firefox or Google Chrome.
  • Austria national vaccination dashboard is online in English and German.
  • There is information on Austria’s overall vaccination programme in German and on Vienna’s programme in English and German .
  • There is a wide range of information on COVID-19 measures, vaccination and testing in 17 different languages, including English, here.
  • Austrian officials encourage all those in Austria to download the Stopp Corona app to help with contact tracing. The app is available in English as well as German.
  • The official Austrian dashboard has the latest data on COVID-19. It is available in English as well as German and is updated each day at 1400.

NOTE ON COVID-19 UPDATES:

Updates are issued whenever there is fresh information from the VBOs or the Host Country.

Between updates, you can keep up to date and refer to previous material by visiting our VBO COVID-19 website.

On the site you can find all updates, guidelines, reminders and messages issued so far, as well as useful links including to official information in English and other languages. No log-in is needed.

Link to the site: https://nucleus.iaea.org/sites/covid19/SitePages/Home.aspx

COVID-19 WEBSITE FOR ALL UN SYSTEM PERSONNEL

FEEDBACK/SUGGESTIONS: Please write to martin.nesirky@un.org

In today’s update:

  • Message from the four main Vienna International Centre (VIC)-based organizations
  • Latest Austrian developments and measures

MESSAGE FROM THE MAIN VIC-BASED ORGANIZATIONS (VBOs) UNOV/UNODC – IAEA – UNIDO – CTBTO

The Austrian government has announced an easing of restrictions in a number of sectors nationally from 19 May, subject to backing from the nine provinces. The VBOs are studying the latest Austrian measures and will provide further information on any impact on VIC operations.

Information on the numbers of SARS CoV-2 cases involving VBO personnel is available here and will be updated as necessary.

All personnel are encouraged to take advantage of the free COVID-19 testing services provided by the Austrian authorities. Those coming to the VIC are especially encouraged to test themselves weekly with either PCR or rapid antigen tests to contain the spread of COVID-19. Please note that no testing is required for entry to the VIC. You can find more information on how and where you can test yourself here.

VIC Medical Service message:

The “Alles gurgelt” (Everyone gargles) free PCR test initiative provided by the City of Vienna has now widened its scope to all those living in Vienna, not just specific registered organizations or businesses.

For VIC personnel already using the service:

  • As announced today, no new bar codes will be sent each week by SMS.
  • To continue using the system, a personal bar code will be needed.
  • To obtain this bar code, go to www.allesgurgelt.at
  • Log in with current username and password and follow the steps (for example, an authentication code will be sent to you by email).
  • Go to the “personal pick-up code” link and save this bar code as it will be required in the future.
  • Please check regularly in case this personal bar code is updated.
  • Four test kits per person per week (instead of eight previously) due to the increased population coverage and demand.

Those who have not yet used the service can register throughwww.allesgurgelt.at

VIC Medical Service reminders:

  • Wear your FFP2 mask over nose and mouth
  • Observe the physical distance rule in the cafeteria
  • Do not gather in groups (for example for coffee breaks)
  • Especially vulnerable persons (including pregnant women) should work from home. If that is not possible those individuals should adhere to the special mitigation measures for them at the workplace
  • If not already done, VIC personnel are encouraged to pre-register for vaccination on the respective Austrian provincial websites

LATEST AUSTRIAN DEVELOMENTS AND MEASURES:

  • The Austrian government met with experts as well as representatives of the provinces, municipalities, business and labour on Friday to discuss the way ahead.
  • In a televised news conference following the meeting, Chancellor Sebastian Kurz said the vaccination programme was making progress and he expected everyone who wished to be vaccinated to be offered a first shot before July.
  • Kurz said that from 19 May, opening steps, with clear safety concepts, would be possible nationally.
  • Significantly, this will be subject to the decision of the regional government in each province. Vienna’s mayor urged continued caution, for example.
  • Kurz said the basic requirement for access to all areas would be meeting one of the three criteria of a planned “green passport”, which would provide evidence of vaccination, testing or COVID-19 recovery. These three would be treated equally. Additionally, distancing, masks and group limits would continue to be required where needed.
  • Restaurants would be open to those meeting the “vaccinated, tested, recovered” criteria, with a maximum of four adults per table indoors and 10 outdoors, in each case plus children.
  • Sports activities would be open to those meeting the “vaccinated, tested, recovered” criteria, with limitations on the number of people participating.
  • Cultural events would be allowed, and accessible to those meeting the “vaccinated, tested, recovered” criteria, for a maximum of 1,500 participants indoors and 3,000 outdoors.
  • The tourism sector would be opened to those meeting the “vaccinated, tested, recovered” criteria, including to tourists from abroad from 19 May. There would be quarantine requirements for travellers from high-incidence areas but not from countries or regions where infections were under control.
  • More details would be provided on these measures in the coming days, Kurz said.
  • It was expected that safety measures in the above areas could be reduced in July.
  • It was planned for all schools to return to full-time in-person schooling from 17 May. The Education Minister will give a press conference with further details on Saturday.
  • Professor Oswald Wagner, Vice Rector of Vienna Medical University, recommended that individuals exercise caution and consider possibly not participating in all opened sectors before they were fully vaccinated. Health Minister Wolfgang Mückstein urged everyone eligible to get vaccinated.
  • In a separate news conference today, the Mayor of Vienna, Michael Ludwig, said the way ahead for Vienna would be discussed next week and would be based on infection numbers and intensive care capacity, which remained a cause for concern. If necessary, Vienna would proceed with opening steps more cautiously and later than the rest of the country, said Ludwig.
  • These measures remain in place in Vienna and Lower Austria (Niederösterreich) until at least 2 May:
  • Twenty-four-hour lockdown. People should not leave their homes except for the usual exceptions such as essential shopping and exercise. Additionally, in this lockdown it will be possible to leave your home to collect goods.
  • One household can meet maximum one single person to whom there are close relations. This applies to meeting both indoors and outdoors.
  • Non-essential shops, hairdressers, nail shops, museums and libraries, for example, will be closed during these periods.
  • The legal text of the regulations that apply from 1 April is online in German.
  • Lower Austria and Burgenland decided on Wednesday to extend their 1-6 April lockdown to 10 April to be in step with Vienna.
  • Austrian Chancellor Sebastian Kurz and Health Minister Rudolf Anschober are meeting online on Thursday with provincial intensive care coordinators to review the challenges hospitals face.
  • In Vienna, where 206 people are in intensive care, one senior doctor told ORF TV, “We are reaching our limits.”
  • The City of Vienna decreed that FFP2 masks must be worn in the following public spaces between 1 and 10 April (links to maps of the exact areas on the City of Vienna website):
  • Donaukanal (between Friedensbrücke and Franzensbrücke): Plan (2,4 MB PDF)
  • Schwedenplatz: Plan (1,5 MB PDF)
  • Maria-Theresien-Platz and Museumsquartier: Plan (1,2 MB PDF)
  • Stephansplatz: Plan (1 MB PDF)
  • Karlsplatz/Resselpark: Plan (1,3 MB PDF)
  • The Austrian Government’s measures related to entering Austria at all borders, including land borders, remain in place until at least 31 May.
  • From Friday 15 January, all those entering Austria need to complete an online pre-clearance form in English or German, regardless of whether they have diplomatic status.
  • Austria’s national vaccination dashboard is online in English and German – it works best using Firefox or Google Chrome.
  • Austria national vaccination dashboard is online in English and German.
  • There is information on Austria’s overall vaccination programme in German and on Vienna’s programme in English and German .
  • There is a wide range of information on COVID-19 measures, vaccination and testing in 17 different languages, including English, here.
  • Austrian officials encourage all those in Austria to download the Stopp Corona app to help with contact tracing. The app is available in English as well as German.
  • The official Austrian dashboard has the latest data on COVID-19. It is available in English as well as German and is updated each day at 1400.

NOTE ON COVID-19 UPDATES:

Updates are issued whenever there is fresh information from the VBOs or the Host Country.

Between updates, you can keep up to date and refer to previous material by visiting our VBO COVID-19 website.

On the site you can find all updates, guidelines, reminders and messages issued so far, as well as useful links including to official information in English and other languages. No log-in is needed.

Link to the site: https://nucleus.iaea.org/sites/covid19/SitePages/Home.aspx

COVID-19 WEBSITE FOR ALL UN SYSTEM PERSONNEL

FEEDBACK/SUGGESTIONS: Please write to martin.nesirky@un.org

In today’s update:

  • Message from the four main Vienna International Centre (VIC)-based organizations
  • Latest Austrian developments and measures

MESSAGE FROM THE MAIN VIC-BASED ORGANIZATIONS (VBOs) UNOV/UNODC – IAEA – UNIDO – CTBTO

Since Monday 12 April, the VIC Medical Service has been notified that 15 people who work for VBOs tested positive for SARS CoV-2. Eight work for the IAEA, five for UNIDO, one for UNOV/UNODC and one for CTBTO. Close contacts of one person who tested positive for SARS CoV-2 have been informed. For the other 14 people there was no workplace exposure. When there is no workplace exposure it means the individual concerned was not at work during the time of potential infectivity. Weekly textual updates will be provided, usually on Mondays.

Information on the numbers of SARS CoV-2 cases involving VBO personnel is available here and will be updated as necessary.

All personnel are encouraged to take advantage of the free COVID-19 testing services provided by the Austrian authorities. Those coming to the VIC are especially encouraged to test themselves weekly with either PCR or rapid antigen tests to contain the spread of COVID-19. Please note that no testing is required for entry to the VIC. You can find more information on how and where you can test yourself here.

VIC Medical Service message:

The “Alles gurgelt” (Everyone gargles) free PCR test initiative provided by the City of Vienna has now widened its scope to all those living in Vienna, not just specific registered organizations or businesses.

For VIC personnel already using the service:

  • As announced today, no new bar codes will be sent each week by SMS.
  • To continue using the system, a personal bar code will be needed.
  • To obtain this bar code, go to www.allesgurgelt.at   
  • Log in with current username and password and follow the steps (for example, an authentication code will be sent to you by email).
  • Go to the “personal pick-up code” link and save this bar code as it will be required in the future.
  • Please check regularly in case this personal bar code is updated.
  • Four test kits per person per week (instead of eight previously) due to the increased population coverage and demand.

Those who have not yet used the service can register throughwww.allesgurgelt.at  

VIC Medical Service reminders:

  • Wear your FFP2 mask over nose and mouth
  • Observe the physical distance rule in the cafeteria 
  • Do not gather in groups (for example for coffee breaks)
  • Especially vulnerable persons (including pregnant women) should work from home. If that is not possible those individuals should adhere to the special mitigation measures for them at the workplace
  • If not already done, VIC personnel are encouraged to pre-register for vaccination on the respective Austrian provincial websites

LATEST AUSTRIAN DEVELOMENTS AND MEASURES:

  • Austrian President Alexander Van der Bellen swore in the country’s new health minister, Wolfgang Mückstein, on Monday.
  • The minister said the top priority was protecting lives by ensuring there were enough intensive care beds, according to Austrian media reports.
  • He said he was optimistic about Austria’s vaccination programme because about one million doses from BioNTech/Pfizer were being delivered earlier than originally envisaged.
  • Chancellor Sebastian Kurz said the government agreed Austria would buy one million doses of the Russian Sputnik V vaccine. The vaccine will be administered after it has been approved for use by the European Medicines Agency.
  • On Friday, the government met with experts and regional leaders. Kurz said a detailed plan would be developed and presented this week on reopening closed parts of the economy and society, beginning in May.
  • Vice Chancellor Werner Kogler said the peak of the third wave had been reached but caution was still needed. He urged all those eligible to register for the vaccination programme.  
  • The Vice Rector of the Medical University of Vienna, Oswald Wagner, cautioned against overconfidence when planning reopening steps.
  • Burgenland, one of the three eastern provinces of Austria, ended its 24-hour lockdown measures today.
  • These measures remain in place in Vienna and Lower Austria (Niederösterreich):
  • Twenty-four-hour lockdown. People should not leave their homes except for the usual exceptions such as essential shopping and exercise. Additionally, in this lockdown it will be possible to leave your home to collect goods.
  • One household can meet maximum one single person to whom there are close relations. This applies to meeting both indoors and outdoors.
  • Non-essential shops, hairdressers, nail shops, museums and libraries, for example, will be closed during these periods.
  • The legal text of the regulations that apply from 1 April is online in German.
  • Lower Austria and Burgenland decided on Wednesday to extend their 1-6 April lockdown to 10 April to be in step with Vienna.
  • Austrian Chancellor Sebastian Kurz and Health Minister Rudolf Anschober are meeting online on Thursday with provincial intensive care coordinators to review the challenges hospitals face.
  • In Vienna, where 206 people are in intensive care, one senior doctor told ORF TV, “We are reaching our limits.”
  • The City of Vienna decreed that FFP2 masks must be worn in the following public spaces between 1 and 10 April (links to maps of the exact areas on the City of Vienna website):
  • Donaukanal (between Friedensbrücke and Franzensbrücke):  Plan (2,4 MB PDF)
  • Schwedenplatz:   Plan (1,5 MB PDF)
  • Maria-Theresien-Platz and Museumsquartier:   Plan (1,2 MB PDF)
  • Stephansplatz: Plan (1 MB PDF)  
  • Karlsplatz/Resselpark: Plan (1,3 MB PDF)
  • The Austrian Government’s measures related to entering Austria at all borders, including land borders, remain in place until at least 31 May.
  • From Friday 15 January, all those entering Austria need to complete an  online pre-clearance form in English or German, regardless of whether they have diplomatic status.
  • Austria’s national vaccination dashboard is online in   English  and  German  – it works best using Firefox or Google Chrome.
  • Austria national vaccination dashboard is online in   English and   German.
  • There is information on Austria’s overall vaccination programme in   German  and on Vienna’s programme in   English  and   German .
  • There is a wide range of information on COVID-19 measures, vaccination and testing in 17 different languages, including English, here.
  • Austrian officials encourage all those in Austria to download the Stopp Corona app to help with contact tracing. The app is available in English  as well as   German.
  • The official Austrian dashboard has the latest data on COVID-19. It is available in English as well as German and is updated each day at 1400.

NOTE ON COVID-19 UPDATES:

Updates are issued whenever there is fresh information from the VBOs or the Host Country.

Between updates, you can keep up to date and refer to previous material by visiting our VBO COVID-19 website.

On the site you can find all updates, guidelines, reminders and messages issued so far, as well as useful links including to official information in English and other languages. No log-in is needed.

Link to the site: https://nucleus.iaea.org/sites/covid19/SitePages/Home.aspx 

COVID-19 WEBSITE FOR ALL UN SYSTEM PERSONNEL

FEEDBACK/SUGGESTIONS: Please write to martin.nesirky@un.org

In today’s update:

  • Message from the four main Vienna International Centre (VIC)-based organizations
  • Latest Austrian developments and measures

MESSAGE FROM THE MAIN VIC-BASED ORGANIZATIONS (VBOs) UNOV/UNODC – IAEA – UNIDO – CTBTO

Information on the numbers of SARS CoV-2 cases involving VBO personnel is available here and will be updated as necessary.

All personnel are encouraged to take advantage of the free COVID-19 testing services provided by the Austrian authorities. Those coming to the VIC are especially encouraged to test themselves weekly with either PCR or rapid antigen tests to contain the spread of COVID-19. Please note that no testing is required for entry to the VIC. You can find more information on how and where you can test yourself here.

VIC Medical Service message:

The “Alles gurgelt” (Everyone gargles) free PCR test initiative provided by the City of Vienna has now widened its scope to all those living in Vienna, not just specific registered organizations or businesses.

For VIC personnel already using the service:

  • As announced today, no new bar codes will be sent each week by SMS.
  • To continue using the system, a personal bar code will be needed.
  • To obtain this bar code, go to www.allesgurgelt.at
  • Log in with current username and password and follow the steps (for example, an authentication code will be sent to you by email).
  • Go to the “personal pick-up code” link and save this bar code as it will be required in the future.
  • Please check regularly in case this personal bar code is updated.
  • Four test kits per person per week (instead of eight previously) due to the increased population coverage and demand.

Those who have not yet used the service can register throughwww.allesgurgelt.at

VIC Medical Service reminders:

  • Wear your FFP2 mask over nose and mouth
  • Observe the physical distance rule in the cafeteria
  • Do not gather in groups (for example for coffee breaks)
  • Especially vulnerable persons (including pregnant women) should work from home. If that is not possible those individuals should adhere to the special mitigation measures for them at the workplace
  • If not already done, VIC personnel are encouraged to pre-register for vaccination on the respective Austrian provincial websites

LATEST AUSTRIAN DEVELOMENTS AND MEASURES:

  • The City of Vienna opened registration on Thursday for at-risk residents of any age to be vaccinated this month, starting from Monday 19 April.
  • Some 130,000 people fall into this category; about half have already been vaccinated because of their older age.
  • Those who register as an at-risk resident must provide proof before being vaccinated. The proof is a certificate from a doctor registered and licensed in Austria, such as your general practitioner.
  • NOTE: the VIC Medical Service cannot provide such a certificate.
  • The official list of at-risk conditions is available in German.
  • Chancellor Sebastian Kurz said on Thursday the aim was for at least six million people in Austria to have received their first vaccine dose by mid-July, assuming there are no supply delays.
  • The governor of Burgenland, Hans Peter Doskozil, said on Wednesday the province would end its 24-hour lockdown on Monday 19 April, meaning children could return to school and non-essential shops could reopen. This contrasted with the other two eastern provinces, Vienna and Lower Austria (Niederösterreich), which extended their lockdowns until Sunday 2 May.
  • An expert panel advising the Austrian government said on Thursday that the expectation of the overall trend was for the number of new cases to stabilize and reduce, but with sharp regional differences. The pressure remains high on intensive care units, especially in the eastern provinces.
  • These are the measures in place in the three eastern provinces of Austria; Vienna, Lower Austria (Niederösterreich) and Burgenland:
  • Twenty-four-hour lockdown. People should not leave their homes except for the usual exceptions such as essential shopping and exercise. Additionally, in this lockdown it will be possible to leave your home to collect goods.
  • One household can meet maximum one single person to whom there are close relations. This applies to meeting both indoors and outdoors.
  • Non-essential shops, hairdressers, nail shops, museums and libraries, for example, will be closed during these periods.
  • The legal text of the regulations that apply from 1 April is online in German.
  • Lower Austria and Burgenland decided on Wednesday to extend their 1-6 April lockdown to 10 April to be in step with Vienna.
  • Austrian Chancellor Sebastian Kurz and Health Minister Rudolf Anschober are meeting online on Thursday with provincial intensive care coordinators to review the challenges hospitals face.
  • In Vienna, where 206 people are in intensive care, one senior doctor told ORF TV, “We are reaching our limits.”
  • The City of Vienna decreed that FFP2 masks must be worn in the following public spaces between 1 and 10 April (links to maps of the exact areas on the City of Vienna website):
  • Donaukanal (between Friedensbrücke and Franzensbrücke): Plan (2,4 MB PDF)
  • Schwedenplatz: Plan (1,5 MB PDF)
  • Maria-Theresien-Platz and Museumsquartier: Plan (1,2 MB PDF)
  • Stephansplatz: Plan (1 MB PDF)
  • Karlsplatz/Resselpark: Plan (1,3 MB PDF)
  • The Austrian Government’s measures related to entering Austria at all borders, including land borders, remain in place until at least 31 May.
  • From Friday 15 January, all those entering Austria need to complete an online pre-clearance form in English or German, regardless of whether they have diplomatic status.
  • Austria’s national vaccination dashboard is online in English and German – it works best using Firefox or Google Chrome.
  • Austria national vaccination dashboard is online in English and German.
  • There is information on Austria’s overall vaccination programme in German and on Vienna’s programme in English and German .
  • There is a wide range of information on COVID-19 measures, vaccination and testing in 17 different languages, including English, here.
  • Austrian officials encourage all those in Austria to download the Stopp Corona app to help with contact tracing. The app is available in English as well as German.
  • The official Austrian dashboard has the latest data on COVID-19. It is available in English as well as German and is updated each day at 1400.

NOTE ON COVID-19 UPDATES:

Updates are issued whenever there is fresh information from the VBOs or the Host Country.

Between updates, you can keep up to date and refer to previous material by visiting our VBO COVID-19 website.

On the site you can find all updates, guidelines, reminders and messages issued so far, as well as useful links including to official information in English and other languages. No log-in is needed.

Link to the site: https://nucleus.iaea.org/sites/covid19/SitePages/Home.aspx

COVID-19 WEBSITE FOR ALL UN SYSTEM PERSONNEL

FEEDBACK/SUGGESTIONS: Please write to martin.nesirky@un.org

In today’s update:

  • Message from the four main Vienna International Centre (VIC)-based organizations
  • Latest Austrian developments and measures

MESSAGE FROM THE MAIN VIC-BASED ORGANIZATIONS (VBOs) UNOV/UNODC – IAEA – UNIDO – CTBTO

Since Monday 5 April, the VIC Medical Service has been notified that 15 people who work for VBOs tested positive for SARS CoV-2. Nine work for the IAEA, four for UNOV/UNODC and one for UNIDO, and one works at the VIC but not for one of the VBOs. Close contacts of three people who tested positive for SARS CoV-2 have been informed. For the other 12 people there was no workplace exposure. When there is no workplace exposure it means the individual concerned was not at work during the time of potential infectivity. Weekly textual updates will be provided, usually on Mondays.

Information on the numbers of SARS CoV-2 cases involving VBO personnel is available here and will be updated as necessary.

All personnel are encouraged to take advantage of the free COVID-19 testing services provided by the Austrian authorities. Those coming to the VIC are especially encouraged to test themselves weekly with either PCR or rapid antigen tests to contain the spread of COVID-19. Please note that no testing is required for entry to the VIC. You can find more information on how and where you can test yourself here.

VIC Medical Service message:

The “Alles gurgelt” (Everyone gargles) free PCR test initiative provided by the City of Vienna has now widened its scope to all those living in Vienna, not just specific registered organizations or businesses.

For VIC personnel already using the service:

  • As announced today, no new bar codes will be sent each week by SMS.
  • To continue using the system, a personal bar code will be needed.
  • To obtain this bar code, go to www.allesgurgelt.at
  • Log in with current username and password and follow the steps (for example, an authentication code will be sent to you by email).
  • Go to the “personal pick-up code” link and save this bar code as it will be required in the future.
  • Please check regularly in case this personal bar code is updated.
  • Four test kits per person per week (instead of eight previously) due to the increased population coverage and demand.

Those who have not yet used the service can register throughwww.allesgurgelt.at

VIC Medical Service reminders:

  • Wear your FFP2 mask over nose and mouth
  • Observe the physical distance rule in the cafeteria
  • Do not gather in groups (for example for coffee breaks)
  • Especially vulnerable persons (including pregnant women) should work from home. If that is not possible those individuals should adhere to the special mitigation measures for them at the workplace
  • If not already done, VIC personnel are encouraged to pre-register for vaccination on the respective Austrian provincial websites

LATEST AUSTRIAN DEVELOMENTS AND MEASURES:

  • The Mayor of Vienna, Michael Ludwig, said on Monday the lockdown in the city would be extended until Sunday 2 May because of the continued strain on intensive care units in the Austrian capital.
  • In a televised briefing, Ludwig said children would remain in home schooling until 25 April and then be able to return to school for lessons.
  • The extended lockdown would be unpopular but was necessary, Ludwig said, noting younger people were increasingly falling ill with COVID-19. He spoke after being briefed by intensive care doctors and other experts. There were a record 245 people in intensive care in Vienna on Monday, he said.
  • The governor of Lower Austria (Niederösterreich), Johanna Mikl-Leitner, told reporters her province would also extend its lockdown in step with Vienna.
  • It was not immediately clear whether the other eastern province Burgenland would also extend its lockdown. Ludwig said he was in close contact with the governors of the neighbouring provinces and the federal government.
  • The federal government is scheduled to meet with experts, the opposition and regional governors, including Ludwig, on Friday.
  • These are the measures in place in the three eastern provinces of Austria; Vienna, Lower Austria (Niederösterreich) and Burgenland:
  • Twenty-four-hour lockdown. People should not leave their homes except for the usual exceptions such as essential shopping and exercise. Additionally, in this lockdown it will be possible to leave your home to collect goods.
  • One household can meet maximum one single person to whom there are close relations. This applies to meeting both indoors and outdoors.
  • Non-essential shops, hairdressers, nail shops, museums and libraries, for example, will be closed during these periods.
  • The legal text of the regulations that apply from 1 April is online in German.
  • Lower Austria and Burgenland decided on Wednesday to extend their 1-6 April lockdown to 10 April to be in step with Vienna.
  • Austrian Chancellor Sebastian Kurz and Health Minister Rudolf Anschober are meeting online on Thursday with provincial intensive care coordinators to review the challenges hospitals face.
  • In Vienna, where 206 people are in intensive care, one senior doctor told ORF TV, “We are reaching our limits.”
  • The City of Vienna decreed that FFP2 masks must be worn in the following public spaces between 1 and 10 April (links to maps of the exact areas on the City of Vienna website):
  • Donaukanal (between Friedensbrücke and Franzensbrücke): Plan (2,4 MB PDF)
  • Schwedenplatz: Plan (1,5 MB PDF)
  • Maria-Theresien-Platz and Museumsquartier: Plan (1,2 MB PDF)
  • Stephansplatz: Plan (1 MB PDF)
  • Karlsplatz/Resselpark: Plan (1,3 MB PDF)
  • The Austrian Government’s measures related to entering Austria at all borders, including land borders, remain in place until at least 31 May.
  • From Friday 15 January, all those entering Austria need to complete an online pre-clearance form in English or German, regardless of whether they have diplomatic status.
  • Austria’s national vaccination dashboard is online in English and German – it works best using Firefox or Google Chrome.
  • Austria national vaccination dashboard is online in English and German.
  • There is information on Austria’s overall vaccination programme in German and on Vienna’s programme in English and German .
  • There is a wide range of information on COVID-19 measures, vaccination and testing in 17 different languages, including English, here.
  • Austrian officials encourage all those in Austria to download the Stopp Corona app to help with contact tracing. The app is available in English as well as German.
  • The official Austrian dashboard has the latest data on COVID-19. It is available in English as well as German and is updated each day at 1400.

NOTE ON COVID-19 UPDATES:

Updates are issued whenever there is fresh information from the VBOs or the Host Country.

Between updates, you can keep up to date and refer to previous material by visiting our VBO COVID-19 website.

On the site you can find all updates, guidelines, reminders and messages issued so far, as well as useful links including to official information in English and other languages. No log-in is needed.

Link to the site: https://nucleus.iaea.org/sites/covid19/SitePages/Home.aspx

COVID-19 WEBSITE FOR ALL UN SYSTEM PERSONNEL

FEEDBACK/SUGGESTIONS: Please write to martin.nesirky@un.org

In today’s update:

  • Message from the four main Vienna International Centre (VIC)-based organizations
  • Latest Austrian developments and measures

MESSAGE FROM THE MAIN VIC-BASED ORGANIZATIONS (VBOs) UNOV/UNODC – IAEA – UNIDO – CTBTO

Since Monday 29 March until 5 April, the VIC Medical Service has been notified that seven people who work for VBOs tested positive for SARS CoV-2. Three work for the IAEA, three for UNOV/UNODC and one for UNIDO. There was workplace exposure in one case. When there is no workplace exposure it means the individual concerned was not at work during the time of potential infectivity. Weekly textual updates will be provided, usually on Mondays.

Information on the numbers of SARS CoV-2 cases involving VBO personnel is available here and will be updated as necessary.

All personnel are encouraged to take advantage of the free COVID-19 testing services provided by the Austrian authorities. Those coming to the VIC are especially encouraged to test themselves weekly with either PCR or rapid antigen tests to contain the spread of COVID-19. Please note that no testing is required for entry to the VIC. You can find more information on how and where you can test yourself here.

VIC Medical Service message:

The “Alles gurgelt” (Everyone gargles) free PCR test initiative provided by the City of Vienna has now widened its scope to all those living in Vienna, not just specific registered organizations or businesses.

For VIC personnel already using the service:

  • As announced today, no new bar codes will be sent each week by SMS.
  • To continue using the system, a personal bar code will be needed.
  • To obtain this bar code, go to www.allesgurgelt.at
  • Log in with current username and password and follow the steps (for example, an authentication code will be sent to you by email).
  • Go to the “personal pick-up code” link and save this bar code as it will be required in the future.
  • Please check regularly in case this personal bar code is updated.
  • Four test kits per person per week (instead of eight previously) due to the increased population coverage and demand.

Those who have not yet used the service can register throughwww.allesgurgelt.at

VIC Medical Service reminders:

  • Wear your FFP2 mask over nose and mouth
  • Observe the physical distance rule in the cafeteria
  • Do not gather in groups (for example for coffee breaks)
  • Especially vulnerable persons (including pregnant women) should work from home. If that is not possible those individuals should adhere to the special mitigation measures for them at the workplace
  • If not already done, VIC personnel are encouraged to pre-register for vaccination on the respective Austrian provincial websites

LATEST AUSTRIAN DEVELOMENTS AND MEASURES:

  • The measures in place since 1 April in Vienna, Lower Austria (Niederösterreich) and Burgenland, which had been due to be eased from 11 April, will remain so until 18 April, Chancellor Sebastian Kurz said on Tuesday.
  • Speaking at a televised briefing after meetings with experts, the opposition and provincial leaders, Kurz said the decision to extend the measures was taken because of the continued high infection numbers and stretched intensive care units in the three eastern provinces.
  • He said with progress in the vaccination campaign he expected steps to ease measures more generally to become possible in May.
  • A new “opening commission” will chart the course, Kurz said. The commission will include cabinet members, as well as representatives of the employers’ federations and trade unions, the provinces and cities and municipalities.
  • Vice Chancellor Werner Kogler said easing in May was realistic but depended on infection numbers. There would be further discussions on this in 14 days.
  • The Mayor of Vienna, Michael Ludwig, said the caseload and pressure on intensive care remained very serious in the three eastern provinces and they had therefore agreed to continue the measures until at least 18 April. It was important to reduce new infections and intensive care use markedly and sustainably.
  • Professor Oswald Wagner, Vice Rector of Vienna Medical University, representing the experts advising the Government, said the rise over the recent weeks had not been exponential, which the experts considered was due to three factors: FFP2 masks, testing and vaccinations.
  • Wagner recommended all people wear FFP2 masks wherever possible, including in offices. He said the experts recommended telecommuting wherever possible.
  • These are the measures:
  • Twenty-four-hour lockdown. People should not leave their homes except for the usual exceptions such as essential shopping and exercise. Additionally, in this lockdown it will be possible to leave your home to collect goods.
  • One household can meet maximum one single person to whom there are close relations. This applies to meeting both indoors and outdoors.
  • Non-essential shops, hairdressers, nail shops, museums and libraries, for example, will be closed during these periods.
  • The legal text of the regulations that apply from 1 April is online in German.
  • Lower Austria and Burgenland decided on Wednesday to extend their 1-6 April lockdown to 10 April to be in step with Vienna.
  • Austrian Chancellor Sebastian Kurz and Health Minister Rudolf Anschober are meeting online on Thursday with provincial intensive care coordinators to review the challenges hospitals face.
  • In Vienna, where 206 people are in intensive care, one senior doctor told ORF TV, “We are reaching our limits.”
  • The City of Vienna decreed that FFP2 masks must be worn in the following public spaces between 1 and 10 April (links to maps of the exact areas on the City of Vienna website):
  • Donaukanal (between Friedensbrücke and Franzensbrücke): Plan (2,4 MB PDF)
  • Schwedenplatz: Plan (1,5 MB PDF)
  • Maria-Theresien-Platz and Museumsquartier: Plan (1,2 MB PDF)
  • Stephansplatz: Plan (1 MB PDF)
  • Karlsplatz/Resselpark: Plan (1,3 MB PDF)
  • The Austrian Government’s measures related to entering Austria at all borders, including land borders, remain in place until at least 31 May.
  • From Friday 15 January, all those entering Austria need to complete an online pre-clearance form in English or German, regardless of whether they have diplomatic status.
  • Austria’s national vaccination dashboard is online in English and German – it works best using Firefox or Google Chrome.
  • Austria national vaccination dashboard is online in English and German.
  • There is information on Austria’s overall vaccination programme in German and on Vienna’s programme in English and German .
  • There is a wide range of information on COVID-19 measures, vaccination and testing in 17 different languages, including English, here.
  • Austrian officials encourage all those in Austria to download the Stopp Corona app to help with contact tracing. The app is available in English as well as German.
  • The official Austrian dashboard has the latest data on COVID-19. It is available in English as well as German and is updated each day at 1400.

NOTE ON COVID-19 UPDATES:

Updates are issued whenever there is fresh information from the VBOs or the Host Country.

Between updates, you can keep up to date and refer to previous material by visiting our VBO COVID-19 website.

On the site you can find all updates, guidelines, reminders and messages issued so far, as well as useful links including to official information in English and other languages. No log-in is needed.

Link to the site: https://nucleus.iaea.org/sites/covid19/SitePages/Home.aspx

COVID-19 WEBSITE FOR ALL UN SYSTEM PERSONNEL

FEEDBACK/SUGGESTIONS: Please write to martin.nesirky@un.org

In today’s update:

  • Message from the four main Vienna International Centre (VIC)-based organizations
  • Latest Austrian developments and measures

MESSAGE FROM THE MAIN VIC-BASED ORGANIZATIONS (VBOs) UNOV/UNODC – IAEA – UNIDO – CTBTO

Austria’s latest measures took effect at 00:00 on Thursday 1 April and will be in place until at least 23:59 on Saturday 10 April in Vienna, Lower Austria (Niederösterreich) and Burgenland. Taking into account the latest measures adopted by the Austrian authorities, there is no additional impact on the VIC operations and the current measures remain in place.

Bearing in mind their mandate and operational requirements, CTBTO, IAEA, UNIDO and UNOV/UNODC will continue with a reduced presence at the VIC between 1 and 10 April.

All personnel are encouraged to take advantage of the free COVID-19 testing services provided by the Austrian authorities. Those coming to the VIC are especially encouraged to test themselves weekly with either PCR or rapid antigen tests to contain the spread of COVID-19. Please note that no testing is required for entry to the VIC. You can find more information on how and where you can test yourself here.

VIC Medical Service message:

The “Alles gurgelt” (Everyone gargles) free PCR test initiative provided by the City of Vienna has now widened its scope to all those living in Vienna, not just specific registered organizations or businesses.

For VIC personnel already using the service:

  • As announced today, no new bar codes will be sent each week by SMS.
  • To continue using the system, a personal bar code will be needed.
  • To obtain this bar code, go to www.allesgurgelt.at
  • Log in with current username and password and follow the steps (for example, an authentication code will be sent to you by email).
  • Go to the “personal pick-up code” link and save this bar code as it will be required in the future.
  • Please check regularly in case this personal bar code is updated.
  • Four test kits per person per week (instead of eight previously) due to the increased population coverage and demand.

Those who have not yet used the service can register throughwww.allesgurgelt.at

Reminder: VIC Commissary

In line with local authority measures, the VIC Commissary remains open from 11:00 to 18:00.

To avoid crowding during peak periods and extended waiting times, Commissary cardholders must register for a date and timeslot. Cardholders will receive an automatically generated confirmation of their registration via email that must be shown (electronically or as a printout) to Commissary staff upon request. No limit is placed on frequency of visits.

Family cardholders must show their email registration at the gate. It is not mandatory to present a negative COVID-19 test result to enter the VIC Commissary.

Family members do not have access to the building, except for the Commissary, until further notice. Family cardholders driving in thorough Gate 4 should park in the Commissary car park. Children are currently not allowed to enter the VIC, including the Commissary.

VIC Medical Service reminders:

  • Wear your FFP2 mask over nose and mouth
  • Observe the physical distance rule in the cafeteria
  • Do not gather in groups (for example for coffee breaks)
  • Especially vulnerable persons (including pregnant women) should work from home. If that is not possible those individuals should adhere to the special mitigation measures for them at the workplace
  • If not already done, VIC personnel are encouraged to pre-register for vaccination on the respective Austrian provincial websites

Information on the numbers of SARS CoV-2 cases involving VBO personnel is available here and will be updated as necessary.

LATEST AUSTRIAN DEVELOPMENTS AND MEASURES:

  • The following measures came into effect from 00:00 on Thursday 1 April until at least 23:59 on 10 April in Vienna, Lower Austria (Niederösterreich) and Burgenland.
  • <
  • Twenty-four-hour lockdown. People should not leave their homes except for the usual exceptions such as essential shopping and exercise. Additionally, in this lockdown it will be possible to leave your home to collect goods.
  • One household can meet maximum one single person to whom there are close relations. This applies to meeting both indoors and outdoors.
  • Non-essential shops, hairdressers, nail shops, museums and libraries, for example, will be closed during these periods.
  • The legal text of the regulations that apply from 1 April is online in German.
  • Lower Austria and Burgenland decided on Wednesday to extend their 1-6 April lockdown to 10 April to be in step with Vienna.
  • Austrian Chancellor Sebastian Kurz and Health Minister Rudolf Anschober are meeting online on Thursday with provincial intensive care coordinators to review the challenges hospitals face.
  • In Vienna, where 206 people are in intensive care, one senior doctor told ORF TV, “We are reaching our limits.”
  • The City of Vienna decreed that FFP2 masks must be worn in the following public spaces between 1 and 10 April (links to maps of the exact areas on the City of Vienna website):
  • Donaukanal (between Friedensbrücke and Franzensbrücke): Plan (2,4 MB PDF)
  • Schwedenplatz: Plan (1,5 MB PDF)
  • Maria-Theresien-Platz and Museumsquartier: Plan (1,2 MB PDF)
  • Stephansplatz: Plan (1 MB PDF)
  • Karlsplatz/Resselpark: Plan (1,3 MB PDF)
  • The Austrian Government’s measures related to entering Austria at all borders, including land borders, remain in place until at least 31 May.
  • From Friday 15 January, all those entering Austria need to complete an online pre-clearance form in English or German, regardless of whether they have diplomatic status.
  • Austria’s national vaccination dashboard is online in English and German – it works best using Firefox or Google Chrome.
  • Austria national vaccination dashboard is online in English and German.
  • There is information on Austria’s overall vaccination programme in German and on Vienna’s programme in English and German .
  • There is a wide range of information on COVID-19 measures, vaccination and testing in 17 different languages, including English, here.
  • Austrian officials encourage all those in Austria to download the Stopp Corona app to help with contact tracing. The app is available in English as well as German.
  • The official Austrian dashboard has the latest data on COVID-19. It is available in English as well as German and is updated each day at 1400.

NOTE ON COVID-19 UPDATES:

Updates are issued whenever there is fresh information from the VBOs or the Host Country.

Between updates, you can keep up to date and refer to previous material by visiting our VBO COVID-19 website.

On the site you can find all updates, guidelines, reminders and messages issued so far, as well as useful links including to official information in English and other languages. No log-in is needed.

Link to the site: https://nucleus.iaea.org/sites/covid19/SitePages/Home.aspx

COVID-19 WEBSITE FOR ALL UN SYSTEM PERSONNEL

FEEDBACK/SUGGESTIONS: Please write to martin.nesirky@un.org

In today’s update:

  • Message from the four main Vienna International Centre (VIC)-based organizations
  • Latest Austrian developments and measures

MESSAGE FROM THE MAIN VIC-BASED ORGANIZATIONS (VBOs) UNOV/UNODC – IAEA – UNIDO – CTBTO

Austria’s latest measures take effect at 00:00 on Thursday 1 April and will be in place until at least 10 April in Vienna and 6 April in Lower Austria (Niederösterreich) and Burgenland.

Taking into account the latest measures adopted by the Austrian authorities, there is no additional impact on the VIC operations and the current measures remain in place.

Bearing in mind their mandate and operational requirements, CTBTO, IAEA, UNIDO and UNOV/UNODC will continue with a reduced presence at the VIC between 1 and 10 April.

All personnel are encouraged to take advantage of the free COVID-19 testing services provided by the Austrian authorities. Those coming to the VIC are especially encouraged to test themselves weekly with either PCR or rapid antigen tests to contain the spread of COVID-19. Please note that no testing is required for entry to the VIC. You can find more information on how and where you can test yourself here.

Reminder: VIC Commissary

In line with local authority measures, the VIC Commissary remains open from 11:00 to 18:00.

To avoid crowding during peak periods and extended waiting times, Commissary cardholders must register for a date and timeslot. Cardholders will receive an automatically generated confirmation of their registration via email that must be shown (electronically or as a printout) to Commissary staff upon request. No limit is placed on frequency of visits.

Family cardholders must show their email registration at the gate. It is not mandatory to present a negative COVID-19 test result to enter the VIC Commissary.

Family members and retirees do not have access to the building, except for the Commissary, until further notice. Family cardholders driving in thorough Gate 4 should park in the Commissary car park. Children are currently not allowed to enter the VIC, including the Commissary.

VIC Medical Service reminders:

  • Wear your FFP2 mask over nose and mouth
  • Observe the physical distance rule in the cafeteria
  • Do not gather in groups (for example for coffee breaks)
  • Especially vulnerable persons (including pregnant women) should work from home. If that is not possible those individuals should adhere to the special mitigation measures for them at the workplace
  • If not already done, VIC personnel are encouraged to pre-register for vaccination on the respective Austrian provincial websites

Information on the numbers of SARS CoV-2 cases involving VBO personnel is available here and will be updated as necessary.

LATEST AUSTRIAN DEVELOPMENTS AND MEASURES:

  • Austria’s lower house of parliament approved the following measures on Tuesday:
  • From 00:00 on Thursday 1 April until 23:59 10 April, there will be a 24-hour lockdown in Vienna.
  • A 24-hour lockdown will be in place in the east Austrian provinces of Lower Austria (Niederösterreich) and Burgenland from 00:00 on Thursday 1 April until 23:59 on 6 April.
  • People should not leave their homes except for the usual exceptions such as essential shopping and exercise. Additionally, in this lockdown it will be possible to leave your home to collect goods.
  • One household can meet maximum one single person to whom there are close relations. This applies to meeting both indoors and outdoors.
  • Non-essential shops, hairdressers, nail shops, museums and libraries, for example, will be closed during these periods.
  • The legal text of the regulations that apply from 1 April is online in German.
  • The Mayor of Vienna, Michael Ludwig, said there will be stricter controls in public places and at the City’s perimeter to ensure people comply with measures.
  • Ludwig told Austria’s APA news agency that from Thursday FFP2 masks will be required in certain public places where people congregate in the City, including the Donaukanal, Stephansplatz and Karlsplatz.
  • Official figures show the pressure on intensive care continues to grow in Vienna and remains high in Burgenland and Lower Austria.
  • The Health Minister remains in discussion with labour and business representatives and others on possible additional measures related to the workplace, Austrian media reported.
  • The City of Vienna’s health chief, Peter Hacker, told a televised briefing on Wednesday that by the end of this week, 300,000 first vaccinations and 94,000 second vaccinations will have been carried out in Vienna - slightly less than planned at the beginning of the year.
  • He said the new focus in April will be on vaccinating people over 75 years of age and high-risk patients over the age of 65 in Vienna.
  • In the next two calendar weeks there will be fewer vaccine doses than this week, he said. For this reason, in May the focus will especially be on the second vaccination of those who have already been vaccinated. He said as of 12 April, general practitioners will also start vaccinating in their own practices.
  • The Austrian Government’s measures related to entering Austria at all borders, including land borders, remain in place until at least 31 May.
  • From Friday 15 January, all those entering Austria need to complete an online pre-clearance form in English or German, regardless of whether they have diplomatic status.
  • Austria’s national vaccination dashboard is online in English and German – it works best using Firefox or Google Chrome.
  • Austria national vaccination dashboard is online in English and German.
  • There is information on Austria’s overall vaccination programme in German and on Vienna’s programme in English and German .
  • There is a wide range of information on COVID-19 measures, vaccination and testing in 17 different languages, including English, here.
  • Austrian officials encourage all those in Austria to download the Stopp Corona app to help with contact tracing. The app is available in English as well as German.
  • The official Austrian dashboard has the latest data on COVID-19. It is available in English as well as German and is updated each day at 1400.

NOTE ON COVID-19 UPDATES:

Updates are issued whenever there is fresh information from the VBOs or the Host Country.

Between updates, you can keep up to date and refer to previous material by visiting our VBO COVID-19 website.

On the site you can find all updates, guidelines, reminders and messages issued so far, as well as useful links including to official information in English and other languages. No log-in is needed.

Link to the site: https://nucleus.iaea.org/sites/covid19/SitePages/Home.aspx

COVID-19 WEBSITE FOR ALL UN SYSTEM PERSONNEL

FEEDBACK/SUGGESTIONS: Please write to martin.nesirky@un.org

In today’s update:

  • Message from the four main Vienna International Centre (VIC)-based organizations
  • Latest Austrian developments and measures

MESSAGE FROM THE MAIN VIC-BASED ORGANIZATIONS (VBOs) UNOV/UNODC – IAEA – UNIDO – CTBTO

Since Monday 22 March, the VIC Medical Service has been notified that seven people who work for VBOs tested positive for SARS CoV-2. Four work for UNIDO and three for the IAEA. There was no workplace exposure. When there is no workplace exposure it means the individual concerned was not at work during the time of potential infectivity. Weekly textual updates will be provided on Mondays.

Information on the numbers of SARS CoV-2 cases involving VBO personnel is available here and will be updated as necessary.

Austrian authorities have made announcements encouraging testing for COVID-19 and have created various opportunities for individuals to do so. Similarly, all personnel are encouraged to take advantage of the free COVID-19 testing services provided by the Austrian authorities. Those coming to the VIC are especially encouraged to test themselves weekly with either PCR or rapid antigen tests to contain the spread of COVID-19. Please note that no testing is required for entry to the VIC. You can find more information on how and where you can test yourself here.

LATEST AUSTRIAN DEVELOPMENTS AND MEASURES:

  • The Mayor of Vienna, Michael Ludwig, said on Monday the planned 1-6 April lockdown should be extended to 11 April, at least in the city, according to Austrian media reports.
  • This would mean non-essential shops, hairdressers and museums, for example, closing 1-11 April and the 24-hour curfew being in place for that period, with the usual exceptions.
  • Ludwig called for the extension at a meeting with the Health Minister, experts and the governors of the east Austrian provinces of Lower Austria (Niederösterreich) and Burgenland.
  • It was not immediately clear whether the two provinces would also extend the lockdown, nor whether it could be introduced nationwide.
  • The pressure on intensive care continues to grow. In Burgenland, 88. 9 per cent of intensive care beds are occupied, prompting the province to add beds and postpone some operations, including for cancer. In Vienna, the figure is 52.5 per cent and in Lower Austria 59.8 per cent.
  • The measures announced last week are scheduled to be presented to parliament on Tuesday for approval. Some details are still being worked out.
  • Health Minister Rudolf Anschober appealed again over the weekend to minimize Easter travel and social contacts.
  • The Austrian Government on Friday extended the measures related to entering Austria at all borders, including land borders, to 31 May.
  • The legal text of the regulations that apply from 15 March is online in German.
  • From Friday 15 January, all those entering Austria need to complete an online pre-clearance form in English or German, regardless of whether they have diplomatic status.
  • Austria’s national vaccination dashboard is online in English and German – it works best using Firefox or Google Chrome.
  • Austria national vaccination dashboard is online in English and German.
  • There is information on Austria’s overall vaccination programme in German and on Vienna’s programme in English and German .
  • There is a wide range of information on COVID-19 measures, vaccination and testing in 17 different languages, including English, here.
  • Austrian officials encourage all those in Austria to download the Stopp Corona app to help with contact tracing. The app is available in English as well as German.
  • The official Austrian dashboard has the latest data on COVID-19. It is available in English as well as German and is updated each day at 1400.

NOTE ON COVID-19 UPDATES:

Updates are issued whenever there is fresh information from the VBOs or the Host Country.

Between updates, you can keep up to date and refer to previous material by visiting our VBO COVID-19 website.

On the site you can find all updates, guidelines, reminders and messages issued so far, as well as useful links including to official information in English and other languages. No log-in is needed.

Link to the site: https://nucleus.iaea.org/sites/covid19/SitePages/Home.aspx

COVID-19 WEBSITE FOR ALL UN SYSTEM PERSONNEL

FEEDBACK/SUGGESTIONS: Please write to martin.nesirky@un.org

In today’s update:

  • Message from the four main Vienna International Centre (VIC)-based organizations
  • Latest Austrian developments and measures

MESSAGE FROM THE MAIN VIC-BASED ORGANIZATIONS (VBOs) UNOV/UNODC – IAEA – UNIDO – CTBTO

New COVID-19 measures:

On Wednesday evening the Health Minister and the leaders of Vienna, Lower Austria (Niederösterreich) and Burgenland announced measures for 1-6 April and beyond. More details are provided below.

The VBOs are studying the latest Austrian measures and will provide further information on any impact on VIC operations.

Update on the Austrian Vaccination Strategy for International Organizations:

In a virtual meeting on Tuesday organized by the Austrian Ministry of European and International Affairs (BMEIA) the Heads of the Vienna-based International Organizations received an update from the Austrian Government on recent developments related to its COVID-19 vaccination programme. The meeting was hosted by the Secretary-General of BMEIA, Ambassador Peter Launsky-Tieffenthal, and also attended by senior officials from the City of Vienna and the Federal Ministry of Health. The main points raised were as follows:

  • The Government is planning to start vaccinating personnel and families of Vienna-based International Organizations at the Austria Centre Vienna towards the end of May or in early June.
  • Some registered VBO personnel and their families will continue to be vaccinated through the Austrian regional vaccination programmes until then, in line with the established priority and risk groups.
  • A special registration system will be implemented for the personnel and families of International Organizations once the exact timeline has been confirmed by the Austrian authorities.
  • According to the Austrian Government, this is in keeping with their vaccination programme and will be coordinated. This means that personnel and their families can be registered in the existing system for Vienna or another region and also register in the new system that will be implemented for the personnel and families of International Organizations.

Staff are reminded that vaccination is voluntary and free of charge. More information will be provided in VBO updates as it becomes available.

Information on the numbers of SARS CoV-2 cases involving VBO personnel is available here and will be updated as necessary.

Austrian authorities have made announcements encouraging testing for COVID-19 and have created various opportunities for individuals to do so. Similarly, all personnel are encouraged to take advantage of the free COVID-19 testing services provided by the Austrian authorities. Those coming to the VIC are especially encouraged to test themselves weekly with either PCR or rapid antigen tests to contain the spread of COVID-19. Please note that no testing is required for entry to the VIC. You can find more information on how and where you can test yourself here.

LATEST AUSTRIAN DEVELOPMENTS AND MEASURES:

  • The Austrian Health Minister and the leaders of Vienna, Lower Austria (Niederösterreich) and Burgenland provinces announced tough new measures on Wednesday evening for 1-6 April.
  • The main reason is to take pressure off intensive care units, notably in Vienna where hospitals risk running short of beds because of the more transmissible UK variant (B.1.1.7) that accounts for the bulk of new cases and which affects younger people more than the original virus strain, Health Minister Rudolf Anschober said at a televised briefing. He said there was a strong increase in the number of cases.
  • The agreed additional measures had three aims: reduce contacts, increase testing and increase wearing of FFP2 masks.
  • These are the additional measures that will be in force in the region from 1 through 6 April:
  • Limitations on leaving the house now in place from 20:00 – 06:00 to be extended to 24 hours.
  • Personal services such as hairdressers and non-essential retail to close. Supermarkets, pharmacies and other stores for basic supplies to remain open as in previous lockdowns.
  • FFP2 masks to be mandatory in crowded outdoor spaces.
  • Mandatory FFP2 masks in closed spaces where there is more than one person.
  • More border controls with the eastern region’s neighbouring countries – the Czech Republic, Slovakia and Hungary – and increased testing (twice weekly rather than once) for commuters from those countries.
  • Subject to further confirmation, either mandatory weekly testing of employees or telecommuting.
  • Schools to switch to distance learning for four days after the Easter holidays (6-9 April) and PCR tests to be conducted before the return to school where feasible.
  • From 7 April, entry tests for non-essential retail are planned, along the lines of the entry tests used for hairdressing appointments.
  • The Health Minister appealed to all to minimize Easter travel.
  • The Mayor of Vienna, Michael Ludwig, said if results of these measures did not become visible soon, further additional measures would be needed. The Mayor underlined the importance of providing opportunities for telecommuting.
  • Anschober said there was a risk the same scenario could play out in other provinces.
  • The Austrian Government on Friday extended the measures related to entering Austria at all borders, including land borders, to 31 May.
  • The legal text of the regulations that apply from 15 March is online in German.
  • From Friday 15 January, all those entering Austria need to complete an online pre-clearance form in English or German, regardless of whether they have diplomatic status.
  • Austria’s national vaccination dashboard is online in English and German – it works best using Firefox or Google Chrome.
  • Austria national vaccination dashboard is online in English and German.
  • There is information on Austria’s overall vaccination programme in German and on Vienna’s programme in English and German .
  • There is a wide range of information on COVID-19 measures, vaccination and testing in 17 different languages, including English, here.
  • Austrian officials encourage all those in Austria to download the Stopp Corona app to help with contact tracing. The app is available in English as well as German.
  • The official Austrian dashboard has the latest data on COVID-19. It is available in English as well as German and is updated each day at 1400.

NOTE ON COVID-19 UPDATES:

Updates are issued whenever there is fresh information from the VBOs or the Host Country.

Between updates, you can keep up to date and refer to previous material by visiting our VBO COVID-19 website.

On the site you can find all updates, guidelines, reminders and messages issued so far, as well as useful links including to official information in English and other languages. No log-in is needed.

Link to the site: https://nucleus.iaea.org/sites/covid19/SitePages/Home.aspx

COVID-19 WEBSITE FOR ALL UN SYSTEM PERSONNEL

FEEDBACK/SUGGESTIONS: Please write to martin.nesirky@un.org

In today’s update:

  • Message from the four main Vienna International Centre (VIC)-based organizations
  • Latest Austrian developments and measures

MESSAGE FROM THE MAIN VIC-BASED ORGANIZATIONS (VBOs) UNOV/UNODC – IAEA – UNIDO – CTBTO

Message from the VIC Medical Service:

Since Monday 15 March, the VIC Medical Service has been notified that three people who work for VBOs tested positive for SARS CoV-2. Two people work for UNOV/UNODC and one person for the IAEA. Close contacts of one person who tested positive for SARS CoV-2 have been informed. For the other two people there was no workplace exposure. When there is no workplace exposure it means the individual concerned was not at work during the time of potential infectivity. Weekly textual updates will be provided on Mondays.

Information on the numbers of SARS CoV-2 cases involving VBO personnel is available here and will be updated as necessary.

Austrian authorities have made announcements encouraging testing for COVID-19 and have created various opportunities for individuals to do so. Similarly, all personnel are encouraged to take advantage of the free COVID-19 testing services provided by the Austrian authorities. Those coming to the VIC are especially encouraged to test themselves weekly with either PCR or rapid antigen tests to contain the spread of COVID-19. Please note that no testing is required for entry to the VIC. You can find more information on how and where you can test yourself here.

LATEST AUSTRIAN DEVELOPMENTS AND MEASURES:

  • The Austrian Government met on Monday with experts, opposition parties and provincial governors to discuss how to respond to the rising number of COVID-19 cases.
  • Chancellor Sebastian Kurz said in recent weeks an average of 30,000 people per day had been vaccinated. It is planned to focus on the 65+ age group in April and the 50+ age group in May, and from June onwards the vaccine would be made available to all who wished to be vaccinated. Some five million people are likely to be vaccinated in Austria.
  • Kurz said he expected there could be a return to some degree of normality in summer. Until then it was necessary to live with the virus.
  • As there were marked differences from region to region, there would also be regionally differentiated measures.
  • In Vienna, Lower Austria (Niederösterreich) and Burgenland provinces, in particular, the UK variant (B.1.1.7) had spread and hospital intensive care units were stretched, Kurz said.
  • The Mayor of Vienna, Michael Ludwig, said Vienna, Niederösterreich and Burgenland provinces would be discussing joint additional measures with the Health Ministry over the coming days, given the interconnectedness of the region and the many commuters between the provinces.
  • The Mayor said it had been a priority to keep schools and kindergartens open for as long as possible. PCR tests for home testing would be made available to the entire Viennese population over the coming days.
  • Kurz said the specific arrangements in Vorarlberg province would be continued. In the rest of the country the existing measures would remain in place. In districts with a seven-day incidence of more than 400 per 100,000 people specific measures would have to be taken immediately. The Chancellor emphasized the continued importance of tests and FFP2 masks.
  • Health Minister Rudolf Anschober said almost all of Europe was going through a third wave. The reproduction factor in Austria was at 1.11. He stressed the role of the B.1.1.7 variant, which resulted in an increased proportion of COVID-19 patients requiring ICU treatment. It was alarming that many young patients now had to be admitted to intensive care, he said. The main focus was to ensure intensive care was not overwhelmed in Austria.
  • There will be no specific measures for the Easter holidays, he said.
  • No specific date was given for when sectors such as restaurants, tourism and culture could reopen, but Kurz said once those over 65 had been vaccinated it would make it easier to make such a decision because the risks would be lower.
  • In a related development, the Austrian Government on Friday extended the measures related to entering Austria at all borders, including land borders, to 31 May.
  • The legal text of the regulations that apply from 15 March is online in German.
  • From Friday 15 January, all those entering Austria need to complete an online pre-clearance form in English or German, regardless of whether they have diplomatic status.
  • Austria national vaccination dashboard is online in English and German.
  • There is information on Austria’s overall vaccination programme in German and on Vienna’s programme in English and German .
  • Austrian officials encourage all those in Austria to download the Stopp Corona app to help with contact tracing. The app is available in English as well as German.
  • The official Austrian dashboard has the latest data on COVID-19. It is available in English as well as German and is updated each day at 1400.

NOTE ON COVID-19 UPDATES:

Updates are issued whenever there is fresh information from the VBOs or the Host Country.

Between updates, you can keep up to date and refer to previous material by visiting our VBO COVID-19 website.

On the site you can find all updates, guidelines, reminders and messages issued so far, as well as useful links including to official information in English and other languages. No log-in is needed.

Link to the site: https://nucleus.iaea.org/sites/covid19/SitePages/Home.aspx

COVID-19 WEBSITE FOR ALL UN SYSTEM PERSONNEL

FEEDBACK/SUGGESTIONS: Please write to martin.nesirky@un.org

In today’s update:

  • Message from the four main Vienna International Centre (VIC)-based organizations
  • Latest Austrian developments and measures

MESSAGE FROM THE MAIN VIC-BASED ORGANIZATIONS (VBOs) UNOV/UNODC – IAEA – UNIDO – CTBTO

Message from the VIC Medical Service:

On 18 March, there will be an information session on the UN System-wide COVID-19 Vaccination Programme and how it applies to UN personnel and other eligible individuals in the UN system. It would be of particular interest to staff from organizations with a field presence. Host Helga Leifsdóttir, Chief of Knowledge Solutions and Design in the Department of Global Communications, will be joined by Melissa Fleming, Under-Secretary-General for Global Communications, Christian Saunders, Assistant Secretary-General for Supply Chain Management, and Dr. Bernhard Lennartz, Acting Director of the Division of Healthcare Management and Occupational Safety and Health.

The session will cover how the UN System-wide COVID-19 Vaccination Programme works, eligibility and access, as well as the efforts under way and communication about vaccinations.

UN personnel will have access to COVID-19 vaccinations in one of two ways: through their host country’s national vaccination programme or through the UN System-wide COVID-19 Vaccination Programme (when residing in countries without a national vaccination programme that can accommodate staff of UN System organizations). UN personnel may post relevant questions or concerns in the meeting chat before and during the session and the guests will seek to address them.

What:  iSeek Live: UN System-wide COVID-19 Vaccination Programme

When: 18 March at 0900 New York time/1400 Vienna time

Where: Everywhere via Microsoft Teams Live

How:  Join by following the instructions below.

Who: All staff from the UN Secretariat and agencies, funds and programmes.

To join the online meeting via Microsoft Teams Live:

  1. Access the meeting by clicking this link.
  2. Download the Windows app or watch on the web. If you have already downloaded the app, click on "Open Microsoft Teams".
  3. If prompted to do so, sign in using your Microsoft Office credentials.

If you would like to join by mobile, it is recommended to download the Microsoft Teams app to your phone or device. More information on attending a live event in Teams.

Please note as announced on 12 February that the Austrian authorities have confirmed that the staff of International Organizations, Embassies and Consulates as well as their dependents will be offered the opportunity to be vaccinated through regional health services, under the same conditions as nationals and permanent residents of Austria.

Information on the numbers of SARS CoV-2 cases involving VBO personnel is available here and will be updated as necessary.

Austrian authorities have made announcements encouraging testing for COVID-19 and have created various opportunities for individuals to do so. Similarly, all personnel are encouraged to take advantage of the free COVID-19 testing services provided by the Austrian authorities. Those coming to the VIC are especially encouraged to test themselves weekly with either PCR or rapid antigen tests to contain the spread of COVID-19. Please note that no testing is required for entry to the VIC. You can find more information on how and where you can test yourself here.

LATEST AUSTRIAN DEVELOPMENTS AND MEASURES:

  • Austria expects to have received eight million vaccine doses by this summer, Chancellor Sebastian Kurz told a televised briefing on Wednesday after a Cabinet meeting.
  • He said the Government trusted the country’s National Vaccination Board on the continued use of the AstraZeneca vaccine in Austria.
  • Health Minister Rudolf Anschober said the authorities were anticipating 3,600 new cases a day by Wednesday next week. The total for the past 24 hours was 3,239, he said, noting the number of patients in intensive care was also increasing.
  • The legal text of the regulations that apply from 15 March is online in German.
  • From Friday 15 January, all those entering Austria need to complete an online pre-clearance form in English or German, regardless of whether they have diplomatic status.
  • Austria national vaccination dashboard is online in English and German.
  • There is information on Austria’s overall vaccination programme in German and on Vienna’s programme in English and German .
  • Austrian officials encourage all those in Austria to download the Stopp Corona app to help with contact tracing. The app is available in English as well as German.
  • The official Austrian dashboard has the latest data on COVID-19. It is available in English as well as German and is updated each day at 1400.

NOTE ON COVID-19 UPDATES:

Updates are issued whenever there is fresh information from the VBOs or the Host Country.

Between updates, you can keep up to date and refer to previous material by visiting our VBO COVID-19 website.

On the site you can find all updates, guidelines, reminders and messages issued so far, as well as useful links including to official information in English and other languages. No log-in is needed.

Link to the site: https://nucleus.iaea.org/sites/covid19/SitePages/Home.aspx

COVID-19 WEBSITE FOR ALL UN SYSTEM PERSONNEL

FEEDBACK/SUGGESTIONS: Please write to martin.nesirky@un.org

In today’s update:

  • Message from the four main Vienna International Centre (VIC)-based organizations
  • Latest Austrian developments and measures

MESSAGE FROM THE MAIN VIC-BASED ORGANIZATIONS (VBOs) UNOV/UNODC – IAEA – UNIDO – CTBTO

Message from the VIC Medical Service:

Since Monday 8 March, the VIC Medical Service has been notified that four people who work for VBOs tested positive for SARS CoV-2. All four work for the IAEA. Close contacts of two of the people who tested positive for SARS CoV-2 have been informed. For the other two people there was no workplace exposure. When there is no workplace exposure it means the individual concerned was not at work during the time of potential infectivity. Weekly textual updates will be provided on Mondays.

Information on the numbers of SARS CoV-2 cases involving VBO personnel is available here and will be updated as necessary.

Austrian authorities have made announcements encouraging testing for COVID-19 and have created various opportunities for individuals to do so. Similarly, all personnel are encouraged to take advantage of the free COVID-19 testing services provided by the Austrian authorities. Those coming to the VIC are especially encouraged to test themselves weekly with either PCR or rapid antigen tests to contain the spread of COVID-19. Please note that no testing is required for entry to the VIC. You can find more information on how and where you can test yourself here.

LATEST AUSTRIAN DEVELOPMENTS AND MEASURES:

  • The updated ministerial decree on COVID-19 measures entered into force on Monday. Changes include the lifting of specific measures in Vorarlberg province, as well as outdoor sports for under-18-year-olds and youth activities nationwide. For Austrian employers with more than 51 employees a COVID-19 prevention concept will be mandatory from 1 April. For example, the concept must define specific hygiene requirements and the action to be taken in the event of a SARS CoV-2 infection.
  • The legal text of the regulations that apply from 15 March is online in German.
  • The Austrian Government met virtually on Monday with provincial leaders, experts and the opposition to take stock of existing and planned measures against a backdrop of rising case numbers.
  • Austrian media reported that no firm decisions were taken on easing measures because of the rising case and hospital numbers. The Government plans to monitor developments further this week. The media reports said the Government and provincial leaders appear to have agreed to build on the regional approach under which Vorarlberg, with lower numbers than elsewhere in Austria, opened key sectors of its economy from Monday.
  • Austrian President Alexander Van der Bellen expressed support for the United Nations Only Together campaign launched on Thursday. It calls for fair and equitable access to COVID-19 vaccines around the world. Anyone can join the campaign.
  • In response to the EU approval of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine last week, the Health Ministry said first deliveries to Austria were expected in the second quarter, and a total of about 2.5 million doses by the end of the year.
  • From Friday 15 January, all those entering Austria need to complete an online pre-clearance form in English or German, regardless of whether they have diplomatic status.
  • Austria national vaccination dashboard is online in English and German.
  • There is information on Austria’s overall vaccination programme in German and on Vienna’s programme in English and German .
  • Austrian officials encourage all those in Austria to download the Stopp Corona app to help with contact tracing. The app is available in English as well as German.
  • The official Austrian dashboard has the latest data on COVID-19. It is available in English as well as German and is updated each day at 1400.

NOTE ON COVID-19 UPDATES:

Updates are issued whenever there is fresh information from the VBOs or the Host Country.

Between updates, you can keep up to date and refer to previous material by visiting our VBO COVID-19 website.

On the site you can find all updates, guidelines, reminders and messages issued so far, as well as useful links including to official information in English and other languages. No log-in is needed.

Link to the site: https://nucleus.iaea.org/sites/covid19/SitePages/Home.aspx

COVID-19 WEBSITE FOR ALL UN SYSTEM PERSONNEL

FEEDBACK/SUGGESTIONS: Please write to martin.nesirky@un.org

In today’s update:

  • Message from the four main Vienna International Centre (VIC)-based organizations
  • Latest Austrian developments and measures

MESSAGE FROM THE MAIN VIC-BASED ORGANIZATIONS (VBOs) UNOV/UNODC – IAEA – UNIDO – CTBTO

Message from the VIC Medical Service:

Austrian authorities have made announcements encouraging testing for COVID-19 and have created various opportunities for individuals to do so. Similarly, all personnel are encouraged to take advantage of the free COVID-19 testing services provided by the Austrian authorities. Those coming to the VIC are especially encouraged to test themselves weekly with either PCR or rapid antigen tests to contain the spread of COVID-19. Please note that no testing is required for entry to the VIC. You can find more information on how and where you can test yourself here.

Message from the VIC Medical Service:

Since Monday 1 March, the VIC Medical Service has been notified that 10 people who work for VBOs tested positive for SARS CoV-2. Two work for UNOV/UNODC, two for the IAEA, four for UNIDO, one for CTBTO and one works at the VIC but not for one of the VBOs. Weekly textual updates will be provided on Mondays. Close contacts of two people who tested positive for SARS CoV-2 have been informed. For one person there were no close contacts and for the remaining seven people there was no workplace exposure. When there is no workplace exposure it means the individual concerned was not at work during the time of potential infectivity.

Information on the numbers of SARS CoV-2 cases involving VBO personnel is available here and will be updated as necessary.

LATEST AUSTRIAN DEVELOPMENTS AND MEASURES:

  • Health Minister Rudolf Anschober said the B117 variant was now dominant in Austria. As the variant was 23 per cent more contagious, particular caution and decisiveness was needed over the coming weeks, said the Health Minister, who referred to the spread of variants as a “pandemic within the pandemic”.
  • As a result of the rising infection numbers in Austria the number of COVID-19 patients in hospitals and intensive care units was now rising too, in particular in Eastern Austria, the Health Ministry said on Monday.
  • Media reported on Monday that the City of Vienna, like Burgenland province, was planning to extend the COVID-19 quarantine period from 10 to 14 days.
  • Those travelling from the city of Wiener Neustadt will have to carry a negative COVID-19 test from Wednesday 10 March, the government of Lower Austria province announced Monday. There would be sanctions for non-compliance from Saturday, the city’s testing capacities would be increased until then. A detailed decree is under preparation.
  • The VIC Medical Service has registered the VIC with the City of Vienna’s free PCR home testing scheme. Details were in the update on Friday 19 February.
  • An overview of Vienna’s test centres is available in English.
  • The Austria Centre Vienna, which is right next to the VIC, offers swift and convenient drive-in and walk-in tests. An appointment is necessary and can be booked here.
  • The legal text of the regulations that apply from 8 February is online in German.
  • From Friday 15 January, all those entering Austria need to complete an online pre-clearance form in English or German, regardless of whether they have diplomatic status.
  • Austria national vaccination dashboard is online in English and German.
  • There is information on Austria’s overall vaccination programme in German and on Vienna’s programme in English and German .
  • Austrian officials encourage all those in Austria to download the Stopp Corona app to help with contact tracing. The app is available in English as well as German.
  • The official Austrian dashboard has the latest data on COVID-19. It is available in English as well as German and is updated each day at 1400.

NOTE ON COVID-19 UPDATES:

Updates are issued whenever there is fresh information from the VBOs or the Host Country.

Between updates, you can keep up to date and refer to previous material by visiting our VBO COVID-19 website.

On the site you can find all updates, guidelines, reminders and messages issued so far, as well as useful links including to official information in English and other languages. No log-in is needed.

Link to the site: https://nucleus.iaea.org/sites/covid19/SitePages/Home.aspx

COVID-19 WEBSITE FOR ALL UN SYSTEM PERSONNEL

FEEDBACK/SUGGESTIONS: Please write to martin.nesirky@un.org

In today’s update:

  • Message from the four main Vienna International Centre (VIC)-based organizations
  • Latest Austrian developments and measures

MESSAGE FROM THE MAIN VIC-BASED ORGANIZATIONS (VBOs) UNOV/UNODC – IAEA – UNIDO – CTBTO

Message from the VIC Medical Service:

Since Monday 22 February, the VIC Medical Service has been notified that 15 people who work for VBOs tested positive for SARS CoV-2. Six work for UNOV/UNODC, five for the IAEA, two for UNIDO and two for CTBTO. Weekly textual updates will be provided on Mondays. Close contacts related to one person who tested positive for SARS CoV-2 have been informed. There was no workplace exposure for the remaining 14 people. When there is no workplace exposure it means the individual concerned was not at work during the time of potential infectivity.

Since Monday 22 February, the VIC Medical Service has been notified that 15 people who work for VIC-based organizations tested positive for SARS CoV-2. Six work for UNOV/UNODC, five for the IAEA, two for UNIDO and two for CTBTO. Weekly textual updates will be provided on Mondays.

Information on the numbers of SARS CoV-2 cases involving VBO personnel is available here and will be updated as necessary.

LATEST AUSTRIAN DEVELOPMENTS AND MEASURES:

  • The Austrian Federal Government met with experts and representatives of the provinces and political parties on Monday to discuss the way ahead for measures.
  • Chancellor Sebastian Kurz said in a televised briefing after the meeting that the opening steps of the past three weeks had positive effects, in particular that some 120,000 people had been able to return to work and children to school.
  • The number of cases had risen too as expected, he said.
  • The situation showed a diverse picture across Austria with incidence higher in the east, including Vienna, and lower in the west. The Government had therefore agreed on regionally differentiated steps.
  • In Vorarlberg, the most westerly province in Austria, certain limits on the sports, cultural and hospitality sectors would be lifted on 15 March because the incidence rate was significantly lower there than in the rest of Austria.
  • In the rest of the country it was aimed to take steps to allow children’s sports from 15 March.
  • The aim was for outdoor sections of restaurants to open for Easter, subject to a review of Austria’s caseload on 15 March. Tests would be a central element, along the lines of the tests required to visit hairdressers.
  • The aim was to look at opening the hotel and tourism sectors in April, but this would depend on the number of infections, Kurz said.
  • Local and regional steps would be taken to tackle areas where there were spikes in cases.
  • The rate of vaccinations would increase in the coming weeks, doubling to 30,000 per day in March, with the aim to vaccinate 45,000 each day in April.
  • Kurz urged older people to continue to keep social contacts to a minimum and noted that infections are mostly occurring among younger people.
  • Health Minister Rudolf Anschober said the aim was to vaccinate one million people by Easter. Mandatory wearing of FFP2 masks would be expanded to additional areas such as in the workplace. Large enterprises should have a prevention concept, he said. More details would follow.
  • The Mayor of Vienna, Michael Ludwig, emphasized the importance of testing and contact tracing, also in connection with opening restaurants.
  • The VIC Medical Service has registered the VIC with the City of Vienna’s free PCR home testing scheme. Details were in the update on Friday 19 February.
  • An overview of Vienna’s test centres is available in English.
  • The Austria Centre Vienna, which is right next to the VIC, offers swift and convenient drive-in and walk-in tests. An appointment is necessary and can be booked here.
  • The legal text of the regulations that apply from 8 February is online in German.
  • From Friday 15 January, all those entering Austria need to complete an online pre-clearance form in English or German, regardless of whether they have diplomatic status.
  • Austria national vaccination dashboard is online in English and German.
  • There is information on Austria’s overall vaccination programme in German and on Vienna’s programme in English and German .
  • Austrian officials encourage all those in Austria to download the Stopp Corona app to help with contact tracing. The app is available in English as well as German.
  • The official Austrian dashboard has the latest data on COVID-19. It is available in English as well as German and is updated each day at 1400.

NOTE ON COVID-19 UPDATES:

Updates are issued whenever there is fresh information from the VBOs or the Host Country.

Between updates, you can keep up to date and refer to previous material by visiting our VBO COVID-19 website.

On the site you can find all updates, guidelines, reminders and messages issued so far, as well as useful links including to official information in English and other languages. No log-in is needed.

Link to the site: https://nucleus.iaea.org/sites/covid19/SitePages/Home.aspx

COVID-19 WEBSITE FOR ALL UN SYSTEM PERSONNEL

FEEDBACK/SUGGESTIONS: Please write to martin.nesirky@un.org

In today’s update:

  • Message from the four main Vienna International Centre (VIC)-based organizations
  • Latest Austrian developments and measures

MESSAGE FROM THE MAIN VIC-BASED ORGANIZATIONS (VBOs) UNOV/UNODC – IAEA – UNIDO – CTBTO

Message from the VIC Medical Service:

Since last Monday, the VIC Medical Service has been notified that eight people who work for VIC-based organizations tested positive for SARS CoV-2. Two people work for the IAEA, three for UNOV/UNODC and three for UNIDO. Weekly textual updates will be provided on Mondays.

Information on the numbers of SARS CoV-2 cases involving VBO personnel is available here and will be updated as necessary.

LATEST AUSTRIAN DEVELOPMENTS AND MEASURES:

  • Austria is providing free testing in a number of pharmacies for those people in Austria who have e-cards.
  • NOTE: Testing is not available for free in pharmacies for those without an e-card, for example those with only private health insurance.
  • NOTE: Free tests for all are and will remain available at drive-in and walk-in centres. Additionally, the VIC Medical Service has registered the VIC with the City of Vienna’s free PCR home testing scheme. Details were in the update on Friday 19 February.
  • An overview of Vienna’s test centres is available in English.
  • The Austria Centre Vienna, which is right next to the VIC, offers swift and convenient drive-in and walk-in tests. An appointment is necessary and can be booked here.
  • The legal text of the regulations that apply from 8 February is online in German.
  • From Friday 15 January, all those entering Austria need to complete an online pre-clearance form in English or German, regardless of whether they have diplomatic status.
  • Austria national vaccination dashboard is online in English and German.
  • There is information on Austria’s overall vaccination programme in German and on Vienna’s programme in English and German .
  • Austrian officials encourage all those in Austria to download the Stopp Corona app to help with contact tracing. The app is available in English as well as German.
  • The official Austrian dashboard has the latest data on COVID-19. It is available in English as well as German and is updated each day at 1400.

NOTE ON COVID-19 UPDATES:

Updates are issued whenever there is fresh information from the VBOs or the Host Country.

Between updates, you can keep up to date and refer to previous material by visiting our VBO COVID-19 website.

On the site you can find all updates, guidelines, reminders and messages issued so far, as well as useful links including to official information in English and other languages. No log-in is needed.

Link to the site: https://nucleus.iaea.org/sites/covid19/SitePages/Home.aspx

COVID-19 WEBSITE FOR ALL UN SYSTEM PERSONNEL

FEEDBACK/SUGGESTIONS: Please write to martin.nesirky@un.org

In today’s update:

  • Message from the four main Vienna International Centre (VIC)-based organizations
  • Latest Austrian developments and measures

MESSAGE FROM THE MAIN VIC-BASED ORGANIZATIONS (VBOs) UNOV/UNODC – IAEA – UNIDO – CTBTO

Message from the VIC Medical Service:

All VIC personnel and their household members can now take part in the City of Vienna’s free home testing programme “Alles gurgelt”, which roughly translates as “Everyone gargles”. This campaign allows employees of the participating companies or organizations to take weekly free COVID-19 tests. VIC personnel and their household members can register regardless of whether they have an e-card or private insurance.

This is what you need to do:

  1. Go to the “Alles gurgelt” website and click on the button "Participation for employees" (“Teilnahme für MitarbeiterInnen”).
  2. Register with your mobile phone number and this PIN: 6731.
  3. You will receive an SMS text message with a link.
  4. Click on the link to receive your bar code.
  5. This bar code entitles you to collect a weekly quantity of two test kits per person in your household, up to a maximum of eight kits, at any Vienna BIPA branch. The PCR gargling test kits are free of charge.
  6. After taking the test, return the sample to any Vienna BIPA branch.
  7. A test result will be sent within 24 hours if the sample is delivered to a Vienna BIPA store before 09:00 am. If the test is delivered after 09:00, results may take longer.

If you have any questions about the process, you can contact the programme by telephone on (01) 90 22 3 or by email to info@allesgurgelt.at. You may also contact the VIC Medical Service.

Please note VIC personnel and their household members who live outside of Vienna can participate, but the tests must be collected from and deposited at BIPA branches in Vienna.

Information on the numbers of SARS CoV-2 cases involving VBO personnel is available here and will be updated as necessary.

LATEST AUSTRIAN DEVELOPMENTS AND MEASURES:

  • Health Minister Rudolf Anschober said on Friday the Government, regional leaders and other representatives would meet on 1 March to discuss whether further measures can be eased.
  • The next few days would show whether the recent rise is a temporary increase or not, he said at a televised briefing.
  • Anschober said discussions were being held or scheduled with representatives of the food and beverage, cultural and sports sectors.
  • Chancellor Sebastian Kurz said it was conceivable that restaurants, cafes and bars could open at some point in March, depending on the caseload, with a similar testing requirement to that used at hairdressers and other in-person services. But it would be ill-advised to open the hospitality sector if infection numbers were still too high. This would be decided on 1 March, Austrian media quoted Kurz as saying.
  • Austria is providing free testing in a number of pharmacies for those people in Austria who have e-cards.
  • NOTE: Testing is not available for free in pharmacies for those without an e-card, for example those with only private health insurance.
  • NOTE: Free tests for all are and will remain available at drive-in and walk-in centres. Additionally, as mentioned above, the VIC Medical Service has registered the VIC with the City of Vienna’s free PCR home testing scheme.
  • The legal text of the regulations that apply from 8 February is online in German.
  • An overview of Vienna’s test centres is available in English.
  • The Austria Centre Vienna, which is right next to the VIC, offers swift and convenient drive-in and walk-in tests. An appointment is necessary and can be booked here.
  • From Friday 15 January, all those entering Austria need to complete an online pre-clearance form in English or German, regardless of whether they have diplomatic status.
  • Austria national vaccination dashboard is online in English and German.
  • There is information on Austria’s overall vaccination programme in German and on Vienna’s programme in English and German .
  • Austrian officials encourage all those in Austria to download the Stopp Corona app to help with contact tracing. The app is available in English as well as German.
  • The official Austrian dashboard has the latest data on COVID-19. It is available in English as well as German and is updated each day at 1400.

NOTE ON COVID-19 UPDATES:

Updates are issued whenever there is fresh information from the VBOs or the Host Country.

Between updates, you can keep up to date and refer to previous material by visiting our VBO COVID-19 website.

On the site you can find all updates, guidelines, reminders and messages issued so far, as well as useful links including to official information in English and other languages. No log-in is needed.

Link to the site: https://nucleus.iaea.org/sites/covid19/SitePages/Home.aspx

COVID-19 WEBSITE FOR ALL UN SYSTEM PERSONNEL

FEEDBACK/SUGGESTIONS: Please write to martin.nesirky@un.org

In today’s update:

  • Message from the four main Vienna International Centre (VIC)-based organizations
  • Latest Austrian developments and measures

MESSAGE FROM THE MAIN VIC-BASED ORGANIZATIONS (VBOs) UNOV/UNODC – IAEA – UNIDO – CTBTO

Information on the numbers of SARS CoV-2 cases involving VBO personnel is available here and will be updated as necessary.

The measures in place at the VIC are in line with Austrian regulations and guidance, including the latest Austrian measures that came into effect on Monday, 8 February.

The existing VIC measures include reduced staffing inside the building, two-metre distancing and the use of FFP2 masks as outlined here.

All personnel are reminded that, aligned with the decision taken by the Austrian Authorities, personnel working at the VIC are required to keep contacts in social settings (coffee or lunches) to a minimum and limit interactions. It is particularly important that personnel do not congregate at C07 after buying beverages or food.

LATEST AUSTRIAN DEVELOPMENTS AND MEASURES:

  • Health Minister Rudolf Anschober told a televised briefing on Wednesday the number of infections in Austria had risen slightly, while the number of deaths had declined.
  • Speaking after the weekly Cabinet meeting, Anschober also said Austria expects to have vaccinated one million of the country’s 8.9 million people by Easter. From then, Austria would have more doses and be aiming for 100,000 vaccinations per day.
  • Labour Minister Martin Kocher said the country’s furlough scheme (“Kurzarbeit”) would being extended by three months to the end of June, after which a different approach would be introduced. This would be prepared in the coming weeks.
  • Under the existing scheme, wages are compensated up to 80-90 per cent for employees in sectors of the economy that are closed or on reduced hours.
  • Austria is providing free testing in a number of pharmacies for those people in Austria who have e-cards.
  • NOTE: Testing is not available for free in pharmacies for those without an e-card, for example those with only private health insurance.
  • NOTE: Free tests for all are and will remain available at drive-in and walk-in centres.
  • The legal text of the regulations that apply from 8 February is online in German.
  • An overview of Vienna’s test centres is available in English.
  • The Austria Centre Vienna, which is right next to the VIC, offers swift and convenient drive-in and walk-in tests. An appointment is necessary and can be booked here.
  • From Friday 15 January, all those entering Austria need to complete an online pre-clearance form in English or German, regardless of whether they have diplomatic status.
  • Austria national vaccination dashboard is online in English and German.
  • There is information on Austria’s overall vaccination programme in German and on Vienna’s programme in English and German .
  • Austrian officials encourage all those in Austria to download the Stopp Corona app to help with contact tracing. The app is available in English as well as German.
  • The official Austrian dashboard has the latest data on COVID-19. It is available in English as well as German and is updated each day at 1400.

NOTE ON COVID-19 UPDATES:

Updates are issued whenever there is fresh information from the VBOs or the Host Country.

Between updates, you can keep up to date and refer to previous material by visiting our VBO COVID-19 website.

On the site you can find all updates, guidelines, reminders and messages issued so far, as well as useful links including to official information in English and other languages. No log-in is needed.

Link to the site: https://nucleus.iaea.org/sites/covid19/SitePages/Home.aspx

COVID-19 WEBSITE FOR ALL UN SYSTEM PERSONNEL

FEEDBACK/SUGGESTIONS: Please write to martin.nesirky@un.org

In today’s update:

  • Message from the four main Vienna International Centre (VIC)-based organizations
  • Latest Austrian developments and measures

MESSAGE FROM THE MAIN VIC-BASED ORGANIZATIONS (VBOs) UNOV/UNODC – IAEA – UNIDO – CTBTO

Information on the numbers of SARS CoV-2 cases involving VBO personnel is available here and will be updated as necessary.

The measures in place at the VIC are in line with Austrian regulations and guidance, including the latest Austrian measures that came into effect on Monday, 8 February.

The existing VIC measures include reduced staffing inside the building, two-metre distancing and the use of FFP2 masks as outlined here.

All personnel are reminded that, aligned with the decision taken by the Austrian Authorities, personnel working at the VIC are required to keep contacts in social settings (coffee or lunches) to a minimum and limit interactions. It is particularly important that personnel do not congregate at C07 after buying beverages or food.

LATEST AUSTRIAN DEVELOPMENTS AND MEASURES:

  • The Austrian Government, experts, political parties and representatives of the country’s nine provinces, held discussions on Monday, 15 February, to review the measures in place since 8 February.
  • The Federal Government and provincial leaders agreed it was too early to allow additional sectors such as restaurants, bars, cafes and cultural venues to reopen.
  • Chancellor Sebastian Kurz told a televised briefing the earliest such venues could possibly reopen would be around Easter, meaning the beginning of April. This would be considered at a meeting on 1 March, he said.
  • Kurz said Austria had one of the highest testing levels in Europe, and the number of new infections remained stable.
  • Health Minister Rudolf Anschober said the reduction in the number COVID-19 deaths and the improved situation in nursing homes were positive developments. The mutations were a cause for concern, and the R number was now 1.02. It was important to keep the infection numbers under control.
  • The Mayor of Vienna, Michael Ludwig, said in the following two weeks it would become clearer in what direction infection numbers would develop and openings in further areas such as culture, restaurants and sports could be considered. It was important to further improve access to testing.
  • The Governor of Styria and Chair of the Provincial Governors’ conference, Hermann Schützenhofer, said testing was the alternative to lockdowns.
  • Professor Oswald Wagner, Vice Rector of Vienna Medical University, said where vaccination programmes were already further ahead one could observe that the vaccinations were effective. He also highlighted the effectiveness of FFP2 masks and widespread testing.
  • The legal text of the regulations that apply from 8 February is online in German.
  • An overview of Vienna’s test centres is available in English.
  • The Austria Centre Vienna, which is right next to the VIC, offers swift and convenient drive-in and walk-in tests. An appointment is necessary and can be booked here.
  • From Friday 15 January, all those entering Austria need to complete an online pre-clearance form in English or German, regardless of whether they have diplomatic status.
  • Austria national vaccination dashboard is online in English and German.
  • There is information on Austria’s overall vaccination programme in German and on Vienna’s programme in English and German .
  • Austrian officials encourage all those in Austria to download the Stopp Corona app to help with contact tracing. The app is available in English as well as German.
  • The official Austrian dashboard has the latest data on COVID-19. It is available in English as well as German and is updated each day at 1400.

NOTE ON COVID-19 UPDATES:

Updates are issued whenever there is fresh information from the VBOs or the Host Country.

Between updates, you can keep up to date and refer to previous material by visiting our VBO COVID-19 website.

On the site you can find all updates, guidelines, reminders and messages issued so far, as well as useful links including to official information in English and other languages. No log-in is needed.

Link to the site: https://nucleus.iaea.org/sites/covid19/SitePages/Home.aspx

COVID-19 WEBSITE FOR ALL UN SYSTEM PERSONNEL

FEEDBACK/SUGGESTIONS: Please write to martin.nesirky@un.org

In today’s update:

  • Message from the four main Vienna International Centre (VIC)-based organizations
  • Latest Austrian developments and measures

MESSAGE FROM THE MAIN VIC-BASED ORGANIZATIONS (VBOs) UNOV/UNODC – IAEA – UNIDO – CTBTO

The VBOs have received many questions about vaccination in Austria and at the VIC.

Taking into account the evolving situation regarding the availability and distribution of vaccines in Europe and in Austria, the VBOs have been in contact with the local authorities to clarify the status of VIC personnel in the Austrian vaccination plan, noting that the category of “critical infrastructure staff” is not included in the country’s updated vaccination plan.

The Austrian Federal Authorities have confirmed that the staff of International Organizations, Embassies and Consulates as well as their dependents will be offered the opportunity to be vaccinated against SARS-CoV-2 through regional health services, under the same conditions as nationals and permanent residents of Austria. Vaccination is voluntary and free of charge.

Those VBO personnel and their dependents in Austria who wish to be vaccinated are therefore strongly encouraged to register in the province where they live.

Those living in Vienna can register here. Information is available on the site in English.

These are the sites for Burgenland and Lower Austria.

In all cases, this will be a registration, not an appointment. The individual is contacted subsequently when an appointment is available.

Details on the Austrian vaccination programme are available in German here. There is also a timeline.

Taking part in a national programme is in line with the practice of the other UN system organizations. In this context, and as part of occupational health measures, VIC personnel are invited to inform the VIC Medical Service when they are vaccinated, through EarthMed Portal.

VBO personnel at duty stations outside Austria with concerns about vaccination should contact their respective human resources departments.

The VBOs remain in touch with the Austrian authorities. More information will be provided in VIC updates as it becomes available.

Information on the numbers of SARS CoV-2 cases involving VBO personnel is available here and will be updated as necessary.

The measures in place at the VIC are in line with Austrian regulations and guidance, including the latest Austrian measures that came into effect on Monday, 8 February.

The existing VIC measures include reduced staffing inside the building, two-metre distancing and the use of FFP2 masks as outlined here.

LATEST AUSTRIAN DEVELOPMENTS AND MEASURES:

  • The legal text of the regulations that apply from 8 February is online in German.
  • An overview of Vienna’s test centres is available in English.
  • The Austria Centre Vienna, which is right next to the VIC, offers swift and convenient drive-in and walk-in tests. An appointment is necessary and can be booked here.
  • From Friday 15 January, all those entering Austria need to complete an online pre-clearance form in English or German, regardless of whether they have diplomatic status.
  • Austria national vaccination dashboard is online in English and German.
  • There is information on Austria’s overall vaccination programme in German and on Vienna’s programme in English and German .
  • Austrian officials encourage all those in Austria to download the Stopp Corona app to help with contact tracing. The app is available in English as well as German.
  • The official Austrian dashboard has the latest data on COVID-19. It is available in English as well as German and is updated each day at 1400.

NOTE ON COVID-19 UPDATES:

Updates are issued whenever there is fresh information from the VBOs or the Host Country.

Between updates, you can keep up to date and refer to previous material by visiting our VBO COVID-19 website.

On the site you can find all updates, guidelines, reminders and messages issued so far, as well as useful links including to official information in English and other languages. No log-in is needed.

Link to the site: https://nucleus.iaea.org/sites/covid19/SitePages/Home.aspx

COVID-19 WEBSITE FOR ALL UN SYSTEM PERSONNEL

FEEDBACK/SUGGESTIONS: Please write to martin.nesirky@un.org

In today’s update:

  • Message from the four main Vienna International Centre (VIC)-based organizations
  • Latest Austrian developments and measures

MESSAGE FROM THE MAIN VIC-BASED ORGANIZATIONS (VBOs) UNOV/UNODC – IAEA – UNIDO – CTBTO

The measures in place at the VIC are in line with Austrian regulations and guidance, including the latest Austrian measures that came into effect on Monday.

As of 8 February, the number of customers allowed in the VIC Commissary has been further reduced to align with the new Austrian regulation recommending 20 square metres space per customer.

Commissary cardholders are able to sign up for a half-hour time slot (instead of one hour). If necessary, they can sign up for two time slots equal to one hour.

The existing VIC measures include reduced staffing inside the building, two-metre distancing and the use of FFP2 masks as outlined here.

VIC Medical Service Update:

The VIC Medical Service reported today that one person who works for CTBTO at the VIC tested positive for SARS CoV-2. There was no workplace exposure.

When there is no workplace exposure it means the individual concerned was not at work during the time of potential infectivity. This is defined by the Austrian authorities as 48 hours before having symptoms or 48 hours prior to a positive test result.

The cumulative total number of people who have tested positive among personnel of the VIC-based organizations is 229, of whom 191 work at the VIC. Of the total of 229 personnel, 220 have recovered.

Staff are reminded to continue to observe the hygiene measures required or recommended by the Austrian authorities, such as use of masks and social distancing.

LATEST AUSTRIAN DEVELOPMENTS AND MEASURES:

  • Chancellor Sebastian Kurz announced on Tuesday that travel out of the Austrian province of Tyrol would be permitted only with a negative test no older than 48 hours from Friday 12 February for 10 days.
  • In a televised briefing, Kurz said the reason was to stop the South African B.1.351 variant spreading to the rest of Austria. He said the outbreak in Tyrol was the largest involving B.1.351 in the European Union, with 293 confirmed cases.
  • East Tyrol (Osttirol), which is geographically separated from the rest of Tyrol, is not covered by the exit restrictions. The Austrian authorities have, however, already issued a general warning against travelling to Tyrol.
  • Kurz said it was necessary to respond differently to the B.1.351 variant because studies indicated the AstraZeneca vaccine may be less effective against this mutation, and the vaccine would make up half of the vaccines to be delivered to Austria by the summer.
  • In Tyrol, the provincial authorities will conduct intensive mass testing, Kurz said, adding this was the right approach and the Austrian military was ready to assist. The twin aims were to stop the spread in Tyrol and to stop or at least slow the spread of the variant across Austria.
  • Health Minister Rudolf Anschober said the situation in Austria was stable and the number of active cases was falling, as were hospitalizations and the number of infections in care homes. But it was also known that the mutations were stronger and if they prevailed, it was expected that infections would rise again.
  • Interior Minister Karl Nehammer said there had been a very active partnership between the Tyrolean authorities and the police over the past months, and this well-functioning cooperation would also be applied to enforcing the new testing requirements when leaving Tyrol, which relies heavily on tourism and borders Italy, Switzerland and Germany as well as the Austrian provinces of Vorarlberg and Salzburg.
  • An overview of Vienna’s test centres is available in English.
  • The Austria Centre Vienna, which is right next to the VIC, offers swift and convenient drive-in and walk-in tests. An appointment is necessary and can be booked here.
  • The legal text of the regulations that apply from 25 January is online in German.
  • From Friday 15 January, all those entering Austria need to complete an online pre-clearance form in English or German, regardless of whether they have diplomatic status.
  • Information on the pre-clearance form and the existing regulations on quarantine exemptions is available in English and German.
  • Austria national vaccination dashboard is online in English and German.
  • There is information on Austria’s overall vaccination programme in German and on Vienna’s programme in English and German .
  • Austrian officials encourage all those in Austria to download the Stopp Corona app to help with contact tracing. The app is available in English as well as German.
  • The official Austrian dashboard has the latest data on COVID-19. It is available in English as well as German and is updated each day at 1400.

NOTE ON COVID-19 UPDATES:

Updates are issued whenever there is fresh information from the VBOs or the Host Country.

Between updates, you can keep up to date and refer to previous material by visiting our VBO COVID-19 website.

On the site you can find all updates, guidelines, reminders and messages issued so far, as well as useful links including to official information in English and other languages. No log-in is needed.

Link to the site: https://nucleus.iaea.org/sites/covid19/SitePages/Home.aspx

COVID-19 WEBSITE FOR ALL UN SYSTEM PERSONNEL

FEEDBACK/SUGGESTIONS: Please write to martin.nesirky@un.org

In today’s update:

  • Message from the four main Vienna International Centre (VIC)-based organizations
  • Latest Austrian developments and measures

MESSAGE FROM THE MAIN VIC-BASED ORGANIZATIONS (VBOs) UNOV/UNODC – IAEA – UNIDO – CTBTO

The measures in place at the VIC are in line with Austrian regulations and guidance, including the latest Austrian measures that come into effect on 8 February. Therefore, the existing VIC measures will remain in place from that date.

The existing VIC measures include reduced staffing inside the building, two-metre distancing and the use of FFP2 masks as outlined here.

VIC Medical Service Update:

The VIC Medical Service reported today that three people who work for VIC-based organizations tested positive for SARS CoV-2. Two people work for UNIDO outside of Austria. One person works for the IAEA at the VIC, and there was no workplace exposure.

When there is no workplace exposure it means the individual concerned was not at work during the time of potential infectivity. This is defined by the Austrian authorities as 48 hours before having symptoms or 48 hours prior to a positive test result.

The cumulative total number of people who have tested positive among personnel of the VIC-based organizations is 228, of whom 190 work at the VIC. Of the total of 228 personnel, 211 have recovered.

Staff are reminded to continue to observe the hygiene measures required or recommended by the Austrian authorities, such as use of masks and social distancing.

LATEST AUSTRIAN DEVELOPMENTS AND MEASURES:

  • According to the Austrian Health Ministry’s vaccination dashboard, 189,926 people (2.13 per cent of the Austrian population) had received the first dose of a COVID-19 vaccination as of 2 February.
  • On Thursday, Vienna will open a new drive-in and walk-in test centre at Schoenbrunn Palace in the 13th district. Details and the registration link are available in German and an overview of test centres is available in English.
  • The Austria Centre Vienna, which is right next to the VIC, offers swift and convenient drive-in and walk-in tests. An appointment is necessary and can be booked here.
  • The legal text of the regulations that apply from 25 January is online in German.
  • From Friday 15 January, all those entering Austria need to complete an online pre-clearance form in English or German, regardless of whether they have diplomatic status.
  • Information on the pre-clearance form and the existing regulations on quarantine exemptions is available in English and German.
  • Austria national vaccination dashboard is online in English and German.
  • There is information on Austria’s overall vaccination programme in German and on Vienna’s programme in English and German .
  • Austrian officials encourage all those in Austria to download the Stopp Corona app to help with contact tracing. The app is available in English as well as German.
  • The official Austrian dashboard has the latest data on COVID-19. It is available in English as well as German and is updated each day at 1400.

NOTE ON COVID-19 UPDATES:

Updates are issued whenever there is fresh information from the VBOs or the Host Country.

Between updates, you can keep up to date and refer to previous material by visiting our VBO COVID-19 website.

On the site you can find all updates, guidelines, reminders and messages issued so far, as well as useful links including to official information in English and other languages. No log-in is needed.

Link to the site: https://nucleus.iaea.org/sites/covid19/SitePages/Home.aspx

COVID-19 WEBSITE FOR ALL UN SYSTEM PERSONNEL

FEEDBACK/SUGGESTIONS: Please write to martin.nesirky@un.org

In today’s update:

  • Message from the four main Vienna International Centre (VIC)-based organizations
  • Latest Austrian developments and measures

MESSAGE FROM THE MAIN VIC-BASED ORGANIZATIONS (VBOs) UNOV/UNODC – IAEA – UNIDO – CTBTO

The recent announcements by the Austrian Federal Government do not require adjustments at the level of the VIC.

VIC Medical Service Update:

The VIC Medical Service reported today that one person who works for the IAEA at the VIC tested positive for SARS CoV-2. There was no workplace exposure.

When there is no workplace exposure it means the individual concerned was not at work during the time of potential infectivity. This is defined by the Austrian authorities as 48 hours before having symptoms or 48 hours prior to a positive test result.

The cumulative total number of people who have tested positive among personnel of the VIC-based organizations is 225, of whom 189 work at the VIC. Of the total of 225 personnel, 208 have recovered.

Staff are reminded to continue to observe the hygiene measures required or recommended by the Austrian authorities, such as use of masks and social distancing.

LATEST AUSTRIAN DEVELOPMENTS AND MEASURES:

  • The Austrian Government said measures announced on Monday would be reviewed on 15 February and that a view would be formed then on whether restaurants, bars, cafes and hotels can start to reopen at some point in March. This would depend on the caseload at that time.
  • The restrictions on leaving the house apply from 8 February from 20:00 to 06:00 because more shops as well as museums and services will be open. The exceptions to leaving the home during the curfew period remain the same.
  • Education Minister Heinz Faßmann told a televised briefing on Tuesday that school students would be tested at school, not at home, when they return to the classroom after the semester break.
  • Elementary schoolchildren (i.e. “Volksschule”, Grade 1-4) will be tested twice a week, Mondays and Wednesdays, and will not need to wear masks when seated at their desks. They will be at school Monday to Friday.
  • Senior school students (i.e. Grade 5 and higher) will be tested at the start of their two-day shift. Masks are required. All senior school students will study from home on Fridays.
  • The rules for schools will remain in place until Easter and then be reviewed.
  • University students will mostly study remotely but may be allowed to attend laboratory classes and smaller group classes in person.
  • Interior Minister Karl Nehammer told the briefing there would be tougher penalties for violating COVID-19 measures and more controls at ski resorts. Those who fail to maintain distance or wear an FFP2 mask where required to do so can be fined 90 euros, he said, compared with 25-50 euros up to now.
  • Finance Minister Gernot Bluemel said the economic picture had worsened recently and that Austria had been particularly hard hit because of its dependence on tourism; foreign tourists ordinarily account for 5.2 per cent of GDP. He said an overall 7.1 per cent budget deficit seemed likely in 2021.
  • Vienna opened a new walk-in test centre in the 23rd district over the weekend. Details and the registration link are available in German and an overview of test centres is available in English.
  • The Austria Centre Vienna, which is right next to the VIC, offers swift and convenient drive-in and walk-in tests. An appointment is necessary and can be booked here.
  • The legal text of the regulations that apply from 25 January is online in German.
  • From Friday 15 January, all those entering Austria need to complete an online pre-clearance form in English or German, regardless of whether they have diplomatic status.
  • Information on the pre-clearance form and the existing regulations on quarantine exemptions is available in English and German.
  • Austria national vaccination dashboard is online in English and German.
  • There is information on Austria’s overall vaccination programme in German and on Vienna’s programme in English and German .
  • Austrian officials encourage all those in Austria to download the Stopp Corona app to help with contact tracing. The app is available in English as well as German.
  • The official Austrian dashboard has the latest data on COVID-19. It is available in English as well as German and is updated each day at 1400.

NOTE ON COVID-19 UPDATES:

Updates are issued whenever there is fresh information from the VBOs or the Host Country.

Between updates, you can keep up to date and refer to previous material by visiting our VBO COVID-19 website.

On the site you can find all updates, guidelines, reminders and messages issued so far, as well as useful links including to official information in English and other languages. No log-in is needed.

Link to the site: https://nucleus.iaea.org/sites/covid19/SitePages/Home.aspx

COVID-19 WEBSITE FOR ALL UN SYSTEM PERSONNEL

FEEDBACK/SUGGESTIONS: Please write to martin.nesirky@un.org

In today’s update:

  • Message from the four main Vienna International Centre (VIC)-based organizations
  • Latest Austrian developments and measures

MESSAGE FROM THE MAIN VIC-BASED ORGANIZATIONS (VBOs) UNOV/UNODC – IAEA – UNIDO – CTBTO

VIC Medical Service Update:

The VIC Medical Service reported today that three people who work at the VIC tested positive for SARS CoV-2. Two people work for UNIDO and one person works for the IAEA. There was no workplace exposure.

When there is no workplace exposure it means the individual concerned was not at work during the time of potential infectivity. This is defined by the Austrian authorities as 48 hours before having symptoms or 48 hours prior to a positive test result.

The cumulative total number of people who have tested positive among personnel of the VIC-based organizations is 224, of whom 188 work at the VIC. Of the total of 224 personnel, 205 have recovered.

LATEST AUSTRIAN DEVELOPMENTS AND MEASURES:

  • The Austrian Government and the country’s nine provinces agreed on Monday on what measures would change from 8 February.
  • Chancellor Sebastian Kurz said at a televised briefing the lockdown had had a positive impact on the caseload of the original virus but that the new variants of the virus were spreading. This was why some measures would be tightened and others eased, but under strict conditions.
  • Kurz underscored the role of each individual if the country was not to experience another rise in numbers, which he described as a realistic scenario.
  • The existing 20:00-06:00 curfew remains in place with the same exceptions.
  • Kurz said school students would be able to return to the classroom after the semester break - from 8 February in Vienna and Lower Austria and from 15 February in the other provinces.
  • Primary school children will return to the classroom from Monday to Friday.
  • Senior school children will return to the classroom in a two-group, two-day shift system, with tests at the start of each period. Group A will attend school on
  • Monday and Tuesday, Group B on Wednesday and Thursday. All students will study at home on Friday.
  • Only students who are tested will be allowed to go to school.
  • The Education Minister will give more details on Tuesday.
  • Two households will be able to meet, with a maximum of four adults. Kurz urged those living in Austria nonetheless to limit such social contacts because the risk of transmission is greatest in such settings.
  • From 8 February shops and museums will be able to reopen under strict conditions. Each shop customer should have 20 square metres space compared with 10 metres before the lockdown. In other words, the number of customers allowed in a shop will be reduced.
  • The 20 square metre rule will not apply to supermarkets and other shops that have been open during lockdown, Kurz said.
  • For personal services such as hairdressers, a client will need an appointment and to produce a negative test result no older than 48 hours.
  • Fines will be increased for those who break lockdown regulations. The Interior Minister will give details on Tuesday.
  • Border entry requirements will be toughened further; more details will be given soon.
  • Vienna opened a new walk-in test centre in the 23rd district over the weekend. Details and the registration link are available in German and an overview of test centres is available in English.
  • The Austria Centre Vienna, which is right next to the VIC, offers swift and convenient drive-in and walk-in tests. An appointment is necessary and can be booked here.
  • The legal text of the regulations that apply from 25 January is online in German.
  • From Friday 15 January, all those entering Austria need to complete an online pre-clearance form in English or German, regardless of whether they have diplomatic status.
  • Information on the pre-clearance form and the existing regulations on quarantine exemptions is available in English and German.
  • Austria national vaccination dashboard is online in English and German.
  • There is information on Austria’s overall vaccination programme in German and on Vienna’s programme in English and German .
  • Austrian officials encourage all those in Austria to download the Stopp Corona app to help with contact tracing. The app is available in English as well as German.
  • The official Austrian dashboard has the latest data on COVID-19. It is available in English as well as German and is updated each day at 1400.

NOTE ON COVID-19 UPDATES:

Updates are issued whenever there is fresh information from the VBOs or the Host Country.

Between updates, you can keep up to date and refer to previous material by visiting our VBO COVID-19 website.

On the site you can find all updates, guidelines, reminders and messages issued so far, as well as useful links including to official information in English and other languages. No log-in is needed.

Link to the site: https://nucleus.iaea.org/sites/covid19/SitePages/Home.aspx

COVID-19 WEBSITE FOR ALL UN SYSTEM PERSONNEL

FEEDBACK/SUGGESTIONS: Please write to martin.nesirky@un.org

In today’s update:

  • Message from the four main Vienna International Centre (VIC)-based organizations
  • Latest Austrian developments and measures

MESSAGE FROM THE MAIN VIC-BASED ORGANIZATIONS (VBOs) UNOV/UNODC – IAEA – UNIDO – CTBTO

VIC Medical Service Update:

The VIC Medical Service reported today that two people who work at the VIC tested positive for SARS CoV-2. One person works for the IAEA and the other for UNOV/UNODC. There was no workplace exposure.

When there is no workplace exposure it means the individual concerned was not at work during the time of potential infectivity. This is defined by the Austrian authorities as 48 hours before having symptoms or 48 hours prior to a positive test result.

The cumulative total number of people who have tested positive among personnel of the VIC-based organizations is 221, of whom 185 work at the VIC. Of the total of 221 personnel, 200 have recovered.

LATEST AUSTRIAN DEVELOPMENTS AND MEASURES:

  • Austrian media reported on Friday that the Government plans to finalise and announce tougher entry requirements next week. The details are still being finalised.
  • Doctors in Vienna say fraudsters are attempting to gain access to older people’s properties in the city by telephoning to arrange vaccinations at home, ORF reported on Friday. Vaccinations are not being offered at home yet. People who receive such calls should contact their doctor or the police.
  • Vienna’s health chief, Peter Hacker, told ORF radio some vaccinations in the city would be delayed by one or two weeks, primarily because of some shortfalls in planned deliveries of vaccines.
  • Austrian Cabinet Ministers said on Wednesday a package of measures on remote working had been agreed between the Government and business and labour representatives. Details remain to be finalised on the measures, which will apply to Austrian enterprises and offices.
  • Health Minister Anschober told a televised briefing that remote working was important in the fight against COVID-19.
  • Labour Minister Martin Kocher told the same briefing that remote working was a matter for agreement between employer and employee and not mandatory.
  • The legal text of the regulations that apply from 25 January is online in German.
  • From Friday 15 January, all those entering Austria need to complete an online pre-clearance form in English or German, regardless of whether they have diplomatic status.
  • Information on the pre-clearance form and the existing regulations on quarantine exemptions is available in English and German.
  • Austria launched its national vaccination dashboard in English and German on Tuesday.
  • There is information on Austria’s overall vaccination programme in German and on Vienna’s programme in English and German .
  • Austrian officials encourage all those in Austria to download the Stopp Corona app to help with contact tracing. The app is available in English as well as German.
  • The official Austrian dashboard has the latest data on COVID-19. It is available in English as well as German and is updated each day at 1400.

NOTE ON COVID-19 UPDATES:

Updates are issued whenever there is fresh information from the VBOs or the Host Country.

Between updates, you can keep up to date and refer to previous material by visiting our VBO COVID-19 website.

On the site you can find all updates, guidelines, reminders and messages issued so far, as well as useful links including to official information in English and other languages. No log-in is needed.

Link to the site: https://nucleus.iaea.org/sites/covid19/SitePages/Home.aspx

COVID-19 WEBSITE FOR ALL UN SYSTEM PERSONNEL

FEEDBACK/SUGGESTIONS: Please write to martin.nesirky@un.org

In today’s update:

  • Message from the four main Vienna International Centre (VIC)-based organizations
  • Latest Austrian developments and measures

MESSAGE FROM THE MAIN VIC-BASED ORGANIZATIONS (VBOs) UNOV/UNODC – IAEA – UNIDO – CTBTO

Reminder of latest Austrian measures:

Austria’s additional measures linked to its extended lockdown came into force on Monday, 25 January.

Details of the measures already in place in Austria and at the VIC since 26 December can be found in the VBO update from 23 December.

In line with VIC Medical Service recommendations, the information below is relevant for VIC operations regarding the measures that came into effect on Monday. Please note the mask recommendation at VIC Gates.

Masks

  • Close-fitting masks, such as those issued to personnel earlier in the pandemic, are still required in indoor public places in the VIC.
  • FFP2 masks are strongly recommended when passing through all operational VIC Security Gates and inside Gate One, for example at the Pass Office.
  • Furthermore, the use of FFP2 masks is recommended throughout the VIC because they filter more effectively.
  • The use of FFP2 masks is mandatory for the pharmacy, cafeteria, bank, Commissary and other indoor services where frequent close-range customer interactions cannot be avoided. Please note, FFP2 masks are available in supermarkets and pharmacies and online.
  • The use of FFP2 masks is recommended in meetings in the exceptional cases when they cannot be held virtually.
  • People who cannot wear a mask for health reasons must hold a certificate confirming this from a doctor licensed to practise in Austria.

Elevators

  • The rules on using elevators will not change because the interaction is short, the lifts are well ventilated and there is low risk when everyone wears a mask.

Shared offices

  • Two-metre physical distance must be maintained between personnel in shared offices. Space in these offices should be arranged so that personnel do not sit directly across from each other without a protective barrier. In case a two-metre distance cannot be maintained, additional mitigation measures must be put in place (for example, a physical barrier, Plexiglas shields or alternate working schedules).

Reminder

Personnel are reminded that they must adhere to the two-metre physical distancing rule in all common areas of the VIC at all times, including when meeting at the coffee corners.

VIC Medical Service Update:

The VIC Medical Service reported today that two people who work for the IAEA at the VIC tested positive for SARS CoV-2. There was no workplace exposure.

When there is no workplace exposure it means the individual concerned was not at work during the time of potential infectivity. This is defined by the Austrian authorities as 48 hours before having symptoms or 48 hours prior to a positive test result.

The cumulative total number of people who have tested positive among personnel of the VIC-based organizations is 215, of whom 179 work at the VIC. Of the total of 215 personnel, 199 have recovered. 

LATEST AUSTRIAN DEVELOPMENTS AND MEASURES:

  • Austrian Health Minister Rudolf Anschober told a televised briefing today the lockdown was working, but not as fast as needed. He noted some 90,000 people were being tested in Austria each day.
  • The legal text of the regulations that apply from 25 January is online in German.
  • From Friday 15 January, all those entering Austria need to complete an online pre-clearance form in English or German, regardless of whether they have diplomatic status.
  • Information on the pre-clearance form and the existing regulations on quarantine exemptions is available in English and German.
  • Austria launched its national vaccination dashboard in   English and https://www.oesterreich.gv.at/themen/coronavirus_in_oesterreich/pre-travel-clearance.htmlhttps://info.gesundheitsministerium.gv.at/?">  German on Tuesday.
  • Austrian officials encourage all those in Austria to download the Stopp Corona app to help with contact tracing. The app is available in English  as well as   German.
  • The official Austrian dashboard has the latest data on COVID-19. It is available in English as well as German and is updated each day at 1400.

NOTE ON COVID-19 UPDATES:

Updates are issued whenever there is fresh information from the VBOs or the Host Country.

Between updates, you can keep up to date and refer to previous material by visiting our VBO COVID-19 website.

On the site you can find all updates, guidelines, reminders and messages issued so far, as well as useful links including to official information in English and other languages. No log-in is needed.

Link to the site: https://nucleus.iaea.org/sites/covid19/SitePages/Home.aspx 

COVID-19 WEBSITE FOR ALL UN SYSTEM PERSONNEL

FEEDBACK/SUGGESTIONS: Please write to martin.nesirky@un.org

In today’s update:

  • Message from the four main Vienna International Centre (VIC)-based organizations
  • Latest Austrian developments and measures

MESSAGE FROM THE MAIN VIC-BASED ORGANIZATIONS (VBOs) UNOV/UNODC – IAEA – UNIDO – CTBTO

Reminder of latest Austrian measures:

Austria’s additional measures linked to its extended lockdown came into force on Monday, 25 January.

Details of the measures already in place in Austria and at the VIC since 26 December can be found in the VBO update from 23 December.

In line with VIC Medical Service recommendations, the information below is relevant for VIC operations regarding the measures that came into effect on Monday. Please note the mask recommendation at VIC Gates.

Masks

  • Close-fitting masks, such as those issued to personnel earlier in the pandemic, are still required in indoor public places in the VIC.
  • FFP2 masks are strongly recommended when passing through all operational VIC Security Gates and inside Gate One, for example at the Pass Office.
  • Furthermore, the use of FFP2 masks is recommended throughout the VIC because they filter more effectively.
  • The use of FFP2 masks is mandatory for the pharmacy, cafeteria, bank, Commissary and other indoor services where frequent close-range customer interactions cannot be avoided. Please note, FFP2 masks are available in supermarkets and pharmacies and online.
  • The use of FFP2 masks is recommended in meetings in the exceptional cases when they cannot be held virtually.
  • People who cannot wear a mask for health reasons must hold a certificate confirming this from a doctor licensed to practise in Austria.

Elevators

  • The rules on using elevators will not change because the interaction is short, the lifts are well ventilated and there is low risk when everyone wears a mask.

Shared offices

  • Two-metre physical distance must be maintained between personnel in shared offices. Space in these offices should be arranged so that personnel do not sit directly across from each other without a protective barrier. In case a two-metre distance cannot be maintained, additional mitigation measures must be put in place (for example, a physical barrier, Plexiglas shields or alternate working schedules).

Reminder

Personnel are reminded that they must adhere to the two-metre physical distancing rule in all common areas of the VIC at all times, including when meeting at the coffee corners.

VIC Medical Service Update:

The VIC Medical Service reported today that two people who work at the VIC tested positive for SARS CoV-2.

One person works for the IAEA and one works for UNIDO. There was no workplace exposure in both cases.

When there is no workplace exposure it means the individual concerned was not at work during the time of potential infectivity. This is defined by the Austrian authorities as 48 hours before having symptoms or 48 hours prior to a positive test result.

The cumulative total number of people who have tested positive among personnel of the VIC-based organizations is 213, of whom 177 work at the VIC. Of the total of 213 personnel, 198 have recovered.  

LATEST AUSTRIAN DEVELOPMENTS AND MEASURES:

  • The legal text of the regulations that apply from 25 January is online in German.
  • From Friday 15 January, all those entering Austria need to complete an online pre-clearance form in English or German, regardless of whether they have diplomatic status.
  • Information on the pre-clearance form and the existing regulations on quarantine exemptions is available in English and German.
  • Austria launched its national vaccination dashboard in   English and https://www.oesterreich.gv.at/themen/coronavirus_in_oesterreich/pre-travel-clearance.htmlhttps://info.gesundheitsministerium.gv.at/?">  German on Tuesday.
  • Austrian officials encourage all those in Austria to download the Stopp Corona app to help with contact tracing. The app is available in English  as well as   German.
  • The official Austrian dashboard has the latest data on COVID-19. It is available in English as well as German and is updated each day at 1400.

NOTE ON COVID-19 UPDATES:

Updates are issued whenever there is fresh information from the VBOs or the Host Country.

Between updates, you can keep up to date and refer to previous material by visiting our VBO COVID-19 website.

On the site you can find all updates, guidelines, reminders and messages issued so far, as well as useful links including to official information in English and other languages. No log-in is needed.

Link to the site: https://nucleus.iaea.org/sites/covid19/SitePages/Home.aspx 

COVID-19 WEBSITE FOR ALL UN SYSTEM PERSONNEL

FEEDBACK/SUGGESTIONS: Please write to martin.nesirky@un.org

In today’s update:

  • Message from the four main Vienna International Centre (VIC)-based organizations
  • Latest Austrian developments and measures

MESSAGE FROM THE MAIN VIC-BASED ORGANIZATIONS (VBOs) UNOV/UNODC – IAEA – UNIDO – CTBTO

Reminder of latest Austrian measures:

Austria’s additional measures linked to its extended lockdown came into force on Monday, 25 January.

Details of the measures already in place in Austria and at the VIC since 26 December can be found in the VBO update from 23 December.

In line with VIC Medical Service recommendations, the information below is relevant for VIC operations regarding the measures that came into effect on Monday. Please note the mask recommendation at VIC Gates.

Masks

  • Close-fitting masks, such as those issued to personnel earlier in the pandemic, are still required in indoor public places in the VIC.
  • FFP2 masks are strongly recommended when passing through all operational VIC Security Gates and inside Gate One, for example at the Pass Office.
  • Furthermore, the use of FFP2 masks is recommended throughout the VIC because they filter more effectively.
  • The use of FFP2 masks is mandatory for the pharmacy, cafeteria, bank, Commissary and other indoor services where frequent close-range customer interactions cannot be avoided. Please note, FFP2 masks are available in supermarkets and pharmacies and online.
  • The use of FFP2 masks is recommended in meetings in the exceptional cases when they cannot be held virtually.
  • People who cannot wear a mask for health reasons must hold a certificate confirming this from a doctor licensed to practise in Austria.

Elevators

  • The rules on using elevators will not change because the interaction is short, the lifts are well ventilated and there is low risk when everyone wears a mask.

Shared offices

  • Two-metre physical distance must be maintained between personnel in shared offices. Space in these offices should be arranged so that personnel do not sit directly across from each other without a protective barrier. In case a two-metre distance cannot be maintained, additional mitigation measures must be put in place (for example, a physical barrier, Plexiglas shields or alternate working schedules).

Reminder

Personnel are reminded that they must adhere to the two-metre physical distancing rule in all common areas of the VIC at all times, including when meeting at the coffee corners.

VIC Medical Service Update:

The VIC Medical Service reported today that three people who work at the VIC tested positive for SARS CoV-2.

One person works for the IAEA, and contacts have been informed. Two people work for UNIDO. There was no workplace exposure in these two cases.

When there is no workplace exposure it means the individual concerned was not at work during the time of potential infectivity. This is defined by the Austrian authorities as 48 hours before having symptoms or 48 hours prior to a positive test result.

The cumulative total number of people who have tested positive among personnel of the VIC-based organizations is 211, of whom 175 work at the VIC. Of the total of 211 personnel, 194 have recovered.

LATEST AUSTRIAN DEVELOPMENTS AND MEASURES:

  • Education Minister Heinz Fassmann told reporters on Monday the Government had allocated 200 million euros to help schools and students over the coming year to tackle the consequences of repeated periods of home schooling, once back in the classroom.
  • He said 4,700 additional teaching posts would be funded, in part to help teach remedial lessons this year and next year.
  • There will be learning support during the semester and Easter school breaks and summer schools, in addition to free online tutoring through a German-language platform.
  • Austrian authorities noted that under the new measures that came into effect today, children between the ages of six and 14 can continue to wear face masks other than FFP2 masks. Children under the age of six do not have to wear masks.
  • Austrian health officials said the R factor was 0.89, compared with the target of 0.7. The seven-day incidence was 118 cases per 100,000 people. The target is 50 per 100,000.
  • By Thursday evening, 162,000 people had been vaccinated and most vulnerable groups are expected to have been vaccinated by the end of February, he said.
  • The City of Vienna said it had analysed 539 positive tests and that 66 of them were from the B.1.1.7 variant, in other words 12 per cent.
  • People are not staying at home as much as they did in the first and second lockdowns, Austrian researcher Peter Klimek told ORF radio on Monday, based on analysis of anonymised mobile phone data.
  • In this lockdown, there has been roughly a 25 per cent reduction in movement outside the home, compared with 70 per cent and 45 per cent in the first and second lockdowns respectively. This is attributed to “lockdown fatigue”. Across the provinces, Vienna has the highest rate of people staying at or close to home.
  • The legal text of the regulations that apply from 25 January is online in German.
  • From Friday 15 January, all those entering Austria need to complete an online pre-clearance form in English or German, regardless of whether they have diplomatic status.
  • Information on the pre-clearance form and the existing regulations on quarantine exemptions is available in English and German.
  • Austria launched its national vaccination dashboard in English and German on Tuesday.
  • Austrian officials encourage all those in Austria to download the Stopp Corona app to help with contact tracing. The app is available in English as well as German.
  • The official Austrian dashboard has the latest data on COVID-19. It is available in English as well as German and is updated each day at 1400.

NOTE ON COVID-19 UPDATES:

Updates are issued whenever there is fresh information from the VBOs or the Host Country.

Between updates, you can keep up to date and refer to previous material by visiting our VBO COVID-19 website.

On the site you can find all updates, guidelines, reminders and messages issued so far, as well as useful links including to official information in English and other languages. No log-in is needed.

Link to the site: https://nucleus.iaea.org/sites/covid19/SitePages/Home.aspx

COVID-19 WEBSITE FOR ALL UN SYSTEM PERSONNEL

FEEDBACK/SUGGESTIONS: Please write to martin.nesirky@un.org

In today’s update:

  • Message from the four main Vienna International Centre (VIC)-based organizations
  • Latest Austrian developments and measures

MESSAGE FROM THE MAIN VIC-BASED ORGANIZATIONS (VBOs) UNOV/UNODC – IAEA – UNIDO – CTBTO

Reminder of latest Austrian measures:

Details of the measures in place in Austria and at the VIC since 26 December can be found in the VIC update from 23 December.

It remains important that we all adhere to Austria’s regulations and recommendations in tackling the COVID-19 pandemic and new variants of the virus.

On 17 January, the Austrian authorities announced the extension of the lockdown to at least 7 February, with some additional measures that officially come into effect on 25 January.

In line with these measures and VIC Medical Service recommendations, the information below is relevant for VIC operations. Please note the mask recommendation at VIC Gates.

Masks

  • Close-fitting masks, such as those issued to personnel earlier in the pandemic, are still required in indoor public places in the VIC.
  • FFP2 masks are strongly recommended when passing through all operational VIC Security Gates and inside Gate One, for example at the Pass Office.
  • Furthermore, the use of FFP2 masks is recommended throughout the VIC because they filter more effectively.
  • The use of FFP2 masks is mandatory from 25 January for the pharmacy, cafeteria, bank, Commissary and other indoor services where frequent close-range customer interactions cannot be avoided. Please note, FFP2 masks are available in supermarkets and pharmacies and online.
  • The use of FFP2 masks is recommended in meetings in the exceptional cases when they cannot be held virtually.
  • People who cannot wear a mask for health reasons must hold a certificate confirming this from a doctor licensed to practise in Austria.

Elevators

  • The rules on using elevators will not change because the interaction is short, the lifts are well ventilated and there is low risk when everyone wears a mask.

Shared offices

  • Two-metre physical distance must be maintained between personnel in shared offices. Space in these offices should be arranged so that personnel do not sit directly across from each other without a protective barrier. In case a two-metre distance cannot be maintained, additional mitigation measures must be put in place (for example, a physical barrier, Plexiglas shields or alternate working schedules).

Reminder

Personnel are reminded that they must adhere to the two-metre physical distancing rule in all common areas of the VIC at all times, including when meeting at the coffee corners.

LATEST AUSTRIAN DEVELOPMENTS AND MEASURES:

  • Health Minister Rudolf Anschober told a televised briefing on Friday that the R factor is 0.87 and that the target is 0.7. The seven-day incidence was 116 cases per 100,000 people, he said. The target is 50 per 100,000.
  • By Thursday evening, 162,000 people had been vaccinated and most vulnerable groups are expected to have been vaccinated by the end of February, he said.
  • The City of Vienna said it had analysed 539 positive tests and that 66 of them were from the B.1.1.7 variant, in other words 12 per cent.
  • The legal text of the regulations that apply from 25 January is online in German.
  • From Friday 15 January, all those entering Austria need to complete an online pre-clearance form in English or German, regardless of whether they have diplomatic status.
  • Information on the pre-clearance form and the existing regulations on quarantine exemptions is available in English and German.
  • Austria launched its national vaccination dashboard in English and https://www.oesterreich.gv.at/themen/coronavirus_in_oesterreich/pre-travel-clearance.htmlhttps://info.gesundheitsministerium.gv.at/?"> German on Tuesday.
  • Austrian officials encourage all those in Austria to download the Stopp Corona app to help with contact tracing. The app is available in English as well as German.
  • The official Austrian dashboard has the latest data on COVID-19. It is available in English as well as German and is updated each day at 1400.

NOTE ON COVID-19 UPDATES:

Updates are issued whenever there is fresh information from the VBOs or the Host Country.

Between updates, you can keep up to date and refer to previous material by visiting our VBO COVID-19 website.

On the site you can find all updates, guidelines, reminders and messages issued so far, as well as useful links including to official information in English and other languages. No log-in is needed.

Link to the site: https://nucleus.iaea.org/sites/covid19/SitePages/Home.aspx

COVID-19 WEBSITE FOR ALL UN SYSTEM PERSONNEL

FEEDBACK/SUGGESTIONS: Please write to martin.nesirky@un.org

In today’s update:

  • Message from the four main Vienna International Centre (VIC)-based organizations
  • Latest Austrian developments and measures

MESSAGE FROM THE MAIN VIC-BASED ORGANIZATIONS (VBOs) UNOV/UNODC – IAEA – UNIDO – CTBTO

VIC Medical Service Update:

The VIC Medical Service reported today that one person who works for the IAEA at the VIC tested positive for SARS CoV-2. There was no workplace exposure.

When there is no workplace exposure it means the individual concerned was not at work during the time of potential infectivity. This is defined by the Austrian authorities as 48 hours before having symptoms or 48 hours prior to a positive test result.

The cumulative total number of people who have tested positive among personnel of the VIC-based organizations is 208, of whom 172 work at the VIC. Of the total of 208 personnel, 192 have recovered.

LATEST AUSTRIAN DEVELOPMENTS AND MEASURES:

  • Health Minister Rudolf Anschober said this morning that there was a downward trend in new infections, with seven-day incidence now at 115. However, this promising trend should not lead to carelessness, as B117 still needed to be contained.
  • The Health Minister said yesterday Austria was ordering its full share of 3.8 million doses of the Biontech-Pfizer vaccine under the second EU framework agreement.
  • From Friday 15 January, all those entering Austria will need to complete an online pre-clearance form in English or German, regardless of whether they have diplomatic status.
  • Information on the pre-clearance form and the existing regulations on quarantine exemptions is available in English and German.
  • Austria launched its national vaccination dashboard in English and https://www.oesterreich.gv.at/themen/coronavirus_in_oesterreich/pre-travel-clearance.htmlhttps://info.gesundheitsministerium.gv.at/?"> German on Tuesday.
  • Austrian officials encourage all those in Austria to download the Stopp Corona app to help with contact tracing. The app is available in English as well as German.
  • The official Austrian dashboard has the latest data on COVID-19. It is available in English as well as German and is updated each day at 1400.

NOTE ON COVID-19 UPDATES:

Updates are issued whenever there is fresh information from the VBOs or the Host Country.

Between updates, you can keep up to date and refer to previous material by visiting our VBO COVID-19 website.

On the site you can find all updates, guidelines, reminders and messages issued so far, as well as useful links including to official information in English and other languages. No log-in is needed.

Link to the site: https://nucleus.iaea.org/sites/covid19/SitePages/Home.aspx

COVID-19 WEBSITE FOR ALL UN SYSTEM PERSONNEL

FEEDBACK/SUGGESTIONS: Please write to martin.nesirky@un.org

In today’s update:

  • Message from the four main Vienna International Centre (VIC)-based organizations
  • Latest Austrian developments and measures

MESSAGE FROM THE MAIN VIC-BASED ORGANIZATIONS (VBOs) UNOV/UNODC – IAEA – UNIDO – CTBTO

Latest Austrian measures:

Details of the measures in place in Austria and at the VIC since 26 December can be found in the VIC update from 23 December.

It remains important that we all adhere to Austria’s regulations and recommendations in tackling the COVID-19 pandemic and new variants of the virus.

On 17 January, the Austrian authorities announced the extension of the lockdown to at least 7 February, with some additional measures. In line with these measures and VIC Medical Service recommendations, the following information is relevant for VIC operations:

Masks

  • Close-fitting masks are still required in indoor public places in the VIC.
  • The use of FFP2 masks is recommended throughout because they filter more effectively.
  • The use of FFP2 masks is mandatory from 25 January for the pharmacy, cafeteria, bank, Commissary and other indoor services where frequent close-range customer interactions cannot be avoided.
  • The use of FFP2 masks is recommended in meetings in the exceptional cases when they cannot be held virtually.
  • People who cannot wear a mask for health reasons must hold a certificate confirming this from a doctor licensed to practise in Austria.

Elevators

  • The rules on using elevators will not change because the interaction is short, the lifts are well ventilated and there is low risk when everyone wears a mask.

Shared offices

  • Two-metre physical distance must be maintained between personnel in shared offices. Space in these offices should be arranged so that personnel do not sit directly across from each other without a protective barrier. In case a two-metre distance cannot be maintained, additional mitigation measures must be put in place (for example, a physical barrier, Plexiglas shields or alternate working schedules).

Reminder

  • Personnel are reminded that they must adhere to the two-metre physical distancing rule in all common areas of the VIC at all times, including when meeting at the coffee corners.

VIC Medical Service Update:

The VIC Medical Service reported today that one person who works for UNODC outside Austria tested positive for SARS CoV-2. There was no workplace exposure.

When there is no workplace exposure it means the individual concerned was not at work during the time of potential infectivity. This is defined by the Austrian authorities as 48 hours before having symptoms or 48 hours prior to a positive test result.

The cumulative total number of people who have tested positive among personnel of the VIC-based organizations is 207, of whom 171 work at the VIC. Of the total of 207 personnel, 188 have recovered.

LATEST AUSTRIAN DEVELOPMENTS AND MEASURES:

  • Chancellor Sebastian Kurz told Austria’s Puls 4 television the aim was to start to lift some measures from 8 February, but there was no guarantee that this would be the case.
  • Austrian authorities reported the B.1.1.7 variant first detected in the UK had now been confirmed in the country.
  • Of 53 suspected cases involving the B.1.1.7 variant, 46 were confirmed through sequencing, Austrian media reported.
  • Health Minister Rudolf Anschober said on Tuesday the confirmation underscored the need to expand testing for the variant across Austria; the bulk of positive PCR test results would be sequenced to check for B.1.1.7.
  • It also showed the importance of adhering to the new two-metre distancing rule, wearing masks – FFP2 masks wherever possible – and observing hygiene measures, he said.
  • The Finance Ministry said Austria planned to remove 20 per cent VAT from the price of FFP2 masks from 23 January until mid-2021, subject to parliamentary approval.
  • From Friday 15 January, all those entering Austria will need to complete an online pre-clearance form in English or German, regardless of whether they have diplomatic status.
  • Information on the pre-clearance form and the existing regulations on quarantine exemptions is available in English and German.
  • Austria launched its national vaccination dashboard in  English and https://www.oesterreich.gv.at/themen/coronavirus_in_oesterreich/pre-travel-clearance.htmlhttps://info.gesundheitsministerium.gv.at/?">  German on Tuesday.
  • Austrian officials encourage all those in Austria to download the Stopp Corona app to help with contact tracing. The app is available in English  as well as   German.
  • The official Austrian dashboard has the latest data on COVID-19. It is available in English as well as German and is updated each day at 1400.

NOTE ON COVID-19 UPDATES:

Updates are issued whenever there is fresh information from the VBOs or the Host Country.

Between updates, you can keep up to date and refer to previous material by visiting our VBO COVID-19 website.

On the site you can find all updates, guidelines, reminders and messages issued so far, as well as useful links including to official information in English and other languages. No log-in is needed.

Link to the site: https://nucleus.iaea.org/sites/covid19/SitePages/Home.aspx 

COVID-19 WEBSITE FOR ALL UN SYSTEM PERSONNEL

FEEDBACK/SUGGESTIONS: Please write to martin.nesirky@un.org

In today’s update:

  • Message from the four main Vienna International Centre (VIC)-based organizations
  • Latest Austrian developments and measures

MESSAGE FROM THE MAIN VIC-BASED ORGANIZATIONS (VBOs) UNOV/UNODC – IAEA – UNIDO – CTBTO

Latest Austrian measures:

Details of the measures in place in Austria and at the VIC since 26 December can be found in the VBO update from 23 December.

On 17 January, the Austrian authorities announced the extension of the lockdown to at least 7 February, with some additional measures. In line with these measures and VIC Medical Service recommendations, the following information is relevant for VIC operations:

Masks

  • Close-fitting masks are still required in indoor public places in the VIC.
  • The use of FFP2 masks is recommended throughout because they filter more effectively.
  • The use of FFP2 masks is mandatory from 25 January for the pharmacy, cafeteria, bank, Commissary and other indoor services where frequent close-range customer interactions cannot be avoided.
  • The use of FFP2 masks is recommended in meetings in the exceptional cases when they cannot be held virtually.
  • People who cannot wear a mask for health reasons must hold a certificate confirming this from a doctor licensed to practise in Austria.

Elevators

  • The rules on using elevators will not change because the interaction is short, the lifts are well ventilated and there is low risk when everyone wears a mask.

Shared offices

  • Two-metre physical distance must be maintained between personnel in shared offices. Space in these offices should be arranged so that personnel do not sit directly across from each other without a protective barrier. In case a two-metre distance cannot be maintained, additional mitigation measures must be put in place (for example, a physical barrier, Plexiglas shields or alternate working schedules).

Reminder

  • Personnel are reminded that they must adhere to the two-metre physical distancing rule in all common areas of the VIC at all times, including when meeting at the coffee corners.

VIC Medical Service Update:

The VIC Medical Service reported today that one person who works for UNOV/UNODC at the VIC tested positive for SARS CoV-2. There was no workplace exposure.

When there is no workplace exposure it means the individual concerned was not at work during the time of potential infectivity. This is defined by the Austrian authorities as 48 hours before having symptoms or 48 hours prior to a positive test result.

The cumulative total number of people who have tested positive among personnel of the VIC-based organizations is 206, of whom 171 work at the VIC. Of the total of 206 personnel, 185 have recovered.

LATEST AUSTRIAN DEVELOPMENTS AND MEASURES:

  • The Austrian Government announced on Sunday that it was extending the lockdown until at least the end of Sunday 7 February and adding some tighter measures. The measures would be reviewed weekly.
  • Chancellor Sebastian Kurz told a televised briefing the B.1.1.7 variant first detected in the UK was in Austria and likely to spread very fast. The health minister said the coming 10 weeks would be challenging.
  • Kurz said on Monday that the Government was very concerned about the Brazilian variant that has not yet been detected in Austria.
  • The hope was still for a return to normality in the summer, but nothing could be guaranteed, Kurz said. Vaccination would play a key role, especially in protecting vulnerable groups.
  • An important aim of the additional measures was to buy time until vulnerable and elderly people had been vaccinated and to avoid overburdening hospitals as the new, more transmissible variant spreads. Another aim was to bring the seven-day incidence down to 50 case per 100,000 people from 130 and the daily number of cases down to 700 from some 1,500 now.
  • All measures in place since 26 December remain, such as limits on leaving home except for specific reasons.
  • These are the additional measures:
  • From 25 January, minimum distance will be increased to two metres from one metre.
  • FFP2 masks become mandatory on public transport and in those shops that are open.
  • People are recommended to use FFP2 masks wherever possible.
  • Home schooling continues until the semester holidays. The aim was to return to school after the semester holidays. This means from 8 February in Vienna, with a shift system, and in Lower Austria. From 15 February in the other provinces.
  • If numbers allowed, some of the measures could be eased from 8 February, such as retail, personal services such as hairdressers and museums. Restaurants, bars and cafes, and entertainment and cultural venues as well as the tourism sector will remain closed. The Government will evaluate in mid-February whether they can open in March. Take-out services are allowed. Some ski resorts and skating rinks remain open.
  • The Government said remote working should be used wherever possible.
  • From Friday 15 January, all those entering Austria will need to complete an online pre-clearance form in English or German, regardless of whether they have diplomatic status.
  • Information on the pre-clearance form and the existing regulations on quarantine exemptions is available in English and German.
  • Austria launched its national vaccination dashboard in English and https://www.oesterreich.gv.at/themen/coronavirus_in_oesterreich/pre-travel-clearance.htmlhttps://info.gesundheitsministerium.gv.at/?"> German on Tuesday.
  • Vaccination is voluntary and free. More information available in English on vaccination in Vienna here.
  • The VIC Medical Service particularly recommends that Vienna-based VIC personnel or retirees who are over 65, belong to the vulnerable group category or care for elderly persons at home pre-register through the City’s vaccination website.
  • Any eligible individual living in Vienna, including VIC personnel and dependants, can pre-register on the City’s vaccination site. The VIC Medical Service cannot yet give a firm timeframe for when it will be able to offer the vaccination to personnel under Phase Two of the Austrian vaccination programme that would cover critical infrastructure. The new estimated period is March.
  • The second round of voluntary mass testing started in Vienna has begun. Information in English is available here .
  • Austrian officials encourage all those in Austria to download the Stopp Corona app to help with contact tracing. The app is available in English as well as German.
  • The official Austrian dashboard has the latest data on COVID-19. It is available in English as well as German and is updated each day at 1400.

NOTE ON COVID-19 UPDATES:

Updates are issued whenever there is fresh information from the VBOs or the Host Country.

Between updates, you can keep up to date and refer to previous material by visiting our VBO COVID-19 website.

On the site you can find all updates, guidelines, reminders and messages issued so far, as well as useful links including to official information in English and other languages. No log-in is needed.

Link to the site: https://nucleus.iaea.org/sites/covid19/SitePages/Home.aspx

COVID-19 WEBSITE FOR ALL UN SYSTEM PERSONNEL

FEEDBACK/SUGGESTIONS: Please write to martin.nesirky@un.org

In today’s update:

  • Message from the four main Vienna International Centre (VIC)-based organizations
  • Latest Austrian developments and measures

MESSAGE FROM THE MAIN VIC-BASED ORGANIZATIONS (VBOs) UNOV/UNODC – IAEA – UNIDO – CTBTO

Reminder:

Details of the measures in place in Austria and at the VIC since 26 December can be found in the VIC CMT update of 23 December 2020 .

The VBOs have taken note that the Austrian lockdown has been extended to 24 January and will possibly be extended further.

VIC Medical Service Update:

The VIC Medical Service reported today that two people who work for the IAEA at the VIC tested positive for SARS CoV-2. There was no workplace exposure.

When there is no workplace exposure it means the individual concerned was not at work during the time of potential infectivity. This is defined by the Austrian authorities as 48 hours before having symptoms or 48 hours prior to a positive test result.

The cumulative total number of people who have tested positive among personnel of the VIC-based organizations is 205, of whom 170 work at the VIC. Of the total of 205 personnel, 181 have recovered.

LATEST AUSTRIAN DEVELOPMENTS AND MEASURES:

  • The Austrian Government will decide this weekend what measures will be in place beyond 24 January, Austrian media reported. Austrian Chancellor Sebastian Kurz told the Austrian news agency APA the situation was “highly volatile”.
  • Austria remains entirely red, the highest level in the country’s “traffic light” system that categorizes the COVID-19 caseload and risk.
  • Health Minister Rudolf Anschober told a televised briefing on Friday that the measures in place were working but the country was not yet where it needed to be.
  • "It's not going to get any easier in the coming weeks," he said, noting there were about 70-100 suspected cases of the B.1.1.7 virus mutation in Austria and reiterating the weeks up to Easter would be the most difficult of the pandemic so far.
  • Anschober said it was a positive development that many more people were signing up to be vaccinated in care homes, a key target group. He said by Tuesday, 100,000 people will have been vaccinated across the country. This includes health sector workers.
  • Medical experts at the same briefing said sequencing of the new variant, which has as many as 17 different mutations, would take seven days. They also said it would not be surprising if the B.1.1.7 variant had spread widely in Austria. In neighbouring Slovakia, 15 per cent of cases were attributable to that variant, they said.
  • From Friday 15 January, all those entering Austria will need to complete an online pre-clearance form in English or German, regardless of whether they have diplomatic status.
  • Information on the pre-clearance form and the existing regulations on quarantine exemptions is available in English and German.
  • Austria launched its national vaccination dashboard in English and https://www.oesterreich.gv.at/themen/coronavirus_in_oesterreich/pre-travel-clearance.htmlhttps://info.gesundheitsministerium.gv.at/?"> German on Tuesday.
  • Vaccination is voluntary and free. More information available in English on vaccination in Vienna here.
  • The second round of voluntary mass testing started in Vienna has begun. Information in English is available here .
  • Austrian officials encourage all those in Austria to download the Stopp Corona app to help with contact tracing. The app is available in English as well as German.
  • The official Austrian dashboard has the latest data on COVID-19. It is available in English as well as German and is updated each day at 1400.

NOTE ON COVID-19 UPDATES:

Updates are issued whenever there is fresh information from the VBOs or the Host Country.

Between updates, you can keep up to date and refer to previous material by visiting our VBO COVID-19 website.

On the site you can find all updates, guidelines, reminders and messages issued so far, as well as useful links including to official information in English and other languages. No log-in is needed.

Link to the site: https://nucleus.iaea.org/sites/covid19/SitePages/Home.aspx

COVID-19 WEBSITE FOR ALL UN SYSTEM PERSONNEL

FEEDBACK/SUGGESTIONS: Please write to martin.nesirky@un.org

In today’s update:

  • Message from the four main Vienna International Centre (VIC)-based organizations
  • Latest Austrian developments and measures

MESSAGE FROM THE MAIN VIC-BASED ORGANIZATIONS (VBOs) UNOV/UNODC – IAEA – UNIDO – CTBTO

Reminder:

Details of the measures in place in Austria and at the VIC since 26 December can be found in the VIC CMT update of 23 December 2020 .

The VBOs have taken note that the Austrian lockdown has been extended to 24 January and will possibly be extended further.

VIC Medical Service Update:

The VIC Medical Service reported today that two people who work for the IAEA at the VIC tested positive for SARS CoV-2. Close contacts have been informed.

The cumulative total number of people who have tested positive among personnel of the VIC-based organizations is 203, of whom 168 work at the VIC. Of the total of 203 personnel, 181 have recovered.

LATEST AUSTRIAN DEVELOPMENTS AND MEASURES:

  • Austria’s parliament extended the lockdown to 24 January on Wednesday evening.
  • Austrian authorities reported further suspected cases involving the new COVID-19 variant B.1.1.7 that first surfaced in the United Kingdom.
  • The head of the Austrian Red Cross’s emergency services said on Wednesday that the country risked catastrophe in March if measures were not taken soon to tackle the new variant.
  • From Friday 15 January, all those entering Austria will need to complete an online pre-clearance form in English or German, regardless of whether they have diplomatic status.
  • Information on the pre-clearance form and the existing regulations on quarantine exemptions is available in English and German.
  • Austria launched its national vaccination dashboard in English and https://www.oesterreich.gv.at/themen/coronavirus_in_oesterreich/pre-travel-clearance.htmlhttps://info.gesundheitsministerium.gv.at/?"> German on Tuesday.
  • Vaccination is voluntary and free. More information available in English on vaccination in Vienna here.
  • The second round of voluntary mass testing started in Vienna has begun. Information in English is available here .
  • Austrian officials encourage all those in Austria to download the Stopp Corona app to help with contact tracing. The app is available in English as well as German.
  • The official Austrian dashboard has the latest data on COVID-19. It is available in English as well as German and is updated each day at 1400.

NOTE ON COVID-19 UPDATES:

Updates are issued whenever there is fresh information from the VBOs or the Host Country.

Between updates, you can keep up to date and refer to previous material by visiting our VBO COVID-19 website.

On the site you can find all updates, guidelines, reminders and messages issued so far, as well as useful links including to official information in English and other languages. No log-in is needed.

Link to the site: https://nucleus.iaea.org/sites/covid19/SitePages/Home.aspx

COVID-19 WEBSITE FOR ALL UN SYSTEM PERSONNEL

FEEDBACK/SUGGESTIONS: Please write to martin.nesirky@un.org

In today’s update:

  • Message from the four main Vienna International Centre (VIC)-based organizations
  • Latest Austrian developments and measures

MESSAGE FROM THE MAIN VIC-BASED ORGANIZATIONS (VBOs) UNOV/UNODC – IAEA – UNIDO – CTBTO

Reminder:

Details of the measures in place in Austria and at the VIC since 26 December can be found in the VIC CMT update of 23 December 2020 .

The VBOs have taken note that the Austrian lockdown is likely to be extended by a week, and possibly longer.

VIC Medical Service Update:

The VIC Medical Service reported today that three people who work for VIC-based organizations tested positive for SARS CoV-2. Two people work for the IAEA and a third person for UNIDO.

In one of the cases at the IAEA, close contacts have been informed. In the other two cases reported today, there was no workplace exposure. When there is no workplace exposure it means the individual concerned was not at work during the time of potential infectivity. This is defined by the Austrian authorities as 48 hours before having symptoms or 48 hours prior to a positive test result.

The cumulative total number of people who have tested positive among personnel of the VIC-based organizations is 201, of whom 166 work at the VIC. Of the total of 201 personnel, 181 have recovered.

LATEST AUSTRIAN DEVELOPMENTS AND MEASURES:

  • The Austrian Government is considering extending the lockdown beyond 24 January because of the new more transmissible B.1.1.7 virus variant that first emerged in the United Kingdom, Finance Minister Gernot Bluemel told a televised briefing on Wednesday.
  • A decision would be taken in the next few days, he said after the weekly cabinet meeting. The situation in Austria was “very, very difficult”, Bluemel said.
  • Health Minister Rudolf Anschober told parliament there had been 70 cases potentially linked to the new variant so far.
  • He told Austria’s ORF TV on Tuesday evening that the country faced the most difficult phase of the pandemic between now and early April. “We really have a problem,” he said.
  • Education Minister Heinz Fassmann told ORF radio on Wednesday that school students would start to return to classrooms from 25 January rather than all at once on 18 January as originally planned. There was likely to be a phased or shift system for students to go to school, he said. There would also be weekly voluntary testing for students and teachers.
  • Austria launched its national vaccination dashboard in English and German on Tuesday.
  • Vaccination is voluntary and free. More information available in English on vaccination in Vienna here.
  • The second round of voluntary mass testing started in Vienna has begun. Information in English is available here .
  • Austrian officials encourage all those in Austria to download the Stopp Corona app to help with contact tracing. The app is available in English as well as German.
  • The official Austrian dashboard has the latest data on COVID-19. It is available in English as well as German and is updated each day at 1400.

NOTE ON COVID-19 UPDATES:

Updates are issued whenever there is fresh information from the VBOs or the Host Country.

Between updates, you can keep up to date and refer to previous material by visiting our VBO COVID-19 website.

On the site you can find all updates, guidelines, reminders and messages issued so far, as well as useful links including to official information in English and other languages. No log-in is needed.

Link to the site: https://nucleus.iaea.org/sites/covid19/SitePages/Home.aspx

COVID-19 WEBSITE FOR ALL UN SYSTEM PERSONNEL

FEEDBACK/SUGGESTIONS: Please write to martin.nesirky@un.org

In today’s update:

  • Message from the four main Vienna International Centre (VIC)-based organizations
  • Latest Austrian developments and measures

MESSAGE FROM THE MAIN VIC-BASED ORGANIZATIONS (VBOs) UNOV/UNODC – IAEA – UNIDO – CTBTO

Reminder:

Details of the measures in place in Austria and at the VIC since 26 December can be found in the VIC CMT update of 23 December 2020 .

The VBOs have taken note that the Austrian lockdown is likely to be extended by a week.

VIC Medical Service Update:

The VIC Medical Service reported today that two people who work for VIC-based organizations tested positive for SARS CoV-2.

One person works for the IAEA and the other for UNIDO. Both work at the VIC, and in neither case was there workplace exposure. When there is no workplace exposure it means the individual concerned was not at work during the time of potential infectivity. This is defined by the Austrian authorities as 48 hours before having symptoms or 48 hours prior to a positive test result.

One person works for the IAEA in Austria, but not at the VIC. Close contacts have been informed. Another person works for the IAEA outside Austria. The fourth person works for UNIDO outside Austria.

The cumulative total number of people who have tested positive among personnel of the VIC-based organizations is 198, of whom 163 work at the VIC. Of the total of 198 personnel, 181 have recovered.

LATEST AUSTRIAN DEVELOPMENTS AND MEASURES:

  • The second round of voluntary mass testing started in Vienna has begun. Information in English is available here .
  • Austrian officials encourage all those in Austria to download the Stopp Corona app to help with contact tracing. The app is available in English as well as German.
  • The official Austrian dashboard has the latest data on COVID-19. It is available in English as well as German and is updated each day at 1400.

NOTE ON COVID-19 UPDATES:

Updates are issued whenever there is fresh information from the VBOs or the Host Country.

Between updates, you can keep up to date and refer to previous material by visiting our VBO COVID-19 website.

On the site you can find all updates, guidelines, reminders and messages issued so far, as well as useful links including to official information in English and other languages. No log-in is needed.

Link to the site: https://nucleus.iaea.org/sites/covid19/SitePages/Home.aspx

COVID-19 WEBSITE FOR ALL UN SYSTEM PERSONNEL

FEEDBACK/SUGGESTIONS: Please write to martin.nesirky@un.org

In today’s update:

  • Message from the four main Vienna International Centre (VIC)-based organizations
  • Latest Austrian developments and measures

MESSAGE FROM THE MAIN VIC-BASED ORGANIZATIONS (VBOs) UNOV/UNODC – IAEA – UNIDO – CTBTO

Reminder:

Details of the measures in place in Austria and at the VIC since 26 December can be found in the VIC CMT update of 23 December 2020 .

The VBOs have taken note that the Austrian lockdown is likely to be extended by a week.

VIC Medical Service Update:

The VIC Medical Service reported today that four people who work for VIC-based organizations tested positive for SARS CoV-2.

One person works for the IAEA at the VIC. There was no workplace exposure. When there is no workplace exposure it means the individual concerned was not at work during the time of potential infectivity. This is defined by the Austrian authorities as 48 hours before having symptoms or 48 hours prior to a positive test result.

One person works for the IAEA in Austria, but not at the VIC. Close contacts have been informed. Another person works for the IAEA outside Austria. The fourth person works for UNIDO outside Austria.

The cumulative total number of people who have tested positive among personnel of the VIC-based organizations is 196, of whom 161 work at the VIC. Of the total of 196 personnel, 178 have recovered.

LATEST AUSTRIAN DEVELOPMENTS AND MEASURES:

  • Austria launched a campaign on Monday to explain the country’s vaccination programme and encourage residents to take part. The campaign seeks to dispel disinformation, tackle misinformation and provide facts about the vaccines available so far.
  • The Rector of Vienna’s Medical University, Markus Mueller, told the televised briefing some 50 percent of those eligible in Austria were still unsure whether to be vaccinated. About a quarter definitely will and a quarter are either against or sceptical, he said.
  • A decision will be made by the middle of this week on whether school students will return to the classroom on 18 January as initially planned, Education Minister Heinz Fassmann told Austria’s ORF television on Sunday.
  • The second round of voluntary mass testing started in has begun. Information in English is available here .
  • Austrian officials encourage all those in Austria to download the Stopp Corona app to help with contact tracing. The app is available in English as well as German.
  • The official Austrian dashboard has the latest data on COVID-19. It is available in English as well as German and is updated each day at 1400.

NOTE ON COVID-19 UPDATES:

Updates are issued whenever there is fresh information from the VBOs or the Host Country.

Between updates, you can keep up to date and refer to previous material by visiting our VBO COVID-19 website.

On the site you can find all updates, guidelines, reminders and messages issued so far, as well as useful links including to official information in English and other languages. No log-in is needed.

Link to the site: https://nucleus.iaea.org/sites/covid19/SitePages/Home.aspx

COVID-19 WEBSITE FOR ALL UN SYSTEM PERSONNEL

FEEDBACK/SUGGESTIONS: Please write to martin.nesirky@un.org

In today’s update:

  • Message from the four main Vienna International Centre (VIC)-based organizations
  • Latest Austrian developments and measures

MESSAGE FROM THE MAIN VIC-BASED ORGANIZATIONS (VBOs) UNOV/UNODC – IAEA – UNIDO – CTBTO

Reminder:

Details of the measures in place in Austria and at the VIC since 26 December can be found in the VIC CMT update of 23 December 2020 .

VIC Medical Service Update:

The VIC Medical Service reported today that two people who work for the IAEA at the VIC tested positive for SARS CoV-2. There was no workplace exposure.

When there is no workplace exposure it means the individual concerned was not at work during the time of potential infectivity. This is defined by the Austrian authorities as 48 hours before having symptoms or 48 hours prior to a positive test result.

The cumulative total number of people who have tested positive among personnel of the VIC-based organizations is 192, of whom 160 work at the VIC. Of the total of 192 personnel, 178 have recovered.

LATEST AUSTRIAN DEVELOPMENTS AND MEASURES:

  • The second round of voluntary mass testing started in Vienna today. Information in English is available here .
  • Austrian officials encourage all those in Austria to download the Stopp Corona app to help with contact tracing. The app is available in English as well as German.
  • The official Austrian dashboard has the latest data on COVID-19. It is available in English as well as German and is updated each day at 1400.

NOTE ON COVID-19 UPDATES:

Updates are issued whenever there is fresh information from the VBOs or the Host Country.

Between updates, you can keep up to date and refer to previous material by visiting our VBO COVID-19 website.

On the site you can find all updates, guidelines, reminders and messages issued so far, as well as useful links including to official information in English and other languages. No log-in is needed.

Link to the site: https://nucleus.iaea.org/sites/covid19/SitePages/Home.aspx

COVID-19 WEBSITE FOR ALL UN SYSTEM PERSONNEL

FEEDBACK/SUGGESTIONS: Please write to martin.nesirky@un.org

In today’s update:

  • Message from the four main Vienna International Centre (VIC)-based organizations
  • Latest Austrian developments and measures

MESSAGE FROM THE MAIN VIC-BASED ORGANIZATIONS (VBOs) UNOV/UNODC – IAEA – UNIDO – CTBTO

Reminder:

Details of the measures in place in Austria and at the VIC since 26 December can be found in the VIC Covid-19 update of 23 December 2020.

The VBOs have taken note that the Austrian lockdown is likely to be extended by a week.

VIC Medical Service Update:

The VIC Medical Service reported today that one person who works for CTBTO at the VIC tested positive for SARS CoV-2. There was no workplace exposure.

When there is no workplace exposure it means the individual concerned was not at work during the time of potential infectivity. This is defined by the Austrian authorities as 48 hours before having symptoms or 48 hours prior to a positive test result.

LATEST AUSTRIAN DEVELOPMENTS AND MEASURES:

  • Austria plans to accelerate its vaccination programme, vaccinating 21,000 this week and aiming for 71,000 by Tuesday next week, Austrian media reported on Wednesday.
  • A firm decision has not yet been taken on whether school students will return to the classroom on 18 January as initially planned, Austrian media reported. Home schooling begins for most school students on Thursday.
  • Austrian officials encourage all those in Austria to download the Stopp Corona app to help with contact tracing. The app is available in English as well as German.
  • The official Austrian dashboard has the latest data on COVID-19. It is available in English as well as German and is updated each day at 1400.

NOTE ON COVID-19 UPDATES:

Updates are issued whenever there is fresh information from the VBOs or the Host Country.

Between updates, you can keep up to date and refer to previous material by visiting our VBO COVID-19 website.

On the site you can find all updates, guidelines, reminders and messages issued so far, as well as useful links including to official information in English and other languages. No log-in is needed.

Link to the site: https://nucleus.iaea.org/sites/covid19/SitePages/Home.aspx

COVID-19 WEBSITE FOR ALL UN SYSTEM PERSONNEL

FEEDBACK/SUGGESTIONS: Please write to martin.nesirky@un.org

In today’s update:

  • Message from the four main Vienna International Centre (VIC)-based organizations
  • Latest Austrian developments and measures

MESSAGE FROM THE MAIN VIC-BASED ORGANIZATIONS (VBOs) UNOV/UNODC – IAEA – UNIDO – CTBTO

Reminder:

Details of the measures in place in Austria and at the VIC since 26 December can be found in the VIC Covid-19 update of 23 December 2020.

The VBOs have taken note that the Austrian lockdown is likely to be extended by a week.

VIC Medical Service Update:

The VIC Medical Service reported today that one person who works for UNIDO at the VIC tested positive for SARS CoV-2. There was no workplace exposure.

When there is no workplace exposure it means the individual concerned was not at work during the time of potential infectivity. This is defined by the Austrian authorities as 48 hours before having symptoms or 48 hours prior to a positive test result.

LATEST AUSTRIAN DEVELOPMENTS AND MEASURES:

  • Discussions continued on Tuesday between the Austria Government, the opposition and federal provinces on the scope of an extended lockdown until 24 January, including testing, Austrian media reported. Details on this and the planned 18 January return to school classrooms remained unclear.
  • About 8,000 people have been vaccinated so far in Austria, with the focus on care homes and COVID-19 hospital ward personnel, Austrian media reported.
  • Austrian officials encourage all those in Austria to download the Stopp Corona app to help with contact tracing. The app is available in English as well as German.
  • The official Austrian dashboard has the latest data on COVID-19. It is available in English as well as German and is updated each day at 1400.

NOTE ON COVID-19 UPDATES:

Updates are issued whenever there is fresh information from the VBOs or the Host Country.

Between updates, you can keep up to date and refer to previous material by visiting our VBO COVID-19 website.

On the site you can find all updates, guidelines, reminders and messages issued so far, as well as useful links including to official information in English and other languages. No log-in is needed.

Link to the site: https://nucleus.iaea.org/sites/covid19/SitePages/Home.aspx

COVID-19 WEBSITE FOR ALL UN SYSTEM PERSONNEL

FEEDBACK/SUGGESTIONS: Please write to martin.nesirky@un.org

In today’s update:

  • Message from the four main Vienna International Centre (VIC)-based organizations
  • Latest Austrian developments and measures

MESSAGE FROM THE MAIN VIC-BASED ORGANIZATIONS (VBOs) UNOV/UNODC – IAEA – UNIDO – CTBTO

Reminder:

Details of the measures in place in Austria and at the VIC since 26 December can be found in the VIC Covid-19 update of 23 December 2020.

The VBOs have taken note that the Austrian lockdown is likely to be extended by a week.

VIC Medical Service Update:

The VIC Medical Service reported today that five people who work for the IAEA at the VIC tested positive for SARS CoV-2. There was no workplace exposure.

When there is no workplace exposure it means the individual concerned was not at work during the time of potential infectivity. This is defined by the Austrian authorities as 48 hours before having symptoms or 48 hours prior to a positive test result.

When there is no workplace exposure it means the individual concerned was not at work during the time of potential infectivity. This is defined by the Austrian authorities as 48 hours before having symptoms or 48 hours prior to a positive test result.

The cumulative total number of people who have tested positive among personnel of the VIC-based organizations is 188, of whom 156 work at the VIC. Of the total of 188 personnel, 175 have recovered.

LATEST AUSTRIAN DEVELOPMENTS AND MEASURES:

  • Health Minister Rudolf Anschober told a televised briefing on Monday that four people in Austria had tested positive for the variant of the COVID-19 virus first detected in the UK. A medical expert told the briefing that so far, the mutation did not appear to be widespread in Austria but further testing was being carried out.
  • The lockdown is likely to be extended by a week until 24 January, Austrian media reported on Monday following a parliamentary committee meeting.
  • Health Minister Anschober told reporters the necessary parliamentary support was lacking for the Austrian Government’s proposed “testing free” scheme under which those who volunteered for testing could have started to use shops, restaurants and other services from 18 January, while those who did not volunteer would have remained in lockdown.
  • Shops, restaurants, bars and cafes, cultural venues and other services now closed are likely to open only from Monday 25 January.
  • The Education Ministry said the plan was still for school students to return to the classroom on Monday 18 January, but this was dependent on the infection rate, which remains high.
  • Austrian officials encourage all those in Austria to download the Stopp Corona app to help with contact tracing. The app is available in English as well as German.
  • The official Austrian dashboard has the latest data on COVID-19. It is available in English as well as German and is updated each day at 1400.

NOTE ON COVID-19 UPDATES:

Updates are issued whenever there is fresh information from the VBOs or the Host Country.

Between updates, you can keep up to date and refer to previous material by visiting our VBO COVID-19 website.

On the site you can find all updates, guidelines, reminders and messages issued so far, as well as useful links including to official information in English and other languages. No log-in is needed.

Link to the site: https://nucleus.iaea.org/sites/covid19/SitePages/Home.aspx

COVID-19 WEBSITE FOR ALL UN SYSTEM PERSONNEL

FEEDBACK/SUGGESTIONS: Please write to martin.nesirky@un.org

In today’s update:

  • Message from the four main Vienna International Centre (VIC)-based organizations
  • Latest Austrian developments and measures

MESSAGE FROM THE MAIN VIC-BASED ORGANIZATIONS (VBOs) UNOV/UNODC – IAEA – UNIDO – CTBTO

Reminder:

Details of the measures in place in Austria and at the VIC since 26 December can be found in the VIC Covid-19 update of 23 December 2020. COVID-19 updates: https://nucleus.iaea.org/sites/covid19/SitePages/Home.aspx

VIC Medical Service Update on COVID-19 vaccination:

  • As a result of the regular consultations between the VIC Medical Service and the Austrian authorities, staff of the international organizations located at the Vienna International Centre (VIC) would be considered critical infrastructure personnel and therefore could be considered for vaccination in Phase 2 (February-March) of the Austrian Vaccination Strategy.
  • Subject to approval by the Austrian authorities and delivery of the vaccine, the VIC Medical Service plans to offer the COVID -19 vaccination to all staff at the VIC.
  • Preliminary planning foresees a vaccination centre on site over several weekends (Saturday/Sunday) at the end of February and beginning of March 2021.
  • Vaccination will be voluntary.
  • Registration data such as email, name, date of birth and address in Austria will have to be provided to the Austrian authorities because the Austrian Government assumes liability for the vaccine.
  • The above personal data is required because a significant number of VIC personnel do not have ecards.
  • More details on vaccinations for staff at the VIC will be provided as they become available. The VIC Medical Service will liaise with the VBOs and Security for their logistical and other support for this important initiative.
  • Dependents and family members will not be able to be vaccinated by the VIC Medical Service and will need to register online with the Austrian authorities. Details on the registration will be provided once available.
  • An overview from the Austrian Health Ministry on its approach to vaccination is available in English. The strategy itself is in German and there is also an overview in German that is updated. If English versions become available, they will be provided.

LATEST AUSTRIAN DEVELOPMENTS AND MEASURES:

  • The Austrian health authorities registered an increase in the number of people testing positive this week. The latest full-day figure, for 29 December, is 2,762.
  • The Health Ministry said so far about 6,000 people have been vaccinated.
  • Austrian officials encourage all those in Austria to download the Stopp Corona app to help with contact tracing. The app is available in English as well as German.
  • The official Austrian dashboard has the latest data on COVID-19. It is available in English as well as German and is updated each day at 1400.

NOTE ON COVID-19 UPDATES:

Updates are issued whenever there is fresh information from the VBOs or the Host Country.

Between updates, you can keep up to date and refer to previous material by visiting our VBO COVID-19 website.

On the site you can find all updates, guidelines, reminders and messages issued so far, as well as useful links including to official information in English and other languages. No log-in is needed.

Link to the site: https://nucleus.iaea.org/sites/covid19/SitePages/Home.aspx

COVID-19 WEBSITE FOR ALL UN SYSTEM PERSONNEL

FEEDBACK/SUGGESTIONS: Please write to martin.nesirky@un.org

In today’s update:

  • Message from the four main Vienna International Centre (VIC)-based organizations
  • Latest Austrian developments and measures

MESSAGE FROM THE MAIN VIC-BASED ORGANIZATIONS (VBOs) UNOV/UNODC – IAEA – UNIDO – CTBTO

Reminder:

Details of the measures in place in Austria and at the VIC since 26 December can be found in the VIC Covid-19 update of 23 December 2020. COVID-19 updates: https://nucleus.iaea.org/sites/covid19/SitePages/Home.aspx

VIC Medical Service Update:

The VIC Medical Service reported today that three people who work for VIC-based organizations tested positive for SARS CoV-2.

One person works for UNOV/UNODC outside of Austria. Two people work for the IAEA, and there was no workplace exposure.

When there is no workplace exposure it means the individual concerned was not at work during the time of potential infectivity. This is defined by the Austrian authorities as 48 hours before having symptoms or 48 hours prior to a positive test result.

The cumulative total number of people who have tested positive among personnel of the VIC-based organizations is 183, of whom 151 work at the VIC. Of the total of 183 personnel, 174 have recovered.

LATEST AUSTRIAN DEVELOPMENTS AND MEASURES:

  • Health Minister Rudolf Anschober told a televised briefing on Tuesday the number of deaths related to COVID-19 in Austria had now passed 6,000.
  • There were still no known cases in Austria of the new variant of the virus, he said.
  • Anschober said there were what he termed “frightening” scenes of crowds at some Austrian ski resorts on Monday and that this should not be repeated.
  • The minister said there was a five-step plan in place to tackle the pandemic:
  • Further reduce numbers with this third hard lockdown: there were 1,868 new infections today; target for the coming weeks: seven-day incidence below 100; reproduction number (“R number”) below 0.9; target for intensive care beds occupied by COVID-19 patients: 200 (more than 400 now)
  • Digitalize contact tracing
  • Already expanded mask-wearing
  • Intensified testing to reduce the number of unreported cases
  • Vaccination
  • Anschober said all those who want to be vaccinated should be able to do so by the summer. The aim was to vaccinate broad sections of the population beyond at-risk groups from April. Electronic vaccination cards will also be introduced in the first quarter of 2021, he said.
  • Austrian officials encourage all those in Austria to download the Stopp Corona app to help with contact tracing. The app is available in English as well as German.
  • The official Austrian dashboard has the latest data on COVID-19. It is available in English as well as German and is updated each day at 1400.

NOTE ON COVID-19 UPDATES:

Updates are issued whenever there is fresh information from the VBOs or the Host Country.

Between updates, you can keep up to date and refer to previous material by visiting our VBO COVID-19 website.

On the site you can find all updates, guidelines, reminders and messages issued so far, as well as useful links including to official information in English and other languages. No log-in is needed.

Link to the site: https://nucleus.iaea.org/sites/covid19/SitePages/Home.aspx

COVID-19 WEBSITE FOR ALL UN SYSTEM PERSONNEL

FEEDBACK/SUGGESTIONS: Please write to martin.nesirky@un.org

In today’s update:

  • Message from the four main Vienna International Centre (VIC)-based organizations
  • Latest Austrian developments and measures

MESSAGE FROM THE MAIN VIC-BASED ORGANIZATIONS (VBOs) UNOV/UNODC – IAEA – UNIDO – CTBTO

The VBOs thank all personnel for their cooperation and understanding during an exceptionally challenging year. The VBOs hope all personnel and their families will have a restful holiday period.

Austria’s latest measures take effect at 00:00 on Saturday 26 December and will be in place until at least 4 January, when parliament is expected to extend them until 18 January. The Austrian health system remains under pressure, despite a reduction in the number of people contracting the virus.

As part of the community of our Host Country, we can and must play our part in helping to contain the spread of COVID-19 and reducing the risk of transmission at the VIC and elsewhere. This means complying with all measures announced by the Austrian authorities, including limiting social contacts and remote working where this is possible. Personnel are encouraged to take part in Austria’s voluntary mass testing programme.

Basic hygiene and preventive measures remain as important as ever - handwashing, face masks and maintaining at least a one-meter distance from others. Personnel are reminded not to come to work with symptoms or when feeling unwell.

The following measures are consistent with those announced by the Austrian Authorities. Where not provided, please check holiday opening times for services and access at the VIC.

REMOTE WORKING

Bearing in mind their mandate and operational requirements, CTBTO, IAEA, UNIDO and UNOV/UNODC will reduce their presence at the VIC consistent with the previous lockdown between 17 November and 6 December.

ACCESS

Access to the VIC remains limited as previously advised. In addition to personnel who are required to come to the office, bearing in mind the mandate and operational needs of their organizations, access will also include staff of Permanent Missions on official business, those with children at the VIC kindergarten and those with access to the Commissary with proof of a Commissary appointment.

Access to the VIC is possible through the following gates between 24 December and 4 January:

Gates 1 and 4regular opening hours throughout the entire holiday period, 24 hours a day.

Gate 5: Thursday, 24 December 2020 - 1 (one) lane staff vehicular access only from 07:00-10:00.

25 December 2020 - 03 January 2021 – Closed (Essential deliveries to be re-routed to Gate 4).

Pass Office: Thursday, 24 December 2020 - closed. Tuesday, 29 December 2020 - open from 0800-1600

Wednesday, 30 December - open from 0800-1600 Thursday, 31 December 2020 – closed.

MEETINGS

The Austrian Authorities have cancelled all events during this period, but essential professional meetings are exempt. In-person meetings are hence discouraged and should be held only if absolutely necessary to maintain professional activities that cannot be postponed or held virtually.

SERVICES

Please check services for holiday and lockdown opening hours.

The banks, post office and newspaper stand will be open.

The pharmacy will be open, with reduced hours.

The VIC Medical Service will remain open.

The VIC Commissary will remain open. Online registration is required here.

The cafeteria and coffee corner on C07 will be closed from 24 December until 4 January. The cafeteria will then be open from 07:30 to 15:00, and the coffee corner on C07 will be open from 08:30 to 15:30 for take-away. The demand will be monitored closely each day and can be adjusted as required.

SOCIAL CONTACTS

Aligned with the decision taken by the Austrian Authorities, personnel working at the VIC are required to keep contacts in social settings (coffee or lunches) to a minimum and limit interactions. It is particularly important that personnel do not congregate at C07 after buying beverages or food.

LATEST AUSTRIAN DEVELOPMENTS AND MEASURES:

  • Health Minister Rudolf Anschober told a televised briefing on Wednesday that so far Austria had not detected any cases of the new virus variant B.1.1.7.
  • Chancellor Sebastian Kurz said the first vaccinations in Austria would be administered on 27 December to volunteers over the age of 80 in care homes, the priority group in the first phase of vaccinating those living in Austria.
  • Vaccinations were being distributed fairly across the country and would begin on the same day in all nine federal provinces, Kurz said.
  • Anschober said Austria had ordered 18.5 million vaccine doses so far. This includes one million doses of the BioNTech-Pfizer vaccine in the first three months.
  • He mentioned the ministerial decree on COVID-19 measures and a ministerial decree on COVID-19 emergency measures effective 26 December through 4 January.
  • The decree (in German) is available here.
  • Selected key points include:
  • Leaving home is only permitted for particular reasons, including:
  • to avert danger;
  • to help those in need and exercise family rights and duties;
  • meeting the basic needs of daily life including:
  • meeting a partner not living in the same household or an individual relative or individual one has a close relationship with and is in regular contact with more than once per week. Such meetings may involve only members of one household on the one side and one person on the other.
  • shopping to meet basic needs, healthcare, religious needs, looking after animals;
  • work and education;
  • outdoor exercise and recuperation;
  • errands and appointments with authorities that cannot be postponed
  • participation in elections and democratic instruments
  • to avail of those services and participate in those activities that are permitted under the current decree.
  • In public spaces, a distance of at least one metre must be kept to those not living in the same household and a mask must be worn in indoor public spaces (except by children under the age of six and people who cannot wear a mask for health reasons).
  • Non-essential retail and personal services involving close physical contact (except healthcare) are closed. Grocery stores, drugstores, pharmacies, petrol stations post offices, banks and other services can remain open. Shop opening hours between 06:00 and 19:00 are permitted (except pharmacies, petrol stations and food delivery).
  • Work duties are preferably to be carried out outside the workplace where this is possible and employers and employees agree.
  • Events are not permitted, with specific exceptions.
  • Restaurants remain closed with the exception of takeaway and delivery.
  • Where an FFP2 mask is required in particular settings, this must be a mask without a valve.
  • DISCLAIMER: The VBOs cannot vouch for legal accuracy or completeness of this summary. Personnel are advised to refer to the original legal texts.
  • Austrian officials encourage all those in Austria to download the Stopp Corona app to help with contact tracing. The app is available in English as well as German.
  • The official Austrian dashboard has the latest data on COVID-19. It is available in English as well as German and is updated each day at 1400.

NOTE ON COVID-19 UPDATES:

Updates are issued whenever there is fresh information from the VBOs or the Host Country.

Between updates, you can keep up to date and refer to previous material by visiting our VBO COVID-19 website.

On the site you can find all updates, guidelines, reminders and messages issued so far, as well as useful links including to official information in English and other languages. No log-in is needed.

Link to the site: https://nucleus.iaea.org/sites/covid19/SitePages/Home.aspx

COVID-19 WEBSITE FOR ALL UN SYSTEM PERSONNEL

FEEDBACK/SUGGESTIONS: Please write to martin.nesirky@un.org

In today’s update:

  • Message from the four main Vienna International Centre (VIC)-based organizations – message from VIC Medical Service
  • Latest Austrian developments and measures

MESSAGE FROM THE MAIN VIC-BASED ORGANIZATIONS (VBOs) UNOV/UNODC – IAEA – UNIDO – CTBTO

The VBOs are studying the latest Austrian measures announced on Friday and will provide further information on any impact on VIC operations.

VIC Medical Service Update:

The new virus variant B.1.1.7 is likely to transmit more easily. This is the conclusion of experts from the British health authority Public Health England. However, B.1.1.7 cases have so far only increased in areas where the overall incidence was high or rising. "Contact reduction also works against the spread of the mutant," writes the German virologist Christian Drosten.

LATEST AUSTRIAN DEVELOPMENTS AND MEASURES:

  • The Health Ministry published an amendment to the ministerial decree on COVID-19 measures and a ministerial decree on COVID-19 emergency measures effective 26 December through 4 January.
  • The decree (in German) is available here.
  • Selected key points include:
  • Leaving home is only permitted for particular reasons, including:
  • to avert danger;
  • to help those in need and exercise family rights and duties;
  • meeting the basic needs of daily life including:
  • meeting a partner not living in the same household or an individual relative or individual one has a close relationship with and is in regular contact with more than once per week. Such meetings may involve only members of one household on the one side and one person on the other.
  • shopping to meet basic needs, healthcare, religious needs, looking after animals;
  • work and education;
  • outdoor exercise and recuperation;
  • errands and appointments with authorities that cannot be postponed
  • participation in elections and democratic instruments
  • to avail of those services and participate in those activities that are permitted under the current decree.
  • In public spaces, a distance of at least one metre must be kept to those not living in the same household and a mask must be worn in indoor public spaces (except by children under the age of six and people who cannot wear a mask for health reasons).
  • Non-essential retail and personal services involving close physical contact (except healthcare) are closed. Grocery stores, drugstores, pharmacies, petrol stations post offices, banks and other services can remain open. Shop opening hours between 06:00 and 19:00 are permitted (except pharmacies, petrol stations and food delivery).
  • Work duties are preferably to be carried out outside the workplace where this is possible and employers and employees agree.
  • Events are not permitted, with specific exceptions.
  • Restaurants remain closed with the exception of takeaway and delivery.
  • Where an FFP2 mask is required in particular settings, this must be a mask without a valve.
  • DISCLAIMER: The VBOs cannot vouch for legal accuracy or completeness of this summary. Personnel are advised to refer to the original legal texts.
  • Austrian officials encourage all those in Austria to download the Stopp Corona app to help with contact tracing. The app is available in English as well as German.
  • The official Austrian dashboard has the latest data on COVID-19. It is available in English as well as German and is updated each day at 1400.

NOTE ON COVID-19 UPDATES:

Updates are issued whenever there is fresh information from the VBOs or the Host Country.

Between updates, you can keep up to date and refer to previous material by visiting our VBO COVID-19 website.

On the site you can find all updates, guidelines, reminders and messages issued so far, as well as useful links including to official information in English and other languages. No log-in is needed.

Link to the site: https://nucleus.iaea.org/sites/covid19/SitePages/Home.aspx

COVID-19 WEBSITE FOR ALL UN SYSTEM PERSONNEL

FEEDBACK/SUGGESTIONS: Please write to martin.nesirky@un.org

In today’s update:

  • Message from the four main Vienna International Centre (VIC)-based organizations – message from VIC Medical Service
  • Latest Austrian developments and measures

MESSAGE FROM THE MAIN VIC-BASED ORGANIZATIONS (VBOs) UNOV/UNODC – IAEA – UNIDO – CTBTO

The VBOs are studying the latest Austrian measures announced on Friday and will provide further information on any impact on VIC operations.

VIC Medical Service Update:

The VIC Medical Service reported today that one person who works for UNIDO outside Austria tested positive for SARS CoV-2. There was no workplace exposure.

The cumulative total number of people who have tested positive among personnel of the VIC-based organizations is 180, of whom 150 work at the VIC. Of the total of 180 personnel, 168 have recovered.

LATEST AUSTRIAN DEVELOPMENTS AND MEASURES:

  • Austria has imposed a landing ban on flights from the United Kingdom effective 22 December.
  • Links to the laws/decrees codifying the planned measures announced by the Government on Friday for the period after 26 December will be made available once published.
  • Austrian officials encourage all those in Austria to download the Stopp Corona app to help with contact tracing. The app is available in English as well as German.
  • The official Austrian dashboard has the latest data on COVID-19. It is available in English as well as German and is updated each day at 1400.

NOTE ON COVID-19 UPDATES:

Updates are issued whenever there is fresh information from the VBOs or the Host Country.

Between updates, you can keep up to date and refer to previous material by visiting our VBO COVID-19 website.

On the site you can find all updates, guidelines, reminders and messages issued so far, as well as useful links including to official information in English and other languages. No log-in is needed.

Link to the site: https://nucleus.iaea.org/sites/covid19/SitePages/Home.aspx

COVID-19 WEBSITE FOR ALL UN SYSTEM PERSONNEL

FEEDBACK/SUGGESTIONS: Please write to martin.nesirky@un.org

In today’s update:

  • Message from the four main Vienna International Centre (VIC)-based organizations – message from VIC Medical Service
  • Latest Austrian developments and measures

MESSAGE FROM THE MAIN VIC-BASED ORGANIZATIONS (VBOs) UNOV/UNODC – IAEA – UNIDO – CTBTO

The VBOs are studying the latest Austrian measures announced on Friday and will provide further information on any impact on VIC operations.

VIC Medical Service Update:

The VIC Medical Service reported today that one person who works for UNOV tested positive for SARS CoV-2. Close contacts have been informed.

The cumulative total number of people who have tested positive among personnel of the VIC-based organizations is 179, of whom 150 work at the VIC. Of the total of 179 personnel, 168 have recovered.

LATEST AUSTRIAN DEVELOPMENTS AND MEASURES:

  • In a televised briefing after an online meeting with representatives of the provinces on Friday, Austrian Chancellor Sebastian Kurz and other cabinet members announced the country’s plan for the weeks and months after Christmas.
  • Kurz said the efforts to contain the pandemic so far had shown an effect and numbers had declined, but the numbers were still too high and the prognosis for Europe for the winter was dramatic.
  • Under the strategy agreed between the Federal Government and the provinces, measures would be tightened again from 26 December.
  • The Chancellor urged all to exercise great caution when celebrating Christmas and meet with as few people as possible within the legal limits.
  • Under Phase One of the strategy, from 26 December:
  • non-essential retail and personal services will close.
  • School students will study through distance learning (home schooling) from 7 to 15 January.
  • The limitations on leaving the house already in place at nighttime will be extended to 24 hours again.
  • Over the weekend before 18 January, there will be another round of mass testing. Those who participated in the mass testing, and tested negative, could avail themselves of shops, personal services, culture and tourism again from 18 January. Those who did not, could not use these services for one week longer, until 24 January, Kurz said.
  • Under Phase Two, from 18 January, there would be regular mass tests for segments of the population. Details will be provided later. It was envisaged that during this phase vacationing in Austria and cultural activities, within limitations, would become possible again for people with a negative test.
  • The Vice Chancellor said it was intended to limit participants at cultural events to 500 people indoors and 750 outdoors from 18 January, with an upper limit of 50 percent capacity at venues.
  • Outdoor winter sports facilities would remain open, said the Vice Chancellor.
  • Phase Three would be a gradual return to normality with the vaccine by summer 2021.
  • The Health Minister said aside from the goal of a seven-day incidence of under 100, key indicators would be the Reproduction rate, which was at 0.88 but still needed to fall further, as well as the number of occupied intensive care hospital beds. Things were moving in the right direction, said the Health Minister, but were still only halfway to where they needed to be.
  • The numbers of people who had died of COVID had increased dramatically in November and December, to more than 100 people each day, and each number represented a person and family who had lost someone, the Health Minister said.
  • The Interior Minister reiterated there would be strict border management rules in place from 19 December and said travellers to Austria to whom this applied should bring a pre-completed form committing to quarantine. Those who did not have the form already completed could expect delays while queuing at borders.
  • The Finance Minister, Education Minister and Tourism Minister will brief the press on details related to their portfolios on Saturday morning.
  • Links to the ministerial decrees codifying the changes will be made available once published.
  • DISCLAIMER: The VBOs cannot vouch for legal accuracy or completeness of this summary. Personnel are advised to refer to the original legal texts.
  • Austrian officials encourage all those in Austria to download the Stopp Corona app to help with contact tracing. The app is available in English as well as German.
  • The official Austrian dashboard has the latest data on COVID-19. It is available in English as well as German and is updated each day at 1400.

NOTE ON COVID-19 UPDATES:

Updates are issued whenever there is fresh information from the VBOs or the Host Country.

Between updates, you can keep up to date and refer to previous material by visiting our VBO COVID-19 website.

On the site you can find all updates, guidelines, reminders and messages issued so far, as well as useful links including to official information in English and other languages. No log-in is needed.

Link to the site: https://nucleus.iaea.org/sites/covid19/SitePages/Home.aspx

COVID-19 WEBSITE FOR ALL UN SYSTEM PERSONNEL

FEEDBACK/SUGGESTIONS: Please write to martin.nesirky@un.org

In today’s update:

  • Latest Austrian developments and measures

LATEST AUSTRIAN DEVELOPMENTS AND MEASURES:

  • The Education Ministry confirmed school students would return to the classroom on Monday 11 January rather than 7 January to allow for testing of teachers and students. Details on this testing are not yet available.
  • The Health Ministry published its updated decree on travel requirements. The decree takes effect on 19 December. It does not state when the decree’s provisions expire. The document is available in German.
  • This is a summary of the main points:
  • Unrestricted entry to Austria is possible from the following countries (listed in Attachment A of the decree): Australia, Finland, Ireland, Iceland, Japan, New Zealand, Norway, South Korea, Uruguay, Vatican City.
  • For entry from countries not included in Attachment A:
  • Entry requires an immediate 10-day quarantine.
  • The quarantine can end when a molecular biological test for SARS-CoV-2 or an antigen test is conducted at the earliest on the fifth day after entry and the test result is negative. This test is at the individual’s cost.
  • PCR tests are accepted as well as antigen tests.
  • The quarantine can be ended early to leave Austria if it is clear that by the departure date the risk of infection is minimized.
  • A form found in the attachments to the decree should be completed, ideally before arrival in Austria.
  • Exceptions:
  • Humanitarian personnel
  • Business travellers
  • Those accompanying someone entering Austria on medical grounds
  • Those entering to attend to judicial or other official matters such as attending a court hearing
  • Foreigners with ID issued by the Austrian authorities (this includes those holding Legitimationskarten – legitimation cards)
  • For those listed under exceptions, the existing rules continue. This means those entering must either present an official negative test from the country they have been visiting or enter 10-day quarantine that can be ended as soon as a negative test can be provided to the authorities.
  • IMPORTANT: A number of existing entry restrictions and exceptions remain in place and are outlined in the Health Ministry’s FAQ on travel and tourism in German. Should an English version become available a link will be provided.
  • The Health Ministry’s updated overall COVID-19 decree was agreed in parliament and published online in German today. The main reasons for updating the decree were to govern the arrangements for meeting friends and family in Austria over Christmas and put in place additional protection measures at care homes. Arrangements for New Year will be discussed next week.
  • For 24-25 December up to 10 people from a maximum of 10 different households may gather. The overnight curfew will not apply in this period.
  • Ski resorts are allowed to open from 24 December with restrictions on numbers allowed in ski lifts and gondolas, for example.
  • The Federal Government also decreed that Austria’s federal provinces make the wearing of masks compulsory in frequented public settings such as shopping streets and clearly designate those places.
  • DISCLAIMER: The CMT cannot vouch for legal accuracy or completeness of this summary. Personnel are advised to refer to the original legal texts. Non-VIC personnel wishing to visit Austria, such as family members or friends of VIC personnel, should be sure of Austrian regulations before travelling to Austria.
  • The test location in the Austria Centre Vienna will be accessible for all, including family members, from Friday with registration available from that day on its German-language site. Quick tests are available at this location, meaning the result is provided with 15-20 minutes. If it is positive, a PCR test is carried out.
  • VIC personnel need photo ID such as the Legitimation card but do not need to present an e-card.
  • The Austrian Health Ministry has outlined its vaccination strategy in English as well as German .
  • Austrian officials encourage all those in Austria to download the Stopp Corona app to help with contact tracing. The app is available in English as well as German.
  • The official Austrian dashboard has the latest data on COVID-19. It is available in English as well as German and is updated each day at 1400.

NOTE ON COVID-19 UPDATES:

Updates are issued whenever there is fresh information from the VBOs or the Host Country.

Between updates, you can keep up to date and refer to previous material by visiting our VBO COVID-19 website.

On the site you can find all updates, guidelines, reminders and messages issued so far, as well as useful links including to official information in English and other languages. No log-in is needed.

Link to the site: https://nucleus.iaea.org/sites/covid19/SitePages/Home.aspx

COVID-19 WEBSITE FOR ALL UN SYSTEM PERSONNEL

FEEDBACK/SUGGESTIONS: Please write to martin.nesirky@un.org

In today’s update:

  • Message from the four main Vienna International Centre (VIC)-based organizations – message from VIC Medical Service
  • Latest Austrian developments and measures

MESSAGE FROM THE MAIN VIC-BASED ORGANIZATIONS (VBOs) UNOV/UNODC – IAEA – UNIDO – CTBTO

VIC Medical Service Update:

The VIC Medical Service reported today that one person who works for UNIDO outside of Austria tested positive for SARS CoV-2. There was no workplace exposure.

When there is no workplace exposure it means the individual concerned was not at work during the time of potential infectivity. This is defined by the Austrian authorities as 48 hours before having symptoms or 48 hours prior to a positive test result.

The cumulative total number of people who have tested positive among personnel of the VIC-based organizations is 178, of whom 149 work at the VIC. Of the total of 178 personnel, 167 have recovered.

LATEST AUSTRIAN DEVELOPMENTS AND MEASURES:

  • Education Minister Heinz Fassmann said on ORF radio that he could not rule out that school students would return to the classroom later than the planned date of 7 January.
  • ORF, Austria’s public broadcaster, reported that teachers and school students would first take part in a second round of voluntary mass testing, following this month’s initial round among the broader population.
  • It was not immediately clear whether students would work from home until the return to school or the school vacation would be extended in such circumstances.
  • The Austrian authorities have said a second round of national voluntary testing will be held 8-17 January in Vienna and 8-10 January in the other provinces.
  • Separate from the mass testing sites, Vienna’s health authorities said href="https://app.wien.gv.at/covidtestanmeldung/testsite/6674a4cc-33d9-4362-5b6f-08d88f9aab53"> existing test locations would continue with walk-in units moved indoors. A network of health-check containers will be expanded across the city’s districts.
  • The test location in the Austria Centre Vienna will be accessible for all from Friday with registration available from that day on its German-language href="http://www.acv.at/schnelltest"> site.
  • VIC personnel need photo ID such as the Legitimation card but do not need to present an e-card.
  • The Education Ministry decree on the partial return to school is here in German. The Health Ministry published its href="https://www.ris.bka.gv.at/Dokumente/BgblAuth/BGBLA_2020_II_544/BGBLA_2020_II_544.html">decree (in German) covering most of the other measures. There is an overview in German.
  • The Austrian Health Ministry has outlined its vaccination strategy in English as well as German .
  • Austrian officials encourage all those in Austria to download the Stopp Corona app to help with contact tracing. The app is available in English as well as German.
  • The official Austrian dashboard has the latest data on COVID-19. It is available in English as well as German and is updated each day at 1400.

NOTE ON COVID-19 UPDATES:

Updates are issued whenever there is fresh information from the VBOs or the Host Country.

Between updates, you can keep up to date and refer to previous material by visiting our VBO COVID-19 website.

On the site you can find all updates, guidelines, reminders and messages issued so far, as well as useful links including to official information in English and other languages. No log-in is needed.

Link to the site: https://nucleus.iaea.org/sites/covid19/SitePages/Home.aspx

COVID-19 WEBSITE FOR ALL UN SYSTEM PERSONNEL

FEEDBACK/SUGGESTIONS: Please write to martin.nesirky@un.org

In today’s update:

  • Message from the four main Vienna International Centre (VIC)-based organizations – message from VIC Medical Service
  • Latest Austrian developments and measures

MESSAGE FROM THE MAIN VIC-BASED ORGANIZATIONS (VBOs) UNOV/UNODC – IAEA – UNIDO – CTBTO

VIC Medical Service Update:

The VIC Medical Service reported today that one person who works for the IAEA tested positive for SARS CoV-2. Close contacts have been informed.

The cumulative total number of people who have tested positive among personnel of the VIC-based organizations is 177, of whom 149 work at the VIC. Of the total of 177 personnel, 165 have recovered.

LATEST AUSTRIAN DEVELOPMENTS AND MEASURES:

  • In a televised briefing after a meeting with representatives of the provinces on Friday evening, Austrian Chancellor Sebastian Kurz and Vice Chancellor Werner Kogler briefed on the planned way ahead that the Government had agreed with the provinces.
  • Kurz said while numbers were decreasing, they were still high, the pandemic was far from over and there were difficult times ahead in the months January to March.
  • The Chancellor said a “concretization” of the rules on masks had been agreed:
  • Provinces would have the possibility to require mandatory wearing of masks in crowded outdoor spaces.
  • Wearing of masks is mandatory in the workplace wherever physical distancing cannot be maintained.
  • Telecommuting continued to be the preferred option, said Kurz.
  • The rules on leaving the house only for specific reasons between 20:00 and 06:00 and on gatherings limited to up to six adults plus up to six underage children from no more than two households would remain in place. There would be exceptions for specific dates over the holiday period:
  • On 24 and 25 December, gatherings of up to 10 people (from any number of households) would be permitted. People were encouraged to keep numbers as low as possible within this limit.
  • On 31 December the limitations on leaving the house between 20:00 and 06:00 would be lifted. Further details will follow. The limitations on contacts would however remain in place (no more than two households). “New Year’s parties would mean a catastrophe for January,” said Kurz.
  • The second round of the testing programme would be held 8-17 January in Vienna and 8-10 January in the other provinces. The tests would be available to all and mandatory for specific occupational groups yet to be determined but including teachers and personal services with close contact. It was also planned that mass testing would be conducted in particularly affected regions with high case numbers which could be an alternative to quarantine.
  • Links to the ministerial decrees codifying the changes to be made available once published.
  • DISCLAIMER: The VBOs cannot vouch for legal accuracy or completeness of this summary. Personnel are advised to refer to the original legal texts.
  • The Education Ministry decree on the partial return to school is here in German. The Health Ministry published its href="https://www.ris.bka.gv.at/Dokumente/BgblAuth/BGBLA_2020_II_544/BGBLA_2020_II_544.html">decree (in German) covering most of the other measures. There is an overview in German.
  • The Austrian Health Ministry has outlined its vaccination strategy in English as well as German .
  • Austrian officials encourage all those in Austria to download the Stopp Corona app to help with contact tracing. The app is available in English as well as German.
  • The official Austrian dashboard has the latest data on COVID-19. It is available in English as well as German and is updated each day at 1400.

NOTE ON COVID-19 UPDATES:

Updates are issued whenever there is fresh information from the VBOs or the Host Country.

Between updates, you can keep up to date and refer to previous material by visiting our VBO COVID-19 website.

On the site you can find all updates, guidelines, reminders and messages issued so far, as well as useful links including to official information in English and other languages. No log-in is needed.

Link to the site: https://nucleus.iaea.org/sites/covid19/SitePages/Home.aspx

COVID-19 WEBSITE FOR ALL UN SYSTEM PERSONNEL

FEEDBACK/SUGGESTIONS: Please write to martin.nesirky@un.org

In today’s update:

  • Message from the four main Vienna International Centre (VIC)-based organizations – message from VIC Medical Service
  • Latest Austrian developments and measures

MESSAGE FROM THE MAIN VIC-BASED ORGANIZATIONS (VBOs) UNOV/UNODC – IAEA – UNIDO – CTBTO

VIC Medical Service Update:

The VIC Medical Service reported today that one person who works for the IAEA tested positive for SARS CoV-2. There was no workplace exposure.

When there is no workplace exposure it means the individual concerned was not at work during the time of potential infectivity. This is defined by the Austrian authorities as 48 hours before having symptoms or 48 hours prior to a positive test result.

The cumulative total number of people who have tested positive among personnel of the VIC-based organizations is 176, of whom 148 work at the VIC. Of the total of 176 personnel, 159 have recovered.

LATEST AUSTRIAN DEVELOPMENTS AND MEASURES:

  • In a televised briefing after the weekly cabinet meeting on Wednesday, Austrian Health Minister Rudolf Anschober said the lockdown was reflected in an improvement in numbers, but although the direction was right, numbers were still far too high. The coming weeks would be a very risky phase because of shopping and holidays. There was still acute pressure on hospitals.
  • The Health Minister underlined the importance of the mass testing programme and appealed to all to participate.
  • Details from the Health Ministry on the registration procedure are available in English . The registration page is in German.
  • Interior Minister Karl Nehammer echoed the Health Minister’s call to participate in the tests. He also thanked the population for having shown restraint when shops re-opened on 7 and 8 December.
  • In response to a question the Health Minister said the ministerial decree regulating entry to Austria over the holiday period was being drafted and he expected that it could presented later this week.
  • The Education Ministry decree on the partial return to school is here in German. The Health Ministry published its href="https://www.ris.bka.gv.at/Dokumente/BgblAuth/BGBLA_2020_II_544/BGBLA_2020_II_544.html">decree (in German) covering most of the other measures. There is an overview in German.
  • The Austrian Health Ministry has outlined its vaccination strategy in English as well as German .
  • Austrian officials encourage all those in Austria to download the Stopp Corona app to help with contact tracing. The app is available in English as well as German.
  • The official Austrian dashboard has the latest data on COVID-19. It is available in English as well as German and is updated each day at 1400.

NOTE ON COVID-19 UPDATES:

Updates are issued whenever there is fresh information from the VBOs or the Host Country.

Between updates, you can keep up to date and refer to previous material by visiting our VBO COVID-19 website.

On the site you can find all updates, guidelines, reminders and messages issued so far, as well as useful links including to official information in English and other languages. No log-in is needed.

Link to the site: https://nucleus.iaea.org/sites/covid19/SitePages/Home.aspx

COVID-19 WEBSITE FOR ALL UN SYSTEM PERSONNEL

FEEDBACK/SUGGESTIONS: Please write to martin.nesirky@un.org

In today’s update:

  • Message from the four main Vienna International Centre (VIC)-based organizations – message from VIC Medical Service
  • Latest Austrian developments and measures

MESSAGE FROM THE MAIN VIC-BASED ORGANIZATIONS (VBOs) UNOV/UNODC – IAEA – UNIDO – CTBTO

VIC Medical Service Update:

The VIC Medical Service reported today that two people who work for VIC-based organizations tested positive for SARS CoV-2.

One person works for UNOV/UNODC and the other for CTBTO. There was no workplace exposure in either case.

When there is no workplace exposure it means the individual concerned was not at work during the time of potential infectivity. This is defined by the Austrian authorities as 48 hours before having symptoms or 48 hours prior to a positive test result.

The cumulative total number of people who have tested positive among personnel of the VIC-based organizations is 175, of whom 147 work at the VIC. Of the total of 175 personnel, 157 have recovered.

Reminder of Austrian measures:

A number of Austria’s latest measures took effect today and, in most cases, will be in place until at least 6 January. While some measures are being eased, the Government has made clear there is still pressure on the Austrian health system.

  • Primary and middle school grades re-opened for in-person classes. High schools to continue with distance-learning, except for final-year classes, which returned to in-person teaching.
  • All shops, personal services such as hairdressers, libraries and museums re-opened with safety precautions such as limiting numbers.
  • The limitations on leaving the house only for specific reasons apply only between 20:00 and 06:00 rather than 24 hours. The reasons for leaving the home between 20:00 and 06:00 are averting danger, helping others, family duties, meeting the needs of daily life, work and outdoor exercise.
  • People from two different households are allowed to meet.
  • There will be exceptions to the limits on contacts and hours on 25, 26, 27 and 31 December. The details will be announced later.
  • Restaurants, hotels and the cultural sector remain closed; it is intended to begin reopening these areas from 7 January, subject to the infection rate.

Please see VIC Update from Friday 4 December for details of measures at the VIC.

LATEST AUSTRIAN DEVELOPMENTS AND MEASURES:

  • Austrian Chancellor Sebastian Kurz and the Mayor of Vienna, Michael Ludwig, took part in voluntary testing today at one of three Vienna venues and they urged all those in Austria to participate.
  • Education Minister Heinz Faßmann said in a televised briefing today that the latest school measures would be in place until 23 December. Students and teachers must wear masks throughout, including during lessons from middle school upwards, but short breaks from masks will be allowed when airing classrooms.
  • At the weekend, 72 percent of the country’s teachers underwent voluntary COVID-19 tests; 0.24 percent, or about 300 people, tested positive. This was lower than expected.
  • The Education Ministry decree on the partial return to school is here in German. The Health Ministry published its decree (in German) covering most of the other measures. There is an overview in German.
  • The Austrian Health Ministry has outlined its vaccination strategy in English as well as German .
  • Austrian officials encourage all those in Austria to download the Stopp Corona app to help with contact tracing. The app is available in English as well as German.
  • The official Austrian dashboard has the latest data on COVID-19. It is available in English as well as German and is updated each day at 1400.

NOTE ON COVID-19 UPDATES:

Updates are issued whenever there is fresh information from the VBOs or the Host Country.

Between updates, you can keep up to date and refer to previous material by visiting our VBO COVID-19 website.

On the site you can find all updates, guidelines, reminders and messages issued so far, as well as useful links including to official information in English and other languages. No log-in is needed.

Link to the site: https://nucleus.iaea.org/sites/covid19/SitePages/Home.aspx

COVID-19 WEBSITE FOR ALL UN SYSTEM PERSONNEL

FEEDBACK/SUGGESTIONS: Please write to martin.nesirky@un.org

In today’s update:

  • Message from the four main Vienna International Centre (VIC)-based organizations – message from VIC Medical Service
  • Latest Austrian developments and measures

MESSAGE FROM THE MAIN VIC-BASED ORGANIZATIONS (VBOs) UNOV/UNODC – IAEA – UNIDO – CTBTO

A number of Austria’s latest measures take effect at 00:00 on Monday 7 December and will be in place until at least 6 January. While some measures will be eased, such as allowing most students to return to school and reopening shops and services, the Government has made clear there is still pressure on the Austrian health system.

As part of the community of our Host Country, we can and must play our part in helping to contain the spread of COVID-19 and reducing the risk of transmission at the VIC and elsewhere. This means complying with all measures announced by the Austrian authorities, including limiting social contacts and remote working where this is possible. Personnel are encouraged to take part in Austria’s voluntary mass testing programme.

Basic hygiene and preventive measures remain as important as ever - handwashing, face masks and maintaining at least a one-meter distance from others. Personnel are reminded not to come to work with symptoms or when feeling unwell.

The following measures are consistent with those announced by the Austrian Authorities.

REMOTE WORKING

Bearing in mind their mandate and operational requirements, CTBTO, IAEA, UNIDO and UNOV/UNODC will maintain their reduced presence at the VIC.

ACCESS

Access to the VIC remains limited as previously advised. In addition to personnel who are required to come to the office, bearing in mind the mandate and operational needs of their organizations, access will also include staff of Permanent Missions on official business, those with children at the VIC kindergarten and those with access to the Commissary with proof of a Commissary appointment.

Access to the VIC is possible only through the following gates:

  • Gate 1: 24/7 for all pedestrians and those arriving on bicycles. There is no access to the VIC for bicycles, which must be parked in front of Gate 1.
  • Gate 4: 24/7 staff vehicular access only.
  • Gate 5: one lane staff vehicular access only from 07:00-10:00
  • Gate 5: Delivery vehicles only, access from 07:00-12:00

MEETINGS

The Austrian Authorities have cancelled all events during this period, but essential professional meetings are exempt. In-person meetings are hence discouraged and should be held only if absolutely necessary to maintain professional activities that cannot be postponed or held virtually.

SERVICES

The banks, post office, dry cleaners and newspaper stand remain open.

The pharmacy remains open, with reduced hours, from 13:00 to 17:00 Monday to Friday.

The VIC Medical Service remains open.

The VIC Commissary remains open, including from Monday 7 December the boutique and the perfume section. Online registration is required: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/vic-commissary

As previously advised, the cafeteria will be open from 07:30 to 15:00. The coffee corner on C07 will be open from 08:30 to 15:30 for take-away. The demand will be monitored closely each day and can be adjusted as required.

The kindergarten will remain open.

SOCIAL CONTACTS

Aligned with the decision taken by the Austrian Authorities, personnel working at the VIC are required to keep contacts in social settings (coffee or lunches) to a minimum and limit interactions. In particular, personnel should not congregate at C07 after buying beverages or food.

Updated message from the VIC Medical Service:

The VIC Medical Service encourages personnel resident in Vienna to take part in the Austrian authorities’ voluntary mass testing in the city between 4 and 13 December and for those resident outside Vienna to take part in the equivalent mass testing in their respective federal provinces.

This is a link to the registration page (so far only in German): https://österreich-testet.at

More details from the Health Ministry on the registration procedure in English and what to expect at the test centres.

An English version of the registration site is being developed.

The Austrian Foreign Ministry says the Legitimation card will be accepted as proof of identity.

The Health Ministry says an ID card – such as the Legitimation card – is acceptable instead of an e-card. Proof of insurance is not needed as the test is free.

A visit to one of the mass testing centres should be treated in the same way as a break or doctor’s visit because it is an outpatient diagnostic evaluation. This should normally be supported by supervisors.

Those who test positive in the initial rapid antigen test would need to stay at home until the result of the second, PCR test is returned negative (within one or two days).

If the PCR test is positive, a full 10 days of self-isolation would be required.

In these cases, either COVID-19 work-from-home arrangements or sick leave apply, depending on the respective VBO human resources guidelines.

IMPORTANT NOTE: The Austria Centre Vienna (ACV) test centre is not a mass testing site. The ACV is for those who work in critical infrastructure and need regular testing (such as health workers), those wishing to visit relatives in care homes and mildly symptomatic cases arriving by car.

The ACV has said the VIC counts as critical infrastructure and therefore VIC personnel can undergo free testing. But this is not part of the voluntary mass testing programme. Details at this website in German:

LATEST AUSTRIAN DEVELOPMENTS AND MEASURES:

  • In a televised address on Thursday, Austrian President Alexander Van der Bellen called on the population to participate in the mass testing programme. Van der Bellen said the development of a vaccine in so little time was evidence of humanity’s ability to efficiently cooperate across borders when it was really needed. He called on all people to cooperate in this way. “We are not fighting against each other each other but against a pandemic – and should do so alongside one another,” said Van der Bellen.
  • Please see VIC Update from 2 December for details on Austria’s latest measures.
  • The Education Ministry decree on the partial return to school is here in German. The Health Ministry has not yet published its decree covering most of the other measures, but there is an overview in German.
  • Austrian officials encourage all those in Austria to download the Stopp Corona app to help with contact tracing. The app is available in English as well as German.
  • The official Austrian dashboard has the latest data on COVID-19. It is available in English as well as German and is updated each day at 1400.

NOTE ON COVID-19 UPDATES:

Updates are issued whenever there is fresh information from the VBOs or the Host Country.

Between updates, you can keep up to date and refer to previous material by visiting our VBO COVID-19 website.

On the site you can find all updates, guidelines, reminders and messages issued so far, as well as useful links including to official information in English and other languages. No log-in is needed.

Link to the site: https://nucleus.iaea.org/sites/covid19/SitePages/Home.aspx

COVID-19 WEBSITE FOR ALL UN SYSTEM PERSONNEL

FEEDBACK/SUGGESTIONS: Please write to martin.nesirky@un.org

In today’s update:

  • Message from the four main Vienna International Centre (VIC)-based organizations – message from VIC Medical Service
  • Latest Austrian developments and measures

MESSAGE FROM THE MAIN VIC-BASED ORGANIZATIONS (VBOs) UNOV/UNODC – IAEA – UNIDO – CTBTO

VIC Medical Service Update:

The VIC Medical Service reported today that one person who works for the IAEA tested positive for SARS CoV-2. Close contacts have been informed.

The cumulative total number of people who have tested positive among personnel of the VIC-based organizations is 173, of whom 145 work at the VIC. Of the total of 173 personnel, 148 have recovered.

Reminder: Message from the VIC Medical Service:

The VIC Medical Service encourages personnel resident in Vienna to take part in the Austrian authorities’ voluntary mass testing in the city between 4 and 13 December and for those resident outside Vienna to take part in the equivalent mass testing in their respective federal provinces.

This is a link to the registration page (so far only in German): https://österreich-testet.at

More details from the Health Ministry on the registration procedure in English .

An English version of the registration site is being developed.

The Austrian Foreign Ministry says the Legitimation card will be accepted as proof of identity.

The Health Ministry says an ID card – such as the Legitimation card – is acceptable instead of an e-card. Proof of insurance is not needed as the test is free.

A visit to one of the mass testing centres should be treated in the same way as a break or doctor’s visit because it is an outpatient diagnostic evaluation. This should normally be supported by supervisors.

Those who test positive in the initial rapid antigen test would need to stay at home until the result of the second, PCR test is returned negative (within one or two days).

If the PCR test is positive, a full 10 days of self-isolation would be required.

In these cases, either COVID-19 work-from-home arrangements or sick leave apply, depending on the respective VBO human resources guidelines.

LATEST AUSTRIAN DEVELOPMENTS AND MEASURES:

  • More than 100,000 people have registered already for the voluntary mass testing, the Health Minister said. The registration site was offline for a couple of hours on Wednesday for some technical fixes.
  • The Government said that if conditions allow up to 10 people (this figure includes children and adults) could be allowed to meet over the Christmas and New Year period. The overnight limitations on leaving the home would be lifted for that period. The details will be decided and announced later.
  • The Interior Ministry provided further details on the strict border management over the Christmas and New Year holidays, including Orthodox Christmas. The measure takes effect on 19 December and will be in place until 10 January. The measure covers countries classified as a risk area because the 14-day incidence of positive coronavirus cases is higher than 100. All countries neighbouring Austria fall into this category now.
  • The Government said Christmas markets and punch stalls would not be able to operate this season.
  • Please see VIC Update from 2 December for other details on the measures.
  • The Education Ministry decree on the partial return to school is here in German. The Health Ministry has not yet published its decree covering most of the other measures.
  • Austrian officials encourage all those in Austria to download the Stopp Corona app to help with contact tracing. The app is available in English as well as German.
  • The official Austrian dashboard has the latest data on COVID-19. It is available in English as well as German and is updated each day at 1400.

NOTE ON COVID-19 UPDATES:

Updates are issued whenever there is fresh information from the VBOs or the Host Country.

Between updates, you can keep up to date and refer to previous material by visiting our VBO COVID-19 website.

On the site you can find all updates, guidelines, reminders and messages issued so far, as well as useful links including to official information in English and other languages. No log-in is needed.

Link to the site: https://nucleus.iaea.org/sites/covid19/SitePages/Home.aspx

COVID-19 WEBSITE FOR ALL UN SYSTEM PERSONNEL

FEEDBACK/SUGGESTIONS: Please write to martin.nesirky@un.org

In today’s update:

  • Message from the four main Vienna International Centre (VIC)-based organizations – message from VIC Medical Service
  • Latest Austrian developments and measures

MESSAGE FROM THE MAIN VIC-BASED ORGANIZATIONS (VBOs) UNOV/UNODC – IAEA – UNIDO – CTBTO

Today the Austrian Government announced a number of changes to the lockdown measures, most of them taking effect on Monday 7 December. See the section below for an overview.

The VBOs will advise by Friday 4 December what impact the changed measures have for operations at the VIC.

Message from the VIC Medical Service:

The VIC Medical Service encourages personnel resident in Vienna to take part in the Austrian authorities’ voluntary mass testing in the city between 4 and 13 December and for those resident outside Vienna to take part in the equivalent mass testing in their respective federal provinces.

This is a link to the registration page (so far only in German): https://österreich-testet.at

More details will be provided on the registration procedure; an English version of the registration site is being developed.

The Austrian Foreign Ministry says the Legitimation card will be accepted as proof of identity.

Proof of Allianz or Cigna health insurance should be accepted instead of an e-card.

A visit to one of the mass testing centres should be treated in the same way as a break or doctor’s visit because it is an outpatient diagnostic evaluation. This should normally be supported by supervisors.

Those who test positive in the initial rapid antigen test would need to stay at home until the result of the second, PCR test is returned negative (within one or two days).

If the PCR test is positive, a full 10 days of self-isolation would be required.

In these cases, either COVID-19 work-from-home arrangements or sick leave apply, depending on the respective VBO human resources guidelines.

LATEST AUSTRIAN DEVELOPMENTS AND MEASURES:

  • In a televised briefing on Wednesday, Austrian Chancellor Sebastian Kurz and other cabinet members announced the lifting of some measures from Monday 7 December, while others remain in place or are added.
  • Kurz said the lockdown was working and it had been possible so far to avert overburdening the hospitals’ intensive care units. It was therefore possible to carefully relax some measures, but the pandemic was far from over and infection numbers were still extremely high.
  • Kurz said the coming weeks and months would be a balancing act between relaxing measures and avoiding another exponential rise in cases. Social contacts should be kept to a minimum and all those living in Austria were asked to adhere to the regulations and recommendations.
  • As of 7 December, the measures in place would be eased in the following areas:
  • Primary and middle school grades to re-open for in-person classes. High schools to continue with distance-learning, expect for final-year classes, which would return to in-person teaching.
  • All shops, personal services such as hairdressers, libraries and museums to re-open with safety precautions such as limiting numbers.
  • The limitations on leaving the house only for specific reasons will apply only between 20:00 and 06:00 rather than 24 hours. The reasons for leaving the home between 20:00 and 06:00 are averting danger, helping others, family duties, meeting the needs of daily life, work and outdoor exercise.
  • People from two different households will be allowed to meet. Kurz said those two households should not then meet other households.
  • The Government said that if conditions allow up to 10 adults could be allowed to meet over the Christmas and New Year period. This would be decided and announced later.
  • There would be strict border management over the Christmas and New Year holidays, including Orthodox Christmas. The measure takes effect on
  • 19 December and will be in place until 10 January, the Interior Ministry said.
  • People entering the country from abroad, regardless of nationality, would have to quarantine for 10 days, with a possibility to end quarantine after five days with a negative PCR test.
  • There would be exceptions for business travellers and cross-border commuters.
  • From 24 December, outdoor non-contact individual sports are to be allowed. This includes day-trip skiing. There will be health measures in place for ski lifts and cable cars.
  • Restaurants, hotels and the cultural sector are to remain closed; it was intended to begin reopening these areas from 7 January, subject to the infection rate.
  • Links to the ministerial decrees codifying the changes will be made available once published.

DISCLAIMER: The VBOs cannot vouch for legal accuracy or completeness of this summary. Personnel are advised to refer to the original legal texts.

  • Austrian officials encourage all those in Austria to download the Stopp Corona app to help with contact tracing. The app is available in English as well as German.
  • The official Austrian dashboard has the latest data on COVID-19. It is available in English as well as German and is updated each day at 1400.

NOTE ON COVID-19 UPDATES:

Updates are issued whenever there is fresh information from the VBOs or the Host Country.

Between updates, you can keep up to date and refer to previous material by visiting our VBO COVID-19 website.

On the site you can find all updates, guidelines, reminders and messages issued so far, as well as useful links including to official information in English and other languages. No log-in is needed.

Link to the site: https://nucleus.iaea.org/sites/covid19/SitePages/Home.aspx

COVID-19 WEBSITE FOR ALL UN SYSTEM PERSONNEL

FEEDBACK/SUGGESTIONS: Please write to martin.nesirky@un.org

In today’s update:

  • Message from the four main Vienna International Centre (VIC)-based organizations – message from VIC Medical Service
  • Latest Austrian developments and measures

MESSAGE FROM THE MAIN VIC-BASED ORGANIZATIONS (VBOs) UNOV/UNODC – IAEA – UNIDO – CTBTO

VIC Medical Service Update:

The VIC Medical Service reported today that two people who work for the IAEA tested positive for SARS CoV-2. There was no workplace exposure in either case.

The cumulative total number of people who have tested positive among personnel of the VIC-based organizations is 172, of whom 144 work at the VIC. Of the total of 172 personnel, 146 have recovered.

LATEST AUSTRIAN DEVELOPMENTS AND MEASURES:

  • The Austrian Government is meeting later on Tuesday to discuss which lockdown measures can be eased from 7 December. The Cabinet will then meet on Wednesday morning to approve the decision, and an announcement is expected around noon. Ministers have already liaised with provincial leaders on the likely steps.
  • Austrian media reports and interviews with officials indicate any easing will be limited, starting with schools and retail, but with restrictions and preventive measures in both settings.
  • More details on Austria’s voluntary mass testing programme will be given on Wednesday, including on the documents required to participate.
  • Austrian officials encourage all those in Austria to download the Stopp Corona app to help with contact tracing. The app is available in English as well as German.
  • The official Austrian dashboard has the latest data on COVID-19. It is available in English as well as German and is updated each day at 1400.
  • Latest Emergency Measures Regulation in German.
  • An overview of the measures in German.
  • Frequently asked questions in German.
  • The Education Ministry regulation on schooling in German.
  • Once English versions become available links will be provided.
  • The VIC Update issued on Saturday, 14 November, provides an overview of the measures.

NOTE ON COVID-19 UPDATES:

Updates are issued whenever there is fresh information from the VBOs or the Host Country.

Between updates, you can keep up to date and refer to previous material by visiting our VBO COVID-19 website.

On the site you can find all updates, guidelines, reminders and messages issued so far, as well as useful links including to official information in English and other languages. No log-in is needed.

Link to the site: https://nucleus.iaea.org/sites/covid19/SitePages/Home.aspx

COVID-19 WEBSITE FOR ALL UN SYSTEM PERSONNEL

FEEDBACK/SUGGESTIONS: Please write to martin.nesirky@un.org

In today’s update:

  • Message from the four main Vienna International Centre (VIC)-based organizations – message from VIC Medical Service
  • Latest Austrian developments and measures

MESSAGE FROM THE MAIN VIC-BASED ORGANIZATIONS (VBOs) UNOV/UNODC – IAEA – UNIDO – CTBTO

VIC Medical Service Update:

The VIC Medical Service reported today that one person who works for the IAEA outside of Vienna tested positive for SARS CoV-2.

The cumulative total number of people who have tested positive among personnel of the VIC-based organizations is 170, of whom 142 work at the VIC. Of the total of 170 personnel, 146 have recovered.

LATEST AUSTRIAN DEVELOPMENTS AND MEASURES:

  • Voluntary mass testing will be available in Vienna from 4 December, two days later than planned, the city’s top health official, Peter Hacker, said on Sunday at one of the three planned test venues that will operate until 13 December.
  • Those who live in Vienna and wish to take part – the city expects some 1.2 million people to do so – will need to book a time slot at one of the venues through an online registration page that the Austrian Health Ministry is finalizing. More details will be made available on the registration site when it goes live.
  • There will be an option to book by telephone, particularly for the elderly and those without Internet access.
  • To reduce the risk of overcrowding, it will not be possible to turn up at the test centres without a time slot.
  • Those registering need to be resident in Vienna and at least 10 years old.
  • The tests are free of charge. The data collected is kept for 28 days and then deleted.
  • The test is an antigen quick test by throat swab. The result will be available on the spot. If the quick test is positive, a PCR test will be conducted at the same location through gargling and the person must then self-isolate at home until notified of the outcome of the second test.
  • Tests are a snapshot in time but can help to detect and isolate asymptomatic cases and reduce the risk of spread.
  • Three mass test centres will be used – Stadthalle, Marxhalle in the Landstrasse district and the Messehalle congress centre in Prater. More details will be provided when available.
  • The testing centre opening at the Austria Centre Vienna (ACV) on Tuesday will not be used for mass testing. It is one of three drive-in and walk-in centres in the city (more in German and English):
    1. The ACV is testing for those wishing to visit retirement homes, nursing homes and hospitals, as well as staff of critical infrastructure facilities and blue-light organisations.
    2. More information on the ACV test centre in English and German.
    3. Ernst-Happel-Stadion is testing for those people without symptoms who are, for example, contact individuals or have returned from outside Vienna.
  • Austrian Chancellor Sebastian Kurz said in an interview published over the weekend that further voluntary mass testing would be conducted after this round across the country but did not specify when.
  • Kurz also said any easing of measures from 7 December would depend on the caseload. People should expect to live with some kind of restrictions over the coming months, although the mass testing and likely vaccines were positive developments on the path to greater normality.
  • Health Minister Rudolf Anschober told reporters there had been a slight downward trend in the past few days, but numbers were still at a “dramatically high level”.
  • On Monday, Austrian officials and celebrities combined forces to encourage all those in Austria to download the Stopp Corona app to help with contact tracing. The app is available in English as well as German.
  • The official Austrian dashboard has the latest data on COVID-19. It is available in English as well as German and is updated each day at 1400.
  • Latest Emergency Measures Regulation in German.
  • An overview of the measures in German.
  • Frequently asked questions in German.
  • The Education Ministry regulation on schooling in German.
  • Once English versions become available links will be provided.
  • The VIC Update issued on Saturday, 14 November, provides an overview of the measures.

NOTE ON COVID-19 UPDATES:

Updates are issued whenever there is fresh information from the VBOs or the Host Country.

Between updates, you can keep up to date and refer to previous material by visiting our VBO COVID-19 website.

On the site you can find all updates, guidelines, reminders and messages issued so far, as well as useful links including to official information in English and other languages. No log-in is needed.

Link to the site: https://nucleus.iaea.org/sites/covid19/SitePages/Home.aspx

COVID-19 WEBSITE FOR ALL UN SYSTEM PERSONNEL

FEEDBACK/SUGGESTIONS: Please write to martin.nesirky@un.org

In today’s update:

  • Message from the four main Vienna International Centre (VIC)-based organizations – message from VIC Medical Service
  • Latest Austrian developments and measures

MESSAGE FROM THE MAIN VIC-BASED ORGANIZATIONS (VBOs) UNOV/UNODC – IAEA – UNIDO – CTBTO

VIC Medical Service Update:

The VIC Medical Service reported today that one person who works for the IAEA outside of Austria tested positive for SARS CoV-2.

The cumulative total number of people who have tested positive among personnel of the VIC-based organizations is 169, of whom 142 work at the VIC. Of the total of 169 personnel, 145 have recovered.

LATEST AUSTRIAN DEVELOPMENTS AND MEASURES:

  • Austrian Chancellor Sebastian Kurz said at a televised briefing on Wednesday that the Government would decide on 2 December whether and how to ease lockdown measures. Priorities would be schools and shops.
  • He also said the Government had agreed voluntary mass testing and vaccinations would be at the heart of its post-lockdown strategy, with more details to follow.
  • Health Minister Rudolf Anschober said the numbers for positive cases and those in hospital were still far too high.
  • The City of Vienna’s top health official, Peter Hacker, told Austria’s APA news agency on Thursday that voluntary mass testing would be conducted in the city between 2 and 13 December. Three test centres would be used – Stadthalle, Marxhalle in the Landstrasse district and the Messehalle congress centre in Prater. Up to 150,000 people can be tested each day overall, using a total of 300 test lines to minimize queuing. More details will be made available.
  • Austrian officials encouraged all those in Austria to download the Stopp Corona app to help with contact tracing. Anschober said the app would play an increasing role. The app is available in English as well as German.
  • The official Austrian dashboard has the latest data on COVID-19. It is available in English as well as German and is updated each day at 1400.
  • Latest Emergency Measures Regulation in German.
  • An overview of the measures in German.
  • Frequently asked questions in German.
  • The Education Ministry regulation on schooling in German.
  • Once English versions become available links will be provided.
  • The VIC Update issued on Saturday, 14 November, provides an overview of the measures.

NOTE ON COVID-19 UPDATES:

Updates are issued whenever there is fresh information from the VBOs or the Host Country.

Between updates, you can keep up to date and refer to previous material by visiting our VBO COVID-19 website.

On the site you can find all updates, guidelines, reminders and messages issued so far, as well as useful links including to official information in English and other languages. No log-in is needed.

Link to the site: https://nucleus.iaea.org/sites/covid19/SitePages/Home.aspx

COVID-19 WEBSITE FOR ALL UN SYSTEM PERSONNEL

FEEDBACK/SUGGESTIONS: Please write to martin.nesirky@un.org

In today’s update:

  • Message from the four main Vienna International Centre (VIC)-based organizations – message from VIC Medical Service
  • Latest Austrian developments and measures

MESSAGE FROM THE MAIN VIC-BASED ORGANIZATIONS (VBOs) UNOV/UNODC – IAEA – UNIDO – CTBTO

VIC Medical Service Update:

The VIC Medical Service reported today that one person who works for the IAEA tested positive for SARS CoV-2. Close contacts have been informed.

The cumulative total number of people who have tested positive among personnel of the VIC-based organizations is 168, of whom 142 work at the VIC. Of the total of 168 personnel, 131 have recovered.

LATEST AUSTRIAN DEVELOPMENTS AND MEASURES:

  • Health Minister Rudolf Anschober held a televised briefing on Austria’s COVID-19 vaccination strategy today and indicated that the first tranches of vaccines could arrive in January, possibly earlier, depending on regulatory approval.
  • The goal is a vaccination rate of significantly more than 50 percent. Vaccination will be voluntary. In certain areas there may be guidelines, for example in the health sector - that non-vaccinated people would have to wear an FFP2 mask instead.
  • Martin Auer, Special Representative of the Ministry of Health, said high-risk groups such as health workers or people in care homes, starting with the most vulnerable, would be vaccinated first, in the first quarter of 2021.
  • Vaccinations for the broader population should be available in the second quarter.
  • Anschober said there was a slight reduction in the number of new cases recorded and also in the number of admissions to intensive care, although the number of ICU beds occupied was for the first time more than 700. Also, more than 100 people died within the past 24 hours.
  • Austrian officials encouraged all those in Austria to download the Stopp Corona app to help with contact tracing. Anschober said the app would play an increasing role. The app is available in English as well as German.
  • The official Austrian dashboard has the latest data on COVID-19. It is available in English as well as German and is updated each day at 1400.
  • Latest Emergency Measures Regulation in German.
  • An overview of the measures in German.
  • Frequently asked questions in German.
  • The Education Ministry regulation on schooling in German.
  • Once English versions become available links will be provided.
  • The VIC Update issued on Saturday, 14 November, provides an overview of the measures.

NOTE ON COVID-19 UPDATES:

Updates are issued whenever there is fresh information from the VBOs or the Host Country.

Between updates, you can keep up to date and refer to previous material by visiting our VBO COVID-19 website.

On the site you can find all updates, guidelines, reminders and messages issued so far, as well as useful links including to official information in English and other languages. No log-in is needed.

Link to the site: https://nucleus.iaea.org/sites/covid19/SitePages/Home.aspx

COVID-19 WEBSITE FOR ALL UN SYSTEM PERSONNEL

FEEDBACK/SUGGESTIONS: Please write to martin.nesirky@un.org

In today’s update:

  • Message from the four main Vienna International Centre (VIC)-based organizations – message from VIC Medical Service
  • Latest Austrian developments and measures

MESSAGE FROM THE MAIN VIC-BASED ORGANIZATIONS (VBOs) UNOV/UNODC – IAEA – UNIDO – CTBTO

VIC Medical Service Update:

The VIC Medical Service reported today that three people who work for organizations based at the Vienna International Centre (VIC) tested positive for SARS CoV-2.

One person works for the IAEA and another UNOV/UNODC. There was no workplace exposure in either case. A third person works for CTBTO, and close contacts have been informed One person works for the IAEA and another for UNOV/UNODC. There was no workplace exposure in either case. A third person works for UNIDO, but not in Austria.

The cumulative total number of people who have tested positive among personnel of the VIC-based organizations is 167, of whom 141 work at the VIC. Of the total of 167 personnel, 130 have recovered.

LATEST AUSTRIAN DEVELOPMENTS AND MEASURES:

  • Austrian Health Minister Rudolf Anschober told a televised briefing today there were early indications lockdown measures were having some effect, but the figures were still dramatically high. A clearer picture of the latest lockdown measures would be available toward the end of this week, he said.
  • Anschober said if conditions allow there would be a gradual easing from 7 December. The authorities were working on the sequence in which sectors would reopen. Schools were likely to open first. He said measures would still be needed to avoid stumbling at high speed into a third lockdown after the holiday season.
  • A condition for easing measures was that the reproduction number (R number) should be 0.9 or lower, ideally 0.8, he said. This would mean the number of infections would start to fall. The figure is 1.02 now, meaning the number of infections continues to increase.
  • Anschober said vaccinations could start to be given in Austria in January, assuming regulators approved the vaccines by then. The vaccination strategy would be outlined in the coming days.
  • He also said the authorities were working on the details for a mass testing plan.
  • Austrian officials encouraged all those in Austria to download the Stopp Corona app to help with contact tracing. Anschober said the app would play an increasing role. The app is available in English as well as German.
  • The official Austrian dashboard has the latest data on COVID-19. It is available in English as well as German and is updated each day at 1400.
  • Latest Emergency Measures Regulation in German.
  • An overview of the measures in German.
  • Frequently asked questions in German.
  • The Education Ministry regulation on schooling in German.
  • Once English versions become available links will be provided.
  • The VIC Update issued on Saturday, 14 November, provides an overview of the measures.

NOTE ON COVID-19 UPDATES:

Updates are issued whenever there is fresh information from the VBOs or the Host Country.

Between updates, you can keep up to date and refer to previous material by visiting our VBO COVID-19 website.

On the site you can find all updates, guidelines, reminders and messages issued so far, as well as useful links including to official information in English and other languages. No log-in is needed.

Link to the site: https://nucleus.iaea.org/sites/covid19/SitePages/Home.aspx

COVID-19 WEBSITE FOR ALL UN SYSTEM PERSONNEL

FEEDBACK/SUGGESTIONS: Please write to martin.nesirky@un.org

In today’s update:

  • Message from the four main Vienna International Centre (VIC)-based organizations – message from VIC Medical Service
  • Latest Austrian developments and measures

MESSAGE FROM THE MAIN VIC-BASED ORGANIZATIONS (VBOs) UNOV/UNODC – IAEA – UNIDO – CTBTO

VIC Medical Service Update:

The VIC Medical Service reported today that three people who work for organizations based at the Vienna International Centre (VIC) tested positive for SARS CoV-2.

One person works for the IAEA and another UNOV/UNODC. There was no workplace exposure in either case. A third person works for CTBTO, and close contacts have been informed.

The cumulative total number of people who have tested positive among personnel of the VIC-based organizations is 164, of whom 139 work at the VIC. Of the total of 164 personnel, 127 have recovered.

LATEST AUSTRIAN DEVELOPMENTS AND MEASURES:

  • The Austrian Government announced on Friday that it would start to carry out voluntary mass testing from 5 December.
  • School and kindergarten teachers will be tested first on 5-6 December, followed by police officers on 7-8 December. People in particularly affected areas will also be tested around this time.
  • Testing for the broader population will be carried out shortly before the Christmas holidays and then again early in the New Year. Details on how and where the tests will be conducted will be made available closer to the time.
  • Participation is free of charge as well as voluntary.
  • Chancellor Sebastian Kurz urged all those living in Austria to participate, saying it was a chance to return to some kind of normality before people could be vaccinated. This included trying to make it possible for families to gather at Christmas, he said.
  • The Austrian military will be deployed to help health workers and trained volunteers carry out the rapid antigen tests at centres across the country.
  • Austrian officials encouraged all those in Austria to download the Stopp Corona app to help with contact tracing. The app is available in English as well as German.
  • The official Austrian dashboard has the latest data on COVID-19. It is available in English as well as German and is updated each day at 1400.
  • Latest Emergency Measures Regulation in German.
  • An overview of the measures in German.
  • Frequently asked questions in German.
  • The Education Ministry regulation on schooling in German.
  • Once English versions become available links will be provided.
  • The VIC Update issued on Saturday, 14 November, provides an overview of the measures.

NOTE ON COVID-19 UPDATES:

Updates are issued whenever there is fresh information from the VBOs or the Host Country.

Between updates, you can keep up to date and refer to previous material by visiting our VBO COVID-19 website.

On the site you can find all updates, guidelines, reminders and messages issued so far, as well as useful links including to official information in English and other languages. No log-in is needed.

Link to the site: https://nucleus.iaea.org/sites/covid19/SitePages/Home.aspx

COVID-19 WEBSITE FOR ALL UN SYSTEM PERSONNEL

FEEDBACK/SUGGESTIONS: Please write to martin.nesirky@un.org

In today’s update:

  • Message from the four main Vienna International Centre (VIC)-based organizations – message from VIC Medical Service
  • Latest Austrian developments and measures

MESSAGE FROM THE MAIN VIC-BASED ORGANIZATIONS (VBOs) UNOV/UNODC – IAEA – UNIDO – CTBTO

VIC Medical Service Update:

The VIC Medical Service reported today that five people who work for organizations based at the Vienna International Centre (VIC) tested positive for SARS CoV-2.

Two people work for the IAEA. In one case close contacts have been informed and in the other case there was no workplace exposure. Two people work for UNIDO outside of Austria. There was no workplace exposure. One person works for UNOV/UNODC. There was no workplace exposure.

The cumulative total number of people who have tested positive among personnel of the VIC-based organizations is 161, of whom 136 work at the VIC. Of the total of 161 personnel, 111 have recovered.

LATEST AUSTRIAN DEVELOPMENTS AND MEASURES:

NOTE ON COVID-19 UPDATES:

Updates are issued whenever there is fresh information from the VBOs or the Host Country.

Between updates, you can keep up to date and refer to previous material by visiting our VBO COVID-19 website.

On the site you can find all updates, guidelines, reminders and messages issued so far, as well as useful links including to official information in English and other languages. No log-in is needed.

Link to the site: https://nucleus.iaea.org/sites/covid19/SitePages/Home.aspx

COVID-19 WEBSITE FOR ALL UN SYSTEM PERSONNEL

FEEDBACK/SUGGESTIONS: Please write to martin.nesirky@un.org

In today’s update:

  • Message from the four main Vienna International Centre (VIC)-based organizations – message from VIC Medical Service
  • Latest Austrian developments and measures

MESSAGE FROM THE MAIN VIC-BASED ORGANIZATIONS (VBOs) UNOV/UNODC – IAEA – UNIDO – CTBTO

VIC Medical Service Update:

The VIC Medical Service reported today that one person who works for UNOV/UNODC at the Vienna International Centre (VIC) tested positive for SARS CoV-2. There was no workplace exposure.

The cumulative total number of people who have tested positive among personnel of the VIC-based organizations is 156, of whom 133 work at the VIC. Of the total of 156 personnel, 110 have recovered.

LATEST AUSTRIAN DEVELOPMENTS AND MEASURES:

  • Austria’s Health Minister said yesterday the number of people testing positive was stabilizing but “at a dramatically high level”. He said it was a race against time to stop intensive care units at hospitals from being overwhelmed.
  • Austrian officials encouraged all those in Austria to download the Stopp Corona app to help with contact tracing. The app is available in English as well as German .
  • The official Austrian dashboard has the latest data on COVID-19. It is available in English as well as German and is updated each day at 1400.
  • NOTE ON COVID-19 UPDATES:

    Updates are issued whenever there is fresh information from the VBOs or the Host Country.

    Between updates, you can keep up to date and refer to previous material by visiting our VBO COVID-19 website.

    On the site you can find all updates, guidelines, reminders and messages issued so far, as well as useful links including to official information in English and other languages. No log-in is needed.

    Link to the site: https://nucleus.iaea.org/sites/covid19/SitePages/Home.aspx

    COVID-19 WEBSITE FOR ALL UN SYSTEM PERSONNEL

    FEEDBACK/SUGGESTIONS: Please write to martin.nesirky@un.org

In today’s update:

  • Message from the four main Vienna International Centre (VIC)-based organizations – message from VIC Medical Service, updated information on Access and Services
  • Latest Austrian developments and measures

MESSAGE FROM THE MAIN VIC-BASED ORGANIZATIONS (VBOs) UNOV/UNODC – IAEA – UNIDO – CTBTO

VIC Medical Service Update:

The VIC Medical Service reported today that one person who works for UNOV/UNODC at the Vienna International Centre (VIC) tested positive for SARS CoV-2. There was no workplace exposure.

The cumulative total number of people who have tested positive among personnel of the VIC-based organizations is 155, of whom 132 work at the VIC. Of the total of 155 personnel, 109 have recovered.

REMOTE WORKING

Bearing in mind their mandate and operational requirements, CTBTO, IAEA, UNIDO and UNOV/UNODC will further reduce significantly their presence at the VIC.

ACCESS

Given the restricted number of access points, personnel entering the VIC through Gate 1 and Gate 4 may experience queues and are reminded to act courteously when interacting with UN Security officers at this challenging time for us all.

Access to the VIC remains limited as previously advised. In addition to personnel who are required to come to the office, bearing in mind the mandate and operational needs of their organizations, access will also include staff of Permanent Missions on official business, those with children at the VIC kindergarten and those with access to the Commissary with proof of a Commissary appointment.

From Tuesday, 17 November, access to the VIC will be possible only through the following gates:

  • Gate 1: 24/7 for all pedestrians and those arriving on bicycles. There is no access to the VIC for bicycles, which must be parked in front of Gate 1.
  • Gate 4: 24/7 vehicular access only
  • Gate 5: Delivery vehicles only, 07:00-11:00

MEETINGS

The Austrian Authorities have cancelled all events during the lockdown, but essential professional meetings are exempt. In-person meetings are hence discouraged and should be held only if absolutely necessary to maintain professional activities that cannot be postponed or held virtually.

SERVICES

Here is an updated list of services at the VIC during this period:

The banks, post office, dry cleaners and newspaper stand will remain open.

The pharmacy will remain open, with reduced hours, from 13:00 to 17:00 Monday to Friday.

DHL will remain open with its usual hours, from 13:00 to 15:00 Monday to Friday.

The VIC Medical Service will also remain open and will provide flu vaccinations as planned.

The VIC Commissary remains open while the boutique and the perfume section will be closed. For that reason, fewer slots per hour will be available.

Online registration is required

From Tuesday, 17 November, the cafeteria will be open from 07:30 to 15:00. Coffee, tea, pastries and sandwiches will be available throughout and up to two warm dishes from 11:30 to 14:30. The coffee corner on C07 will be open from 08:30 to 15:30 for take-away.

The kindergarten will remain open but will close at 17:00.

SOCIAL CONTACTS

Aligned with the decision taken by the Austrian Authorities, personnel working at the VIC are required to keep contacts in social settings (coffee or lunches) to a minimum and limit the interaction to only one person. In particular, personnel should not congregate at C07 after buying beverages or food.

DOCUMENTS AND INFORMATION

The Emergency Measures Regulation in German.

An overview of the measures in German.

The Education Ministry regulation on schooling in German.

Once English versions become available links will be provided.

The VIC CMT Update issued on Saturday, 14 November, provides an overview of the measures.

LATEST AUSTRIAN DEVELOPMENTS AND MEASURES:

  • Austrian officials encouraged all those in Austria to download the Stopp Corona app to help with contact tracing. The app is available in English as well as German.
  • The official Austrian dashboard has the latest data on COVID-19. It is available in English as well as German and is updated each day at 1400.

NOTE ON COVID-19 UPDATES:

Updates are issued whenever there is fresh information from the VBOs or the Host Country.

Between updates, you can keep up to date and refer to previous material by visiting our VBO COVID-19 website.

On the site you can find all updates, guidelines, reminders and messages issued so far, as well as useful links including to official information in English and other languages. No log-in is needed.

Link to the site: https://nucleus.iaea.org/sites/covid19/SitePages/Home.aspx

COVID-19 WEBSITE FOR ALL UN SYSTEM PERSONNEL

FEEDBACK/SUGGESTIONS: Please write to martin.nesirky@un.org

In today’s update:

  • Message from the four main Vienna International Centre (VIC)-based organizations – measures at the VIC from Tuesday 17 November, message from VIC Medical Service
  • Latest Austrian developments and measures

MESSAGE FROM THE MAIN VIC-BASED ORGANIZATIONS (VBOs) UNOV/UNODC – IAEA – UNIDO – CTBTO

Austria’s announced lockdown measures take effect at 00:00 on Tuesday 17 November and will be in place until at least 24:00 on Sunday 6 December. The Government has made clear the lockdown is essential to protect the Austrian health system, which is operating at the limits of its capacity, and stem the rise in the number of new infections, hospital admissions and intensive care patients.

As part of the community of our Host Country, we can and must play our part in helping to contain the spread of COVID-19 and reducing the risk of transmission at the VIC and elsewhere. This means complying with all measures announced by the Austrian authorities, notably on strictly limiting social contacts and remote working where this is possible.

Basic hygiene and preventive measures remain as important as ever - handwashing, face masks and maintaining at least a one-meter distance from others. Personnel are reminded not to come to work with symptoms or when feeling unwell.

The following measures are consistent with those announced by the Austrian Authorities.

REMOTE WORKING

Bearing in mind their mandate and operational requirements, CTBTO, IAEA, UNIDO and UNOV/UNODC will further reduce significantly their presence at the VIC.

ACCESS

Access to the VIC remains limited as previously advised. In addition to personnel who are required to come to the office, bearing in mind the mandate and operational needs of their organizations, access will also include staff of Permanent Missions on official business, those with children at the VIC kindergarten and those with access to the Commissary with proof of a Commissary appointment.

From Tuesday, 17 November, access to the VIC will be possible only through the following gates:

  • Gate 1: 24/7 for all pedestrians and those arriving on bicycles. There is no access to the VIC for bicycles, which must be parked in front of Gate 1.
  • Gate 4: 24/7 vehicular access only
  • Gate 5: Delivery vehicles only, 07:00-11:00

MEETINGS

The Austrian Authorities have cancelled all events during the lockdown, but essential professional meetings are exempt. In-person meetings are hence discouraged and should be held only if absolutely necessary to maintain professional activities that cannot be postponed or held virtually.

SERVICES

The banks, post office, dry cleaners and newspaper stand will remain open.

The pharmacy will remain open, with reduced hours, from 13:00 to 17:00 Monday to Friday.

The VIC Medical Service will also remain open and will provide flu vaccinations as planned.

The VIC Commissary remains open while the boutique and the perfume section will be closed.

Online registration is required

From Tuesday, 17 November, the cafeteria will be open from 07:30 to 15:00. Coffee, tea, pastries and sandwiches will be available throughout and up to two warm dishes from 11:30 to 14:30. The coffee corner on C07 will be open from 08:30 to 15:30 for take-away. The demand will be monitored closely each day and can be adjusted as required.

The kindergarten will remain open but will close at 17:00.

SOCIAL CONTACTS

Aligned with the decision taken by the Austrian Authorities, personnel working at the VIC are required to keep contacts in social settings (coffee or lunches) to a minimum and limit the interaction to only one person. In particular, personnel should not congregate at C07 after buying beverages or food.

DOCUMENTS AND INFORMATION

The Emergency Measures Regulation in German.

An overview of the measures in German.

Frequently asked questions in German.

The Education Ministry regulation on schooling in German.

Once English versions become available links will be provided.

The VIC CMT Update issued on Saturday, 14 November, provides an overview of the measures.

VIC Medical Service Update:

The VIC Medical Service reported today that eight people who work at the Vienna International Centre (VIC) or for VIC-based organizations tested positive for SARS CoV-2.

Three people work for the IAEA at the VIC. One person works for UNIDO at the VIC. One person works for UNIDO outside Austria. Two people work for UNOV/UNODC at the VIC. One person works outside Austria for a VIC-based organization but not for one of the main four organizations. In those cases where there was workplace exposure, close contacts have been informed.

The cumulative total number of people who have tested positive among personnel of the VIC-based organizations is 154, of whom 131 work at the VIC. Of the total of 154 personnel, 105 have recovered.

LATEST AUSTRIAN DEVELOPMENTS AND MEASURES:

  • Austrian officials encouraged all those in Austria to download the Stopp Corona app to help with contact tracing. The app is available in English as well as German.
  • The official Austrian dashboard has the latest data on COVID-19. It is available in English as well as German and is updated each day at 14:00.

NOTE ON COVID-19 UPDATES:

Updates are issued whenever there is fresh information from the VBOs or the Host Country.

Between updates, you can keep up to date and refer to previous material by visiting our VBO COVID-19 website.

On the site you can find all updates, guidelines, reminders and messages issued so far, as well as useful links including to official information in English and other languages. No log-in is needed.

Link to the site: https://nucleus.iaea.org/sites/covid19/SitePages/Home.aspx

COVID-19 WEBSITE FOR ALL UN SYSTEM PERSONNEL

FEEDBACK/SUGGESTIONS: Please write to martin.nesirky@un.org

In today’s update:

  • Message from the four main Vienna International Centre (VIC)-based organizations – Host Country lockdown measures
  • Latest Austrian developments and measures

MESSAGE FROM THE MAIN VIC-BASED ORGANIZATIONS (VBOs) UNOV/UNODC – IAEA – UNIDO – CTBTO

Today, our Host Country announced a series of lockdown measures to tackle the growth in COVID-19 cases and protect the Austrian health system. The measures are outlined below.

The VIC CMT is reviewing the Government regulation covering the measures and will provide more information on the impact on the VIC.

LATEST AUSTRIAN DEVELOPMENTS AND MEASURES:

  • At a televised briefing on Saturday medical experts said Austria’s healthcare system was now working at the limits of its capacity and that hospitals would soon need to apply triage if hospitalizations continued rising at the same level for the next days.
  • At a subsequent televised briefing, Chancellor Kurz and other cabinet members said the situation in Austria was dramatic. Daily new infections were at an average of more than 7,000; in some Austrian provinces the growth was exponential. Seven-day incidence was above 550 – it should be around 50 - and 77 per cent of new infections could not be traced.
  • In response, the Government announced new measures to take effect 00:00 Tuesday 17 November and planned to be in place at least until 24:00 Sunday 6 December:
    • All except essential shops and services will close:
      • Shops selling food and other daily necessities such as supermarkets, drug stores, pharmacies, banks and post offices will remain open.
      • Other retail stores, as well as personal services such as hairdressers, to close.
    • The limitations on leaving the house in place at nighttime will be extended to 24 hours.
    • Reasons for leaving home:
      • Essential shopping, contact with key family members, partners or those in need of assistance, medical appointments, outdoor exercise such as walks or running and official or legal appointments that cannot be postponed.
      • Telecommuting should be the practice wherever it is possible.
      • Professional activities and training allowed, provided they are necessary.
    • Schools at all grades will revert to home schooling, extending what is already in place for high school and university students. Schools and kindergartens will be open for those children whose parents need childcare, but there will be no lessons/regular programme there. Some childcare institutions may decide to close.
  • The measures are planned to be codified in ministerial decrees to be issued by the Ministries of Health and Education. These will be shared once adopted and published.

DISCLAIMER: Summary of selected points of the new measures based on announcements to the media. The VIC CMT cannot vouch for accuracy or completeness. Personnel are advised to refer to the original legal text.

  • In addition to the rules, Chancellor Kurz appealed to the public not to meet with others not living in the same household, or in the case of people living alone, to choose just one person to meet with over the coming weeks.
  • "My urgent request is – do not meet anyone. If you live alone meet one other person,” said Kurz.
  • Health Minister Rudolf Anschober said, “This is our last chance to avoid the collapse of our health system.”
  • He said the increase in the number of new infections, hospital admissions and intensive care cases in the past two weeks was dramatic, almost explosive growth. He said the measures introduced on 3 November had slightly slowed the rate of increase but nowhere near enough.
  • “We need to pull the emergency brake, and right now,” Anschober said.
  • According to the Chancellor, the religious communities had voluntarily agreed to not hold public religious services.
  • The Chancellor said it was the goal of the Government to open primary and middle schools and retail as the first sectors after 7 December.
  • The official Austrian dashboard has the latest data on COVID-19. It is available in English as well as German and is updated each day at 14:00.
  • The ministerial decree outlining the Austrian measures that entered into force on 3 November is available here

NOTE ON COVID-19 UPDATES:

Updates are issued whenever there is fresh information from the VBOs or the Host Country.

Between updates, you can keep up to date and refer to previous material by visiting our VBO COVID-19 website.

On the site you can find all updates, guidelines, reminders and messages issued so far, as well as useful links including to official information in English and other languages. No log-in is needed.

Link to the site: https://nucleus.iaea.org/sites/covid19/SitePages/Home.aspx

COVID-19 WEBSITE FOR ALL UN SYSTEM PERSONNEL

FEEDBACK/SUGGESTIONS: Please write to martin.nesirky@un.org

In today’s update:

  • Message from the four main Vienna International Centre (VIC)-based organizations – VIC Medical Service update
  • Latest Austrian developments and measures

MESSAGE FROM THE MAIN VIC-BASED ORGANIZATIONS (VBOs) UNOV/UNODC – IAEA – UNIDO – CTBTO

VIC Medical Service Update:

The VIC Medical Service reported today that two people who work at the Vienna International Centre (VIC) tested positive for SARS CoV-2.Both people work for the IAEA. In one case there was no workplace exposure and in the other case close contacts have been informed. The cumulative total number of people who have tested positive among personnel of the VIC-based organizations is 146, of whom 125 work at the VIC. Of the total of 146 personnel, 105 have recovered.

VBO Reminder:

In line with the latest measures and guidelines on COVID-19 announced by the Host Country:

Bearing in mind their mandate and operational requirements CTBTO, UNIDO and UNOV/UNODC have switched to full-time telecommuting from Tuesday, 3 November. The IAEA, bearing in mind its mandate and operational requirements, is also moving towards a significant reduction of its presence at the VIC.

VIC Catering Services will continue to provide services, adjusted for the reduction of personnel presence at the VIC: Cafeteria: 07:30 -15:00, C07 Coffee Corner: 08:30 -15:30.

The VIC Pharmacy will remain open.

The VIC Commissary will remain open with additional limitations to access numbers in adherence with the latest Austrian regulations. Effective 5 November through 30 November, the VIC Commissary will open at 11 a.m. and close at 6 p.m. (Monday to Friday).

Services including banking and the post office will remain open.

The current rules on access to the VIC remain in place, subject to the additional security measures introduced on 3 November.

MESSAGE FROM THE VIC MEDICAL SERVICE

The VIC Medical Service will continue operating as it has been to date. Influenza vaccination appointments will take place.

The Austrian Authorities have cancelled all events until 30 November (except for certain events like funerals where up to 50 persons are still allowed). Person to person meetings necessary for conducting business are exempted from these regulations.

At the VIC, Medical Service encourages to conduct meetings virtually as the main form of interaction and in-person meetings should be held only if absolutely necessary. In case in-person meetings are necessary for continuation of the business, the number of participants should be as low as possible. All participants should wear masks at all times throughout the meeting and have assigned seating.

Masks must be worn in ALL common spaces in the VIC, including bathrooms, corridors, the Rotunda, kitchens, the Commissary, banks and post office. Masks may be removed in the workplace or office and while eating or drinking seated in the cafeteria and at coffee corners. Fitted nose-mouth coverings/masks must be worn, with the exception of people who cannot wear a mask for health reasons. People who cannot wear a mask for health reasons must hold a certificate confirming this from a doctor licensed to practice in Austria.

Everyone is asked to adhere at and outside the workplace to the one-metre physical distancing rule.

Group gatherings non work related at coffee and lunch breaks are discouraged and should be reduced to a minimum. The Austrian rules limiting social gatherings to people from no more than two households also applies in the VIC.

The Medical Service reminds all personnel not to come to work with symptoms or when feeling ill.

VIC personnel should notify the Medical Service at this email address if they or family members test positive

The following is important to note:

  • The home quarantine or work-from-home period for identified close contacts is 10 days, independent from the PCR test result
  • To end a home quarantine, for identified close contacts or for those who tested positive, the person must be free of symptoms for the last two days of the 10-day quarantine period, otherwise the period is extended
  • Austrian Authorities may check home quarantine and may also decide to retest the person. However, there is no requirement to perform a second test to end the quarantine period.

LATEST AUSTRIAN DEVELOPMENTS AND MEASURES:

Today the Austrian Government has been assessing the effectiveness of the measures introduced on 3 November.

  • A Government news conference is expected on Saturday afternoon and tougher measures are set to be announced, media reports say.
  • Media reports say the Government is likely to announce that all but essential shops will close for two to three weeks, as in the first lockdown earlier this year. Schools are also likely to be completely closed for lessons for a similar period. The measures are likely to take effect on Monday or Tuesday, the reports say. The aim would be to ease the measures in phases, including to allow for Christmas trade.
  • Austrian intensive care doctors expressed concern today about the increase in the number of COVID-19 patients in intensive care and the unabated rise in new infections and admissions to hospital.
  • The official Austrian dashboard has the latest data on COVID-19. It is available in English as well as German and is updated each day at 14:00.
  • The ministerial decree outlining the Austrian measures that entered into force on 3 November is available here

NOTE ON COVID-19 UPDATES:

Updates are issued whenever there is fresh information from the VBOs or the Host Country.

Between updates, you can keep up to date and refer to previous material by visiting our VBO COVID-19 website.

On the site you can find all updates, guidelines, reminders and messages issued so far, as well as useful links including to official information in English and other languages. No log-in is needed.

Link to the site: https://nucleus.iaea.org/sites/covid19/SitePages/Home.aspx

COVID-19 WEBSITE FOR ALL UN SYSTEM PERSONNEL

FEEDBACK/SUGGESTIONS: Please write to martin.nesirky@un.org

In today’s update:

  • Message from the four main Vienna International Centre (VIC)-based organizations – VIC Medical Service update
  • Latest Austrian developments and measures

MESSAGE FROM THE MAIN VIC-BASED ORGANIZATIONS (VBOs) UNOV/UNODC – IAEA – UNIDO – CTBTO

VIC Medical Service Update:

The VIC Medical Service reported today that three people who work at the Vienna International Centre (VIC) tested positive for SARS CoV-2.

Two people work for the IAEA and one person for UNIDO. In one case there was no workplace exposure and in two cases close contacts have been informed.

The cumulative total number of people who have tested positive among personnel of the VIC-based organizations is 144, of whom 123 work at the VIC. Of the total of 144 personnel, 100 have recovered.

VBO Reminder:

In line with the latest measures and guidelines on COVID-19 announced by the Host Country:

Bearing in mind their mandate and operational requirements CTBTO, UNIDO and UNOV/UNODC have switched to full-time telecommuting from Tuesday, 3 November. The IAEA, bearing in mind its mandate and operational requirements, is also moving towards a significant reduction of its presence at the VIC.

VIC Catering Services will continue to provide services, adjusted for the reduction of personnel presence at the VIC: Cafeteria: 07:30 -15:30, C07 Coffee Corner: 08:30 -15:00.

The VIC Medical Service will continue operating as it has been to date. The VIC Pharmacy will remain open.

The VIC Commissary will remain open with additional limitations to access numbers in adherence with the latest Austrian regulations. Effective 5 November through 30 November, the VIC Commissary will open at 11 a.m. and close at 6 p.m (Monday to Friday).

Services including banking and the post office will remain open.

The current rules on access to the VIC remain in place, subject to the additional security measures introduced on 3 November.

MESSAGE FROM THE VIC MEDICAL SERVICE:

The VIC Medical Service will continue operating as it has been to date. Influenza vaccination appointments will take place.

The Austrian Authorities have cancelled all events until 30 Nov (except for certain events like funerals where up to 50 persons are still allowed). Person to person meetings necessary for conducting business are exempted from these regulations.

At the VIC, Medical Service encourages to conduct meetings virtually as the main form of interaction and in-person meetings should be held only if absolutely necessary. In case in-person meetings are necessary for continuation of the business, the number of participants should be as low as possible. All participants should wear masks at all times throughout the meeting and have assigned seating.

Masks must be worn in ALL common spaces in the VIC, including bathrooms, corridors, the Rotunda, kitchens, the Commissary, banks and post office. Masks may be removed in the workplace or office and while eating or drinking seated in the cafeteria and at coffee corners. Fitted nose-mouth coverings/masks must be worn, with the exception of people who cannot wear a mask for health reasons. People who cannot wear a mask for health reasons must hold a certificate confirming this from a doctor licensed to practice in Austria.

Everyone is asked to adhere at and outside the workplace to the one-metre physical distancing rule.

Group gatherings non work related at coffee and lunch breaks are discouraged and should be reduced to a minimum. The Austrian rules limiting social gatherings to people from no more than two households also applies in the VIC.

The Medical Service reminds all personnel not to come to work with symptoms or when feeling ill.

VIC personnel should notify the Medical Service at this email address if they or family members test positive

The following is important to note:

  • The home quarantine or work-from-home period for identified close contacts is 10 days, independent from the PCR test result
  • To end a home quarantine, for identified close contacts or for those who tested positive, the person must be free of symptoms for the last two days of the 10-day quarantine period, otherwise the period is extended
  • Austrian Authorities may check home quarantine and may also decide to retest the person. However, there is no requirement to perform a second test to end the quarantine period.

LATEST AUSTRIAN DEVELOPMENTS AND MEASURES:

  • From today, Wednesday 11 November, shops must shut each evening by 19:00 to allow customers and staff to reach home for the 20:00-06:00 curfew. Excluded from this are petrol stations and shops no larger than 80 square metres at railway stations and airports.
  • The Austrian Government said today that by the end of the week it would evaluate the effectiveness of the measures introduced on 3 November and would then update the public.
  • The official Austrian dashboard has the latest data on COVID-19. It is available in English as well as German and is updated each day at 1400.
  • The ministerial decree outlining the Austrian measures to enter into force as of today, 3 November, is available here: https://www.ris.bka.gv.at/eli/bgbl/II/2020/463
  • NOTE ON COVID-19 UPDATES:

    Updates are issued whenever there is fresh information from the VBOs or the Host Country.

    Between updates, you can keep up to date and refer to previous material by visiting our VBO COVID-19 website.

    On the site you can find all updates, guidelines, reminders and messages issued so far, as well as useful links including to official information in English and other languages. No log-in is needed.

    Link to the site: https://nucleus.iaea.org/sites/covid19/SitePages/Home.aspx

    COVID-19 WEBSITE FOR ALL UN SYSTEM PERSONNEL

    FEEDBACK/SUGGESTIONS: Please write to martin.nesirky@un.org

In today’s update:

  • Message from the four main Vienna International Centre (VIC)-based organizations – VIC Medical Service update
  • Latest Austrian developments and measures

MESSAGE FROM THE MAIN VIC-BASED ORGANIZATIONS (VBOs) UNOV/UNODC – IAEA – UNIDO – CTBTO

VIC Medical Service Update:

The VIC Medical Service reported today that 16 people who work at the Vienna International Centre (VIC) or for VBOs tested positive for SARS CoV-2 since Friday 6 November.

Eight people work for the IAEA, five for UNIDO and two for UNOV/UNODC. One person works at the VIC but not for one of the main VBOs. In seven cases there was no workplace exposure, and in the rest close contacts have been informed.

The cumulative total number of people who have tested positive among personnel of the VIC-based organizations is 141, of whom 120 work at the VIC. Of the total of 141 personnel, 95 have recovered.

VBO Reminder:

In line with the latest measures and guidelines on COVID-19 announced by the Host Country:

Bearing in mind their mandate and operational requirements CTBTO, UNIDO and UNOV/UNODC have switched to full-time telecommuting from Tuesday, 3 November. The IAEA, bearing in mind its mandate and operational requirements, is also moving towards a significant reduction of its presence at the VIC.

VIC Catering Services will continue to provide services, adjusted for the reduction of personnel presence at the VIC: Cafeteria: 07:30 -15:30, C07 Coffee Corner: 08:30 -15:00.

The VIC Medical Service will continue operating as it has been to date. The VIC Pharmacy will remain open.

The VIC Commissary will remain open with additional limitations to access numbers in adherence with the latest Austrian regulations. Effective 5 November through 30 November, the VIC Commissary will open at 11 a.m. and close at 6 p.m (Monday to Friday).

Services including banking and the post office will remain open.

The current rules on access to the VIC remain in place, subject to the additional security measures introduced on 3 November.

MESSAGE FROM THE VIC MEDICAL SERVICE:

The VIC Medical Service will continue operating as it has been to date. Influenza vaccination appointments will take place.

The Austrian Authorities have cancelled all events until 30 Nov (except for certain events like funerals where up to 50 persons are still allowed). Person to person meetings necessary for conducting business are exempted from these regulations.

At the VIC, Medical Service encourages to conduct meetings virtually as the main form of interaction and in-person meetings should be held only if absolutely necessary. In case in-person meetings are necessary for continuation of the business, the number of participants should be as low as possible. All participants should wear masks at all times throughout the meeting and have assigned seating.

Masks must be worn in ALL common spaces in the VIC, including bathrooms, corridors, the Rotunda, kitchens, the Commissary, banks and post office. Masks may be removed in the workplace or office and while eating or drinking seated in the cafeteria and at coffee corners. Fitted nose-mouth coverings/masks must be worn, with the exception of people who cannot wear a mask for health reasons. People who cannot wear a mask for health reasons must hold a certificate confirming this from a doctor licensed to practice in Austria.

Everyone is asked to adhere at and outside the workplace to the one-metre physical distancing rule.

Group gatherings non work related at coffee and lunch breaks are discouraged and should be reduced to a minimum. The Austrian rules limiting social gatherings to people from no more than two households also applies in the VIC.

The Medical Service reminds all personnel not to come to work with symptoms or when feeling ill.

VIC personnel should notify the Medical Service at this email address if they or family members test positive

The following is important to note:

  • The home quarantine or work-from-home period for identified close contacts is 10 days, independent from the PCR test result
  • To end a home quarantine, for identified close contacts or for those who tested positive, the person must be free of symptoms for the last two days of the 10-day quarantine period, otherwise the period is extended
  • Austrian Authorities may check home quarantine and may also decide to retest the person. However, there is no requirement to perform a second test to end the quarantine period.

LATEST AUSTRIAN DEVELOPMENTS AND MEASURES:

  • Health Minister Rudolf Anschober said on Saturday that measures to contain the coronavirus would be tightened if the daily new infections did not decrease and the number of COVID-19 patients in intensive care continued to rise. He said it was worrying that the number of intensive care patients rose by 58 percent in one week. The next few days would be decisive, he said.
  • The official Austrian dashboard has the latest data on COVID-19. It is available in English as well as German and is updated each day at 1400.
  • The ministerial decree outlining the Austrian measures to enter into force as of today, 3 November, is available here: https://www.ris.bka.gv.at/eli/bgbl/II/2020/463
  • NOTE ON COVID-19 UPDATES:

    Updates are issued whenever there is fresh information from the VBOs or the Host Country.

    Between updates, you can keep up to date and refer to previous material by visiting our VBO COVID-19 website.

    On the site you can find all updates, guidelines, reminders and messages issued so far, as well as useful links including to official information in English and other languages. No log-in is needed.

    Link to the site: https://nucleus.iaea.org/sites/covid19/SitePages/Home.aspx

    COVID-19 WEBSITE FOR ALL UN SYSTEM PERSONNEL

    FEEDBACK/SUGGESTIONS: Please write to martin.nesirky@un.org

In today’s update:

  • Message from the four main Vienna International Centre (VIC)-based organizations – VIC Medical Service update
  • Latest Austrian developments and measures

MESSAGE FROM THE MAIN VIC-BASED ORGANIZATIONS (VBOs) UNOV/UNODC – IAEA – UNIDO – CTBTO

VIC Medical Service Update:

The VIC Medical Service reported today that two people who work for VIC-based organizations tested positive for SARS CoV-2.

One person works for the IAEA, and close contacts have been informed. One person works for UNOV/UNODC; no workplace exposure.

The cumulative total number of people who have tested positive among personnel of the VIC-based organizations is 125, of whom 108 work at the VIC. Of the total of 125 personnel, 95 have already recovered.

VBO Reminder:

In line with the latest measures and guidelines on COVID-19 announced by the Host Country:

Bearing in mind their mandate and operational requirements CTBTO, UNIDO and UNOV/UNODC have switched to full-time telecommuting from Tuesday, 3 November. The IAEA, bearing in mind its mandate and operational requirements, is also moving towards a significant reduction of its presence at the VIC.

VIC Catering Services will continue to provide services, adjusted for the reduction of personnel presence at the VIC: Cafeteria: 07:30 -15:30, C07 Coffee Corner: 08:30 -15:00.

The VIC Medical Service will continue operating as it has been to date. The VIC Pharmacy will remain open.

The VIC Commissary will remain open with additional limitations to access numbers in adherence with the latest Austrian regulations. Effective 5 November through 30 November, the VIC Commissary will open at 11 a.m. and close at 6 p.m (Monday to Friday).

Services including banking and the post office will remain open.

The current rules on access to the VIC remain in place, subject to the additional security measures introduced on 3 November.

MESSAGE FROM THE VIC MEDICAL SERVICE:

The VIC Medical Service will continue operating as it has been to date. Influenza vaccination appointments will take place.

The Austrian Authorities have cancelled all events until 30 Nov (except for certain events like funerals where up to 50 persons are still allowed). Person to person meetings necessary for conducting business are exempted from these regulations.

At the VIC, Medical Service encourages to conduct meetings virtually as the main form of interaction and in-person meetings should be held only if absolutely necessary. In case in-person meetings are necessary for continuation of the business, the number of participants should be as low as possible. All participants should wear masks at all times throughout the meeting and have assigned seating.

Masks must be worn in ALL common spaces in the VIC, including bathrooms, corridors, the Rotunda, kitchens, the Commissary, banks and post office. Masks may be removed in the workplace or office and while eating or drinking seated in the cafeteria and at coffee corners. Fitted nose-mouth coverings/masks must be worn, with the exception of people who cannot wear a mask for health reasons. People who cannot wear a mask for health reasons must hold a certificate confirming this from a doctor licensed to practice in Austria.

Everyone is asked to adhere at and outside the workplace to the one-metre physical distancing rule.

Group gatherings non work related at coffee and lunch breaks are discouraged and should be reduced to a minimum. The Austrian rules limiting social gatherings to people from no more than two households also applies in the VIC.

The Medical Service reminds all personnel not to come to work with symptoms or when feeling ill.

VIC personnel should notify the Medical Service at this email address if they or family members test positive

The following is important to note:

  • The home quarantine or work-from-home period for identified close contacts is 10 days, independent from the PCR test result
  • To end a home quarantine, for identified close contacts or for those who tested positive, the person must be free of symptoms for the last two days of the 10-day quarantine period, otherwise the period is extended
  • Austrian Authorities may check home quarantine and may also decide to retest the person. However, there is no requirement to perform a second test to end the quarantine period.

LATEST AUSTRIAN DEVELOPMENTS AND MEASURES:

  • Health Minister Rudolf Anschober told a televised briefing on Friday the death rate in Austria was increasing significantly and that the health system could face overload toward the end of November if the lockdown measures did not work.
  • He said it takes 10 to 15 days to tell whether the measures have been effective, and so it was too early to assess whether the latest lockdown was sufficient to stem the rise in COVID-19 cases.
  • He said the Government would review the measures on Friday next week but would intervene earlier if needed.
  • Anschober said there were still few infections in schools.
  • A senior health official told the same briefing only 27 percent of infections could be traced back to the source at the moment. Last week the figure was about 50 percent. The number of positive cases remains at record highs.
  • Vienna’s health chief, Peter Hacker, said on Thursday he recommended those who live in Vienna take a COVID-19 test if they travelled outside the city during the autumn school break, even if it had been a few days elsewhere in Austria. He said people could go to the drive-through/walk-in test centre at Ernst-Happel stadium.
  • Here is an article on the testing centres and what is involved: https://www.thelocal.at/20201106/how-does-viennas-drive-in-coronavirus-testing-work-and-where-can-i-get-tested
  • The official Austrian dashboard has the latest data on COVID-19. It is available in English as well as German and is updated each day at 1400.
  • The ministerial decree outlining the Austrian measures to enter into force as of today, 3 November, is available here: https://www.ris.bka.gv.at/eli/bgbl/II/2020/463
  • NOTE ON COVID-19 UPDATES:

    Updates are issued whenever there is fresh information from the VBOs or the Host Country.

    Between updates, you can keep up to date and refer to previous material by visiting our VBO COVID-19 website.

    On the site you can find all updates, guidelines, reminders and messages issued so far, as well as useful links including to official information in English and other languages. No log-in is needed.

    Link to the site: https://nucleus.iaea.org/sites/covid19/SitePages/Home.aspx

    COVID-19 WEBSITE FOR ALL UN SYSTEM PERSONNEL

    FEEDBACK/SUGGESTIONS: Please write to martin.nesirky@un.org

In today’s update:

  • Message from the four main Vienna International Centre (VIC)-based organizations – VIC Medical Service update
  • Latest Austrian developments and measures – testing at schools

MESSAGE FROM THE MAIN VIC-BASED ORGANIZATIONS (VBOs) UNOV/UNODC – IAEA – UNIDO – CTBTO

VIC Medical Service Update:

The VIC Medical Service reported today that three people who work for VIC-based organizations tested positive for SARS CoV-2.

One person works for the IAEA and one for UNIDO. There was no workplace exposure. This means the individual concerned was not at work during the time of potential infectivity. This is defined by the Austrian authorities as 48 hours before having symptoms or 48 hours prior to a positive test result.

One person works for UNOV/UNODC. There were no close contacts.

The cumulative total number of people who have tested positive among personnel of the VIC-based organizations is 123, of whom 106 work at the VIC. Of the total of 123 personnel, 95 have already recovered.

VBO Reminder:

In line with the latest measures and guidelines on COVID-19 announced by the Host Country:

Bearing in mind their mandate and operational requirements CTBTO, UNIDO and UNOV/UNODC have switched to full-time telecommuting from Tuesday, 3 November. The IAEA, bearing in mind its mandate and operational requirements, is also moving towards a significant reduction of its presence at the VIC.

VIC Catering Services will continue to provide services, adjusted for the reduction of personnel presence at the VIC: Cafeteria: 07:30 -15:30, C07 Coffee Corner: 08:30 -15:00.

The VIC Medical Service will continue operating as it has been to date. The VIC Pharmacy will remain open.

The VIC Commissary will remain open with additional limitations to access numbers in adherence with the latest Austrian regulations. Effective 5 November through 30 November, the VIC Commissary will open at 11 a.m. and close at 6 p.m (Monday to Friday).

Services including banking and the post office will remain open.

The current rules on access to the VIC remain in place, subject to the additional security measures introduced on 3 November.

MESSAGE FROM THE VIC MEDICAL SERVICE:

The VIC Medical Service will continue operating as it has been to date. Influenza vaccination appointments will take place.

The Austrian Authorities have cancelled all events until 30 Nov (except for certain events like funerals where up to 50 persons are still allowed). Person to person meetings necessary for conducting business are exempted from these regulations.

At the VIC, Medical Service encourages to conduct meetings virtually as the main form of interaction and in-person meetings should be held only if absolutely necessary. In case in-person meetings are necessary for continuation of the business, the number of participants should be as low as possible. All participants should wear masks at all times throughout the meeting and have assigned seating.

Masks must be worn in ALL common spaces in the VIC, including bathrooms, corridors, the Rotunda, kitchens, the Commissary, banks and post office. Masks may be removed in the workplace or office and while eating or drinking seated in the cafeteria and at coffee corners. Fitted nose-mouth coverings/masks must be worn, with the exception of people who cannot wear a mask for health reasons. People who cannot wear a mask for health reasons must hold a certificate confirming this from a doctor licensed to practice in Austria.

Everyone is asked to adhere at and outside the workplace to the one-metre physical distancing rule.

Group gatherings non work related at coffee and lunch breaks are discouraged and should be reduced to a minimum. The Austrian rules limiting social gatherings to people from no more than two households also applies in the VIC.

The Medical Service reminds all personnel not to come to work with symptoms or when feeling ill.

VIC personnel should notify the Medical Service at this email address if they or family members test positive

The following is important to note:

  • The home quarantine or work-from-home period for identified close contacts is 10 days, independent from the PCR test result
  • To end a home quarantine, for identified close contacts or for those who tested positive, the person must be free of symptoms for the last two days of the 10-day quarantine period, otherwise the period is extended
  • Austrian Authorities may check home quarantine and may also decide to retest the person. However, there is no requirement to perform a second test to end the quarantine period.

LATEST AUSTRIAN DEVELOPMENTS AND MEASURES:

  • Austria’s Health Ministry reported that between 21 September and 23 October it conducted 5,910 gargling tests with children at Vienna schools where there were suspected cases. The results showed 208 positive cases – 3.52 percent of those tested.
  • The Ministry’s mobile teams were sent to schools 210 times as part of a pilot project, which is now being taken over by the City and will include personnel reaching schools by bicycle as well as with a specially equipped bus.
  • The aim of the in-school tests is to reduce the burden on other testing locations and provide quicker results.
  • The number of positive cases remains at record highs.
  • The official Austrian dashboard has the latest data on COVID-19. It is available in English as well as German and is updated each day at 1400.
  • The ministerial decree outlining the Austrian measures to enter into force as of today, 3 November, is available here: https://www.ris.bka.gv.at/eli/bgbl/II/2020/463

NOTE ON COVID-19 UPDATES:

Updates are issued whenever there is fresh information from the VBOs or the Host Country.

Between updates, you can keep up to date and refer to previous material by visiting our VBO COVID-19 website.

On the site you can find all updates, guidelines, reminders and messages issued so far, as well as useful links including to official information in English and other languages. No log-in is needed.

Link to the site: https://nucleus.iaea.org/sites/covid19/SitePages/Home.aspx

COVID-19 WEBSITE FOR ALL UN SYSTEM PERSONNEL

FEEDBACK/SUGGESTIONS: Please write to martin.nesirky@un.org

In today’s update:

  • Message from UNDSS
  • Message from the four main Vienna International Centre (VIC)-based organizations
  • Message from the VIC Medical Service
  • Latest Austrian developments and measures – terrorist attack in Vienna – COVID-19

MESSAGE FROM UNDSS

Following earlier security guidance after Monday's attack, the UN Security and Safety Service advises that Vienna International Centre personnel now revert to the COVID-19 working arrangements outlined by their organization.

UNDSS will continue to search and screen all personnel entering the VIC until further notice in line with increased security measures taken by the host government.

MESSAGE FROM THE MAIN VIC-BASED ORGANIZATIONS (VBOs) UNOV/UNODC – IAEA – UNIDO – CTBTO

In line with the latest measures and guidelines on COVID-19 announced by the Host Country:

Bearing in mind their mandate and operational requirements CTBTO, UNIDO and UNOV/UNODC have switched to full-time telecommuting from Tuesday, 3 November. The IAEA, bearing in mind its mandate and operational requirements, is also moving towards a significant reduction of its presence at the VIC.

VIC Catering Services will continue to provide services, adjusted for the reduction of personnel presence at the VIC: Cafeteria: 07:30 -15:30, C07 Coffee Corner: 08:30 -15:00.

The VIC Medical Service will continue operating as it has been to date. The VIC Pharmacy will remain open.

The VIC Commissary will remain open with additional limitations to access numbers in adherence with the latest Austrian regulations. Effective 5 November through 30 November, the VIC Commissary will open at 11 a.m. and close at 6 p.m (Monday to Friday).

Services including banking and the post office will remain open.

The current rules on access to the VIC remain in place, subject to the additional security measures introduced on 3 November.

VIC Medical Service Update:

The VIC Medical Service reported that 12 people who work for VIC-based organizations tested positive for SARS CoV-2 in the past five days.

Seven people work for UNOV/UNODC at the VIC. Four people work for the IAEA at the VIC. One person works at the VIC but not for one of the main four VIC-based organizations.

Where there were close contacts, close contacts have been informed. In most cases there was no workplace exposure. This means the individual concerned was not at work during the time of potential infectivity. This is defined by the Austrian authorities as 48 hours before having symptoms or 48 hours prior to a positive test result.

The cumulative total number of people who have tested positive among personnel of the VIC-based organizations is 120, of whom 103 work at the VIC. Of the total of 120 personnel, 94 have already recovered.

MESSAGE FROM THE VIC MEDICAL SERVICE:

The VIC Medical Service will continue operating as it has been to date. Influenza vaccination appointments will take place.

The Austrian Authorities have cancelled all events until 30 Nov (except for certain events like funerals where up to 50 persons are still allowed). Person to person meetings necessary for conducting business are exempted from these regulations.

At the VIC, Medical Service encourages to conduct meetings virtually as the main form of interaction and in-person meetings should be held only if absolutely necessary. In case in-person meetings are necessary for continuation of the business, the number of participants should be as low as possible. All participants should wear masks at all times throughout the meeting and have assigned seating.

Masks must be worn in ALL common spaces in the VIC, including bathrooms, corridors, the Rotunda, kitchens, the Commissary, banks and post office. Masks may be removed in the workplace or office and while eating or drinking seated in the cafeteria and at coffee corners. Fitted nose-mouth coverings/masks must be worn, with the exception of people who cannot wear a mask for health reasons. People who cannot wear a mask for health reasons must hold a certificate confirming this from a doctor licensed to practice in Austria.

Everyone is asked to adhere at and outside the workplace to the one-metre physical distancing rule.

Group gatherings non work related at coffee and lunch breaks are discouraged and should be reduced to a minimum. The Austrian rules limiting social gatherings to people from no more than two households also applies in the VIC.

The Medical Service reminds all personnel not to come to work with symptoms or when feeling ill.

VIC personnel should notify the Medical Service at this email address if they or family members test positive

The following is important to note:

  • The home quarantine or work-from-home period for identified close contacts is 10 days, independent from the PCR test result
  • To end a home quarantine, for identified close contacts or for those who tested positive, the person must be free of symptoms for the last two days of the 10-day quarantine period, otherwise the period is extended
  • Austrian Authorities may check home quarantine and may also decide to retest the person. However, there is no requirement to perform a second test to end the quarantine period.

LATEST AUSTRIAN DEVELOPMENTS AND MEASURES:

Terrorist attack in Vienna

  • Monday night’s terrorist attack in Vienna claimed five fatalities, including an attacker whom the Interior Minister described as a sympathizer of the IS terrorist group, and left 23 people injured, some of them critically.
  • Federal President Alexander Van der Bellen, addressing Austrians and all people who wanted to live together peacefully in Austria, said it had been a dark and terrible night with a cowardly terrorist attack on the heart of our society. He thanked the security and emergency services and the international community that stood behind Austria. It had been an attack on all who valued life in a free society. But hate would not find fertile ground here. Hate could never be as strong as our community in freedom, democracy, tolerance and love, Van der Bellen said.
  • Federal Chancellor Sebastian Kurz said the attack had been directed at all of us and was motivated by hatred of basic values, hatred of democracy and hatred of our way of life. “We will defend our core values with all our might,” he said. Under no circumstances should one fall into the trap of the terrorists who wanted to divide society. The enemy was neither a population group nor members of any religious community, said Kurz. Our enemy was extremism and terrorists. It was not a conflict between Christians and Muslims or Austrians and migrants, but a fight between civilization and barbarism, between the many who believed in peace and the few who wanted war, said Kurz.

COVID-19

  • Schools at high school level will switch to distance learning under the new Austrian measures. Grades 1 – 8 and kindergartens are to remain open for the time being. This would be evaluated after 14 days, said the Education Minister in a press conference on Monday.
  • The official Austrian dashboard has the latest data on COVID-19. It is available in English as well as German and is updated each day at 1400.
  • The ministerial decree outlining the Austrian measures to enter into force as of today, 3 November, is available here: https://www.ris.bka.gv.at/eli/bgbl/II/2020/463

NOTE ON COVID-19 UPDATES:

Updates are issued whenever there is fresh information from the VBOs or the Host Country.

Between updates, you can keep up to date and refer to previous material by visiting our VBO COVID-19 website.

On the site you can find all updates, guidelines, reminders and messages issued so far, as well as useful links including to official information in English and other languages. No log-in is needed.

Link to the site: https://nucleus.iaea.org/sites/covid19/SitePages/Home.aspx

COVID-19 WEBSITE FOR ALL UN SYSTEM PERSONNEL

FEEDBACK/SUGGESTIONS: Please write to martin.nesirky@un.org

In today’s update:

  • Message from the four main Vienna International Centre (VIC)-based organizations – message from the VIC Medical Service
  • Latest Austrian developments and measures

MESSAGE FROM THE MAIN VIC-BASED ORGANIZATIONS (VBOs) UNOV/UNODC – IAEA – UNIDO – CTBTO /

VIC Medical Service Update:

The VIC Medical Service reported today that one person who works for the IAEA tested positive for SARS CoV-2. Close contacts have been informed.

The cumulative total number of people who have tested positive among personnel of the VIC-based organizations is 108, of whom 91 work at the VIC. Of the total of 108 personnel, 87 have already recovered.

MESSAGE FROM THE VIC MEDICAL SERVICE:

Masks must be worn in ALL common spaces in the VIC, such as bathrooms, corridors, the Rotunda and kitchens. This is in addition to those spaces where masks were already required, such as the Commissary, banks and post office. Masks may be removed in the workplace or office and while eating or drinking seated in the cafeteria and at coffee corners.

Masks must be worn at all times by all meeting participants, even when they are sitting in their assigned seats.

People who cannot wear a mask for health reasons must hold a certificate confirming this from a doctor licensed to practice in Austria.

In line with the latest information from Austrian authorities, as of 7 November, fitted nose-mouth coverings/masks rather than face shields/visors must be worn. This is because new scientific evidence shows better reduction of droplets and aerosols when wearing a mask or a nose-mouth covering made from fabric compared to face shields/visors.

The Medical Service asks everyone to adhere at and outside the workplace to the one-metre physical distancing rule.

It also reminds all personnel to avoid gathering in groups and exercise maximum prudence.

In line with Austrian regulations on indoor private gatherings, the VIC Medical Service recommends limiting gatherings during lunch and coffee breaks to a maximum of six people.

The Medical Service reminds all personnel not to come to work with symptoms or when feeling ill.

VIC personnel should notify the Medical Service at this email address if they or family members test positive

The following is important to note:

  • The home quarantine or work-from-home period for identified close contacts is 10 days, independent from the PCR test result
  • To end a home quarantine, for identified close contacts or for those who tested positive, the person must be free of symptoms for the last two days of the 10-day quarantine period, otherwise the period is extended
  • Austrian Authorities may check home quarantine and may also decide to retest the person. However, there is no requirement to perform a second test to end the quarantine period.

LATEST AUSTRIAN DEVELOPMENTS AND MEASURES:

In today’s update:

  • Message from the four main Vienna International Centre (VIC)-based organizations – message from the VIC Medical Service

MESSAGE FROM THE MAIN VIC-BASED ORGANIZATIONS (VBOs) UNOV/UNODC – IAEA – UNIDO – CTBTO

VIC Medical Service Update:

The VIC Medical Service reported that six people who work for VIC-based organizations or at the VIC tested positive for SARS CoV-2.

Two people work for the IAEA. There was no workplace exposure in one case and in the other contacts have been informed.

Two people work for UNIDO and close contacts have been informed.

One person works for UNOV/UNODC and there was no workplace exposure.

A sixth person, who works at the VIC but not for one of the VBOs, tested positive. There was no workplace exposure.

When there is no workplace exposure it means the individual concerned was not at work during the time of potential infectivity. This is defined by the Austrian authorities as 48 hours before having symptoms or 48 hours prior to a positive test result.

The cumulative total number of people who have tested positive among personnel of the VIC-based organizations is 104, of whom 87 work at the VIC. Of the total of 104 personnel, 86 have already recovered.

MESSAGE FROM THE VIC MEDICAL SERVICE:

Masks must be worn in ALL common spaces in the VIC, such as bathrooms, corridors, the Rotunda and kitchens. This is in addition to those spaces where masks were already required, such as the Commissary, banks and post office. Masks may be removed in the workplace or office and while eating or drinking seated in the cafeteria and at coffee corners.

Masks must be worn by all meeting participants even when they are sitting in their assigned seats.

People who cannot wear a mask for health reasons must hold a certificate confirming this from a doctor licensed to practice in Austria.

In line with the latest information from Austrian authorities, as of 7 November, fitted nose-mouth coverings/masks rather than face shields/visors must be worn. This is because new scientific evidence shows better reduction of droplets and aerosols when wearing a mask or a nose-mouth covering made from fabric compared to face shields/visors.

The Medical Service asks everyone to adhere at and outside the workplace to the one-metre physical distancing rule.

It also reminds all personnel to avoid gathering in groups.

In line with Austrian regulations on indoor private gatherings, the VIC Medical Service recommends limiting gatherings during lunch and coffee breaks to a maximum of six people.

The Medical Service reminds all personnel not to come to work with symptoms or when feeling ill.

VIC personnel should notify the Medical Service at this email address if they or family members test positive

The following is important to note:

  • The home quarantine or work-from-home period for identified close contacts is 10 days, independent from the PCR test result
  • To end a home quarantine, for identified close contacts or for those who tested positive, the person must be free of symptoms for the last two days of the 10-day quarantine period, otherwise the period is extended
  • Austrian Authorities may check home quarantine and may also decide to retest the person. However, there is no requirement to perform a second test to end the quarantine period.

LATEST AUSTRIAN DEVELOPMENTS AND MEASURES:

  • The Austrian Red Cross’s Stopp Corona app, which can help with contact tracing, is in English and German and can be downloaded from here.
  • This is an overview of the app in English:
  • The official Austrian dashboard has the latest data on COVID-19. It is available in English as well as German and is updated each day at 1400.
  • NOTE ON COVID-19 UPDATES:

    Updates are issued whenever there is fresh information from the VBOs or the Host Country.

    Between updates, you can keep up to date and refer to previous material by visiting our VBO COVID-19 website.

    On the site you can find all updates, guidelines, reminders and messages issued so far, as well as useful links including to official information in English and other languages. No log-in is needed.

    Link to the site:

    COVID-19 WEBSITE FOR ALL UN SYSTEM PERSONNEL

    FEEDBACK/SUGGESTIONS: Please write to martin.nesirky@un.org

In today’s update:

  • Message from the four main Vienna International Centre (VIC)-based organizations – message from the VIC Medical Service
  • Latest Austrian developments and measures – Austrian President and Health Minister encourage people to download and use Stopp Corona app
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MESSAGE FROM THE MAIN VIC-BASED ORGANIZATIONS (VBOs) UNOV/UNODC – IAEA – UNIDO – CTBTO /

VIC Medical Service Update:

The VIC Medical Service reported today that five people who work for VIC-based organizations tested positive for SARS CoV-2 in the past four days.

Two people work for UNOV/UNODC. There was no workplace exposure. This means the individuals concerned were not at work during the time of potential infectivity. This is defined by the Austrian authorities as 48 hours before having symptoms or 48 hours prior to a positive test result.

One person works for UNIDO outside of Austria and another for CTBTO in Austria, but not at the VIC. One person works for the IAEA. For the instances related to Austria (CTBTO and IAEA), close contacts have been informed.

The cumulative total number of people who have tested positive among personnel of the VIC-based organizations is 98, of whom 81 work at the VIC. Of the total of 98 personnel, 86 have already recovered.

MESSAGE FROM THE VIC MEDICAL SERVICE:

Masks must be worn in ALL common spaces in the VIC, such as bathrooms, corridors, the Rotunda and kitchens. This is in addition to those spaces where masks were already required, such as the Commissary, banks and post office. Masks may be removed in the workplace or office and while eating or drinking seated in the cafeteria and at coffee corners.

Masks must be worn by all meeting participants even when they are sitting in their assigned seats.

People who cannot wear a mask for health reasons must hold a certificate confirming this from a doctor licensed to practice in Austria.

In line with the latest information from Austrian authorities, as of 7 November, fitted nose-mouth coverings/masks rather than face shields/visors must be worn. This is because new scientific evidence shows better reduction of droplets and aerosols when wearing a mask or a nose-mouth covering made from fabric compared to face shields/visors.

The Medical Service asks everyone to adhere at and outside the workplace to the one-metre physical distancing rule.

It also reminds all personnel to avoid gathering in groups.

In line with Austrian regulations on indoor private gatherings, the VIC Medical Service recommends limiting gatherings during lunch and coffee breaks to a maximum of six people.

The Medical Service reminds all personnel not to come to work with symptoms or when feeling ill.

VIC personnel should notify the Medical Service at this email address if they or family members test positive

The following is important to note:

  • The home quarantine or work-from-home period for identified close contacts is 10 days, independent from the PCR test result
  • To end a home quarantine, for identified close contacts or for those who tested positive, the person must be free of symptoms for the last two days of the 10-day quarantine period, otherwise the period is extended
  • Austrian Authorities may check home quarantine and may also decide to retest the person. However, there is no requirement to perform a second test to end the quarantine period.

LATEST AUSTRIAN DEVELOPMENTS AND MEASURES:

  • In his televised National Day address on Monday, Austrian President Alexander Van der Bellen encouraged all those living in the country to download the Stopp Corona app.
  • Health Minister Rudolf Anschober said over the weekend the app helped with contact tracing and had already been downloaded 1.1 million times.
  • The Stopp Corona app is in English and German and can be downloaded from here.
  • This is an overview of the app in English:
  • The number of new positive tests in Austria reached record highs over the past days. The official Austrian dashboard has the latest data on COVID-19. It is available in English as well as German and is updated each day at 1400.
  • NOTE ON COVID-19 UPDATES:

    Updates are issued whenever there is fresh information from the VBOs or the Host Country.

    Between updates, you can keep up to date and refer to previous material by visiting our VBO COVID-19 website.

    On the site you can find all updates, guidelines, reminders and messages issued so far, as well as useful links including to official information in English and other languages. No log-in is needed.

    COVID-19 WEBSITE FOR ALL UN SYSTEM PERSONNEL

    FEEDBACK/SUGGESTIONS: Please write to martin.nesirky@un.org

In today’s update:

  1. Message from the four main Vienna International Centre (VIC)-based organizations –message from the VIC Medical Service
  2. Latest Austrian developments and measures – New measures to enter into force as of Sunday, 25 October, minimum distance of one metre to be kept in public spaces, gatherings limited to six people indoors and twelve outdoors plus up to six minors, masks to be worn throughout at events.

MESSAGE FROM THE MAIN VIC-BASED ORGANIZATIONS (VBOs) UNOV/UNODC – IAEA – UNIDO – CTBTO

VIC Medical Service Update:

The VIC Medical Service reported today that one person who works for one of the smaller UN entities based at the VIC tested positive for SARS CoV-2. Close contacts have been informed.

The cumulative total number of people who have tested positive among personnel of the VIC-based organizations is 93, of whom 78 work at the VIC. Of the total of 93 personnel, 85 have already recovered.

MESSAGE FROM THE VIC MEDICAL SERVICE:

Masks must be worn in ALL common spaces in the VIC, such as bathrooms, corridors, the Rotunda and kitchens. This is in addition to those spaces where masks were already required, such as the Commissary, banks and post office. Masks may be removed in the workplace or office and while eating or drinking seated in the cafeteria and at coffee corners.

Masks must be worn by all meeting participants even when they are sitting in their assigned seats.

People who cannot wear a mask for health reasons must hold a certificate confirming this from a doctor licensed to practice in Austria.

In line with the latest information from Austrian authorities, as of 7 November, fitted nose-mouth coverings/masks rather than face shields/visors must be worn. This is because new scientific evidence shows better reduction of droplets and aerosols when wearing a mask or a nose-mouth covering made from fabric compared to face shields/visors.

The Medical Service asks everyone to adhere at and outside the workplace to the one-metre physical distancing rule.

It also reminds all personnel to avoid gathering in groups.

In line with Austrian regulations on indoor private gatherings, the VIC Medical Service recommends limiting gatherings during lunch and coffee breaks to a maximum of six people.

The Medical Service reminds all personnel not to come to work with symptoms or when feeling ill.

VIC personnel should notify the Medical Service at this email address if they or family members test positive

The following is important to note:

  • The home quarantine or work-from-home period for identified close contacts is 10 days, independent from the PCR test result
  • To end a home quarantine, for identified close contacts or for those who tested positive, the person must be free of symptoms for the last two days of the 10-day quarantine period, otherwise the period is extended
  • Austrian Authorities may check home quarantine and may also decide to retest the person. However, there is no requirement to perform a second test to end the quarantine period.

LATEST AUSTRIAN DEVELOPMENTS AND MEASURES:

  • The number of new positive tests in Austria reached record highs over the past days. The official Austrian dashboard has the latest data on COVID-19. It is available in English as well as German and is updated each day at 14:00.
  • Twenty-one additional districts/regions were categorized as “Red” (very high risk) under the traffic light system by the Government’s advisory Corona-Commission. Vienna remains “Orange” (high risk). More on the traffic light system here (in German): https://corona-ampel.gv.at/. See VIC CMT Update from 15 September for information in English.
  • The new nationwide measures titled Verordnung: Änderung der COVID-19-Maßnahmenverordnung – 3. COVID-19-MV-Novelle are available here (in German). The decree enters into force as of Sunday, 25 October, and Sunday 1 November for particular elements of the text pertaining to organized events (not as of 23 October as previously announced by the Government). Selected key points include:
    • In public spaces, a minimum distance of one metre must be kept to people not living in the same household. This does not apply within groups of up to six people plus up to six underage children.
    • Masks must be worn in indoor public spaces, and also at events, both indoor and outdoor, including when seated, except by children under six years of age and by people who cannot wear masks for health reasons. The latter must provide a certificate confirming this from a doctor licensed to practice in Austria.
    • Gatherings without assigned seating are allowed for a maximum of six participants indoors or twelve participants outdoors, plus a maximum of six underage children.
    • Events with assigned seating are allowed for up to 1,000 participants indoors and 1,500 participants outdoors. There are detailed rules pertaining to such events, including on notification of/approval by local authorities above specific thresholds, appointment of a COVID-19 focal point, a prevention concept and other aspects. Masks must be worn throughout.
    • The decree lists a number of types of events and gatherings exempt from the stated rules.
    • DISCLAIMER: Summary of selected points provided by CMT for convenience and information only, CMT cannot vouch for completeness and accuracy. Personnel are advised to consult the original legal text for details.
    • The Ministry of Health also announced that as of 7 November, masks have to be close-fitting, therefore face shields and visors will no longer be accepted in lieu of a mask.
    • In a press conference Friday, Health Minister Rudolf Anschober reminded all to adhere to the basic prevention measures of masks, hand hygiene and physical distancing of a minimum of one metre. He also encouraged people not to travel if possible during the upcoming school autumn holidays, and to exercise caution if travelling as well as on the occasion of Halloween and All Saints’ Day.

NOTE ON COVID-19 UPDATES:

Updates are issued whenever there is fresh information from the VBOs or the Host Country.

Between updates, you can keep up to date and refer to previous material by visiting our VBO COVID-19 website

On the site you can find all updates, guidelines, reminders and messages issued so far, as well as useful links including to official information in English and other languages. No log-in is needed.

COVID-19 WEBSITE FOR ALL UN SYSTEM PERSONNEL

FEEDBACK/SUGGESTIONS: Please write to martin.nesirky@un.org

In today’s update:

  • Message from the four main Vienna International Centre (VIC)-based organizations – message from the VIC Medical Service

MESSAGE FROM THE MAIN VIC-BASED ORGANIZATIONS (VBOs) UNOV/UNODC – IAEA – UNIDO – CTBTO /

VIC Medical Service Update:

The VIC Medical Service reported today that one person who works for the IAEA at the VIC tested positive for SARS CoV-2. There was no workplace exposure. This means the individual concerned was not at work during the time of potential infectivity. This is defined by the Austrian authorities as 48 hours before having symptoms or 48 hours prior to a positive test result.

Additionally, a person working for the IAEA outside Austria tested positive. Close contacts have been informed.

The cumulative total number of people who have tested positive among personnel of the main VIC-based organizations is 92, of whom 77 work at the VIC. Of the total of 92 personnel, 83 have already recovered.

MESSAGE FROM THE VIC MEDICAL SERVICE:

In line with the latest recommendations from the Austrian authorities, from Friday 23 October for professional events masks must be worn by all meeting participants even when they are sitting in their assigned seats.

The VIC Medical Service recommends wearing fitted nose-mouth coverings/masks rather than face shields/visors. This is because new scientific evidence shows better reduction of droplets and aerosols when wearing a mask or a nose-mouth covering made from fabric compared to face shields/visors.

This is also in line with the updated recommendation from the Austrian Health Authorities, which states that although every protection device is legally allowed, it is recommended to wear a nose-mouth covering/masks rather than a face shield or chin protection https://www.sozialministerium.at/Informationen-zum-Coronavirus/Coronavirus---Haeufig-gestellte-Fragen/FAQ--Mechanische-Schutzvorrichtung-(MNS).html

Masks must be worn in ALL common spaces in the VIC, such as bathrooms, corridors, the Rotunda and kitchens. This is in addition to those spaces where masks were already required, such as the Commissary, banks and post office.

Masks may be removed in the workplace or office, when in assigned seating in a meeting and while eating or drinking seated in the cafeteria or restaurant and at coffee corners.

The Medical Service reminds all personnel not to come to work with symptoms or when feeling ill.

The Medical Service encourages everyone to adhere at and outside the workplace to the physical distancing rule, washing hands and wearing a mask when required or when close contact situations cannot be avoided.

It also reminds all personnel to avoid gathering in groups, and when not possible, respect the one-meter physical distancing and the required use of masks.

In line with Austrian regulations on indoor private gatherings, the VIC Medical Service recommends limiting gatherings during lunch and coffee breaks to a maximum of six people.

VIC personnel should notify the Medical Service at this email address if they or family members test positive

The following is important to note:

  • The home quarantine or work-from-home period for identified close contacts is 10 days, independent from the PCR test result
  • To end a home quarantine, for identified close contacts or for those who tested positive, the person must be free of symptoms for the last two days of the 10-day quarantine period, otherwise the period is extended
  • Austrian Authorities may check home quarantine and may also decide to retest the person. However, there is no requirement to perform a second test to end the quarantine period.

LATEST AUSTRIAN DEVELOPMENTS AND MEASURES:

  • The official Austrian dashboard has the latest data on COVID-19. It is available in English as well as German and is updated each day at 1400.

NOTE ON COVID-19 UPDATES:

Updates are issued whenever there is fresh information from the VBOs or the Host Country.

Between updates, you can keep up to date and refer to previous material by visiting our VBO COVID-19 website

On the site you can find all updates, guidelines, reminders and messages issued so far, as well as useful links including to official information in English and other languages. No log-in is needed.

COVID-19 WEBSITE FOR ALL UN SYSTEM PERSONNEL

FEEDBACK/SUGGESTIONS: Please write to martin.nesirky@un.org

In today’s update:

  • Message from the four main Vienna International Centre (VIC)-based organizations – message from the VIC Medical Service
  • Latest Austrian developments and measures – Austrian Government announces new national measures from Friday – limits on indoor and outdoor non-work gatherings

MESSAGE FROM THE VIC MEDICAL SERVICE:

In line with the latest recommendations from the Austrian authorities, from Friday 23 October for professional events masks must be worn by all meeting participants even when they are sitting in their assigned seats.

The VIC Medical Service recommends wearing fitted nose-mouth coverings/masks rather than face shields/visors. This is because new scientific evidence shows better reduction of droplets and aerosols when wearing a mask or a nose-mouth covering made from fabric compared to face shields/visors.

This is also in line with the updated recommendation from the Austrian Health Authorities, which states that although every protection device is legally allowed, it is recommended to wear a nose-mouth covering/masks rather than a face shield or chin protection https://www.sozialministerium.at/Informationen-zum-Coronavirus/Coronavirus---Haeufig-gestellte-Fragen/FAQ--Mechanische-Schutzvorrichtung-(MNS).html

Masks must be worn in ALL common spaces in the VIC, such as bathrooms, corridors, the Rotunda and kitchens. This is in addition to those spaces where masks were already required, such as the Commissary, banks and post office.

Masks may be removed in the workplace or office, when in assigned seating in a meeting and while eating or drinking seated in the cafeteria or restaurant and at coffee corners.

The Medical Service reminds all personnel not to come to work with symptoms or when feeling ill.

The Medical Service encourages everyone to adhere at and outside the workplace to the physical distancing rule, washing hands and wearing a mask when required or when close contact situations cannot be avoided.

It also reminds all personnel to avoid gathering in groups, and when not possible, respect the one-meter physical distancing and the required use of masks.

In line with Austrian regulations on indoor private gatherings, the VIC Medical Service recommends limiting gatherings during lunch and coffee breaks to a maximum of six people.

VIC personnel should notify the Medical Service at this email address if they or family members test positive

The following is important to note:

  • The home quarantine or work-from-home period for identified close contacts is 10 days, independent from the PCR test result
  • To end a home quarantine, for identified close contacts or for those who tested positive, the person must be free of symptoms for the last two days of the 10-day quarantine period, otherwise the period is extended
  • Austrian Authorities may check home quarantine and may also decide to retest the person. However, there is no requirement to perform a second test to end the quarantine period.

LATEST AUSTRIAN DEVELOPMENTS AND MEASURES:

  1. Chancellor Sebastian Kurz and other cabinet members held a video conference call with provincial governors on Monday morning to discuss national and regional measures against the rising number of COVID-19 cases.
  2. At a televised briefing, Kurz spoke of a second wave with exponential growth in Europe. He urged all those in Austria to help by keeping distance, wearing masks and reducing social contacts. He encouraged people to err on the side of caution when not sure about whether to wear a mask.
  3. He announced new nationwide measures to enter into force Friday 23 October, 00:00 hours:
    • private gatherings (all gatherings outside work duties, except for funerals and religious services) limited to: a maximum of six adults indoors and a maximum of 12 adults outdoors
    • professional events (including cultural events) only with assigned seating, no food and drinks, wearing of masks mandatory throughout: a maximum of 1,000 participants indoors and a maximum of 1,500 participants outdoors
  4. Beyond that every province could take additional measures such as for restaurants, the education sector or rules on wearing masks in crowded public places.
  5. Health Minister Rudolf Anschober said Europe was at the epicenter of the pandemic now. Austria was a cause for concern too, with rising infection numbers and a notably high percentage of positive test results, possibly indicating a high number of unreported cases. He also noted there was a rise in the average age of those infected.
  6. Anschober said Austrian hospitals were using about 20 percent of available COVID-19 intensive care beds, indicating enough capacity. But he said the number of people with COVID-19 in intensive care had risen 49 percent in the past week to 145 patients and the number of those in hospital by 42 percent to 654 patients.
  7. Anschober recommended that people download the Stopp Corona app. The app is in English as well as German.
  8. The official Austrian dashboard has the latest data on COVID-19. It is available in English as well as German and is updated each day at 1400.
  9. More on the traffic light system here (in German) See VIC CMT Update from 15 September for information in English.

NOTE ON COVID-19 UPDATES:

Updates are issued whenever there is fresh information from the VBOs or the Host Country.

Between updates, you can keep up to date and refer to previous material by visiting our VBO COVID-19 website.

On the site you can find all updates, guidelines, reminders and messages issued so far, as well as useful links including to official information in English and other languages. No log-in is needed.

COVID-19 WEBSITE FOR ALL UN SYSTEM PERSONNEL

FEEDBACK/SUGGESTIONS: Please write to martin.nesirky@un.org

In today’s update:

  • Message from the four main Vienna International Centre (VIC)-based organizations – message from the VIC Medical Service
  • Latest Austrian developments and measures – Austrian Chancellor urges provinces to introduce tougher measures; record COVID-19 cases

MESSAGE FROM THE MAIN VIC-BASED ORGANIZATIONS (VBOs) UNOV/UNODC – IAEA – UNIDO – CTBTO /

VIC Medical Service Update:

The VIC Medical Service reported today that one person who works for IAEA tested positive for SARS CoV-2.

Additionally, a person working for UNIDO tested positive in September, but this was not reported to the Medical Service until now.

There was no workplace exposure in either case. This means the individuals concerned were not at work during the time of potential infectivity. This is defined by the Austrian authorities as 48 hours before having symptoms or 48 hours prior to a positive test result.

The cumulative total number of people who have tested positive among personnel of the main VIC-based organizations is 90, of whom 76 work at the VIC. Of the total of 90 personnel, 69 have already recovered.

MESSAGE FROM THE VIC MEDICAL SERVICE:

The VIC Medical Service recommends wearing fitted nose-mouth coverings/masks rather than face shields/visors. This is because new scientific evidence shows better reduction of droplets and aerosols when wearing a mask or a nose-mouth covering made from fabric compared to face shields/visors.

This is also in line with the updated recommendation from the Austrian Health Authorities, which states that although every protection device is legally allowed, it is recommended to wear a nose-mouth covering/masks rather than a face shield or chin protection https://www.sozialministerium.at/Informationen-zum-Coronavirus/Coronavirus---Haeufig-gestellte-Fragen/FAQ--Mechanische-Schutzvorrichtung-(MNS).html

Masks must be worn in ALL common spaces in the VIC, such as bathrooms, corridors, the Rotunda and kitchens. This is in addition to those spaces where masks were already required, such as the Commissary, banks and post office.

Masks may be removed in the workplace or office, when in assigned seating in a meeting and while eating or drinking seated in the cafeteria or restaurant and at coffee corners.

The Medical Service reminds all personnel not to come to work with symptoms or when feeling ill.

The Medical Service encourages everyone to adhere at and outside the workplace to the physical distancing rule, washing hands and wearing a mask when required or when close contact situations cannot be avoided.

It also reminds all personnel to avoid gathering in groups, and when not possible, respect the one-meter physical distancing and the required use of masks.

In line with Austrian regulations on indoor private gatherings, the VIC Medical Service recommends limiting gatherings, receptions and group meetings without assigned seating to a maximum of 10 people.

VIC personnel should notify the Medical Service at this email address if they or family members test positive

The following is important to note:

  • The home quarantine or work-from-home period for identified close contacts is 10 days, independent from the PCR test result
  • To end a home quarantine, for identified close contacts or for those who tested positive, the person must be free of symptoms for the last two days of the 10-day quarantine period, otherwise the period is extended
  • Austrian Authorities may check home quarantine and may also decide to retest the person. However, there is no requirement to perform a second test to end the quarantine period.

LATEST AUSTRIAN DEVELOPMENTS AND MEASURES:

  • Austria’s ORF public broadcaster reported Chancellor Sebastian Kurz had written to provincial leaders urging them to introduce tougher measures regionally to deal with the rising number of cases.
  • The official Austrian dashboard with the latest data on COVID-19 has been relaunched with more detail in clear format. It is still available in English as well as German and is updated each day at 1400.
  • The number of new cases reported on 14 October was a record 1,345.
  • More on the traffic light system here (in German) See VIC COVID-19 Update from 15 September for information in English.

NOTE ON COVID-19 UPDATES:

Updates are issued whenever there is fresh information from the VBOs or the Host Country.

Between updates, you can keep up to date and refer to previous material by visiting our VBO COVID-19 website.

On the site you can find all updates, guidelines, reminders and messages issued so far, as well as useful links including to official information in English and other languages. No log-in is needed.

COVID-19 WEBSITE FOR ALL UN SYSTEM PERSONNEL

FEEDBACK/SUGGESTIONS: Please write to martin.nesirky@un.org

In today’s update:

  • Message from the four main Vienna International Centre (VIC)-based organizations – message from the VIC Medical Service
  • Latest Austrian developments and measures – Austrian Government considering additional measures, regionally targeted, ORF broadcaster says

MESSAGE FROM THE MAIN VIC-BASED ORGANIZATIONS (VBOs) UNOV/UNODC – IAEA – UNIDO – CTBTO /

VIC Medical Service Update:

The VIC Medical Service reported today that four people tested positive for SARS CoV-2 over the weekend. Three work for IAEA and one works for UNOV/UNODC. Close contacts have been informed.

There was no workplace exposure. This means the individual concerned was not at work during the time of potential infectivity. This is defined by the Austrian authorities as 48 hours before having symptoms or 48 hours prior to a positive test result.

The cumulative total number of people who have tested positive among personnel of the main VIC-based organizations is 85, of whom 72 work at the VIC. Of the total of 85 personnel, 50 have already recovered.

MESSAGE FROM THE VIC MEDICAL SERVICE:

The VIC Medical Service recommends wearing fitted nose-mouth coverings/masks rather than face shields/visors. This is because new scientific evidence shows better reduction of droplets and aerosols when wearing a mask or a nose-mouth covering made from fabric compared to face shields/visors.

This is also in line with the updated recommendation from the Austrian Health Authorities, which states that although every protection device is legally allowed, it is recommended to wear a nose-mouth covering/masks rather than a face shield or chin protection https://www.sozialministerium.at/Informationen-zum-Coronavirus/Coronavirus---Haeufig-gestellte-Fragen/FAQ--Mechanische-Schutzvorrichtung-(MNS).html

Masks must be worn in ALL common spaces in the VIC, such as bathrooms, corridors, the Rotunda and kitchens. This is in addition to those spaces where masks were already required, such as the Commissary, banks and post office.

Masks may be removed in the workplace or office, when in assigned seating in a meeting and while eating or drinking seated in the cafeteria or restaurant and at coffee corners.

The Medical Service reminds all personnel not to come to work with symptoms or when feeling ill.

The Medical Service encourages everyone to adhere at and outside the workplace to the physical distancing rule, washing hands and wearing a mask when required or when close contact situations cannot be avoided.

It also reminds all personnel to avoid gathering in groups, and when not possible, respect the one-meter physical distancing and the required use of masks.

In line with Austrian regulations on indoor private gatherings, the VIC Medical Service recommends limiting gatherings, receptions and group meetings without assigned seating to a maximum of 10 people.

VIC personnel should notify the Medical Service at this email address if they or family members test positive

The following is important to note:

  • The home quarantine or work-from-home period for identified close contacts is 10 days, independent from the PCR test result
  • To end a close-contact home quarantine the person must be free of symptoms for the last two days of the 10-day period, otherwise the period is extended
  • Austrian Authorities may check home quarantine and may also decide to retest the person. However, there is no requirement to perform a second test to end the quarantine period.

LATEST AUSTRIAN DEVELOPMENTS AND MEASURES:

  • Austria’s ORF public broadcaster quoted the Health Ministry as saying the Government was actively considering additional measures to address the increase in cases, with a focus above all on targeted regional measures. It was not immediately clear when such measures would be announced, nor what they would include.
  • The official Austrian dashboard with the latest data on COVID-19 has been relaunched with more detail in clear format. It is still available in English as well as German and is updated each day at 1400.
  • The number of confirmed new cases yesterday was 1,091.
  • More on the traffic light system here (in German) See VIC COVID-19 Update from 15 September for information in English.

NOTE ON COVID-19 UPDATES:

Updates are issued whenever there is fresh information from the VBOs or the Host Country.

Between updates, you can keep up to date and refer to previous material by visiting our VBO COVID-19 website.

On the site you can find all updates, guidelines, reminders and messages issued so far, as well as useful links including to official information in English and other languages. No log-in is needed.

COVID-19 WEBSITE FOR ALL UN SYSTEM PERSONNEL

FEEDBACK/SUGGESTIONS: Please write to martin.nesirky@un.org

In today’s update:

  • Message from the four main Vienna International Centre (VIC)-based organizations – message from the VIC Medical Service
  • Latest Austrian developments and measures – Health Minister says there has been a significant rise in cases in the past few days in Austria, mostly in Vienna

MESSAGE FROM THE MAIN VIC-BASED ORGANIZATIONS (VBOs) UNOV/UNODC – IAEA – UNIDO – CTBTO /

VIC Medical Service Update:

The VIC Medical Service reported today that one person from the IAEA has tested positive for SARS CoV-2.

There was no workplace exposure. This means the individual concerned was not at work during the time of potential infectivity. This is defined by the Austrian authorities as 48 hours before having symptoms or 48 hours prior to a positive test result.

The cumulative total number of people who have tested positive among personnel of the main VIC-based organizations is 81, of whom 68 work at the VIC. Of the total of 81 personnel, 50 have already recovered.

MESSAGE FROM THE VIC MEDICAL SERVICE:

The VIC Medical Service recommends wearing fitted nose-mouth coverings/masks rather than face shields/visors. This is because new scientific evidence shows better reduction of droplets and aerosols when wearing a mask or a nose-mouth covering made from fabric compared to face shields/visors.

This is also in line with the updated recommendation from the Austrian Health Authorities, which states that although every protection device is legally allowed, it is recommended to wear a nose-mouth covering/masks rather than a face shield or chin protection https://www.sozialministerium.at/Informationen-zum-Coronavirus/Coronavirus---Haeufig-gestellte-Fragen/FAQ--Mechanische-Schutzvorrichtung-(MNS).html

Masks must be worn in ALL common spaces in the VIC, such as bathrooms, corridors, the Rotunda and kitchens. This is in addition to those spaces where masks were already required, such as the Commissary, banks and post office.

Masks may be removed in the workplace or office, when in assigned seating in a meeting and while eating or drinking seated in the cafeteria or restaurant and at coffee corners.

The Medical Service reminds all personnel not to come to work with symptoms or when feeling ill.

The Medical Service encourages everyone to adhere at and outside the workplace to the physical distancing rule, washing hands and wearing a mask when required or when close contact situations cannot be avoided.

It also reminds all personnel to avoid gathering in groups, and when not possible, respect the one-meter physical distancing and the required use of masks.

In line with Austrian regulations on indoor private gatherings, the VIC Medical Service recommends limiting gatherings, receptions and group meetings without assigned seating to a maximum of 10 people.

VIC personnel should notify the Medical Service at this email address if they or family members test positive

The following is important to note:

  • The home quarantine or work-from-home period for identified close contacts is 10 days, independent from the PCR test result
  • To end a close-contact home quarantine the person must be free of symptoms for the last two days of the 10-day period, otherwise the period is extended
  • Austrian Authorities may check home quarantine and may also decide to retest the person

LATEST AUSTRIAN DEVELOPMENTS AND MEASURES:

  • Health Minister Rudolf Anschober told a televised briefing today that after a period of stabilization, significantly more people had tested positive in the last three to five days. Almost all federal states are affected, but mostly Vienna, he said.
  • The official Austrian dashboard with the latest data on COVID-19 has been relaunched with more detail in clear format. It is still available in English as well as German and is updated each day at 1400.
  • The number of confirmed new cases yesterday was 1,091.
  • More on the traffic light system here (in German) See VIC COVID-19 Update from 15 September for information in English.

NOTE ON COVID-19 UPDATES:

Updates are issued whenever there is fresh information from the VBOs or the Host Country.

Between updates, you can keep up to date and refer to previous material by visiting our VBO COVID-19 website.

On the site you can find all updates, guidelines, reminders and messages issued so far, as well as useful links including to official information in English and other languages. No log-in is needed.

COVID-19 WEBSITE FOR ALL UN SYSTEM PERSONNEL

FEEDBACK/SUGGESTIONS: Please write to martin.nesirky@un.org

In today’s update:

  • Message from the four main Vienna International Centre (VIC)-based organizations – message from the VIC Medical Service
  • Latest Austrian developments and measures – Austria records highest daily total of people testing positive since COVID-19 cases were first registered in the country

MESSAGE FROM THE MAIN VIC-BASED ORGANIZATIONS (VBOs) UNOV/UNODC – IAEA – UNIDO – CTBTO

VIC Medical Service Update:

The VIC Medical Service reported today that two people have tested positive for SARS CoV-2.

One person is from UNOV/UNODC. There was no workplace exposure. This means the individual concerned was not at work during the time of potential infectivity. This is defined by the Austrian authorities as 48 hours before having symptoms or 48 hours prior to a positive test result.

The second person is from the IAEA. Close contacts have been informed.

The cumulative total number of people who have tested positive among personnel of the main VIC-based organizations is 80, of whom 67 work at the VIC. Of the total of 80 personnel, 50 have already recovered.

MESSAGE FROM THE VIC MEDICAL SERVICE:

The VIC Medical Service recommends wearing fitted nose-mouth coverings/masks rather than face shields/visors.This is because new scientific evidence shows better reduction of droplets and aerosols when wearing a mask or a nose-mouth covering made from fabric compared to face shields/visors.

This is also in line with the updated recommendation from the Austrian Health Authorities, which states that although every protection device is legally allowed, it is recommended to wear a nose-mouth covering/masks rather than a face shield or chin protection https://www.sozialministerium.at/Informationen-zum-Coronavirus/Coronavirus---Haeufig-gestellte-Fragen/FAQ--Mechanische-Schutzvorrichtung-(MNS).html

Masks must be worn in ALL common spaces in the VIC, such as bathrooms, corridors, the Rotunda and kitchens. This is in addition to those spaces where masks were already required, such as the Commissary, banks and post office. Masks may be removed in the workplace or office, when in assigned seating in a meeting and while eating or drinking seated in the cafeteria or restaurant and at coffee corners. The Medical Service reminds all personnel not to come to work with symptoms or when feeling ill. .The Medical Service encourages everyone to adhere at and outside the workplace to the physical distancing rule, washing hands and wearing a mask when required or when close contact situations cannot be avoided. It also reminds all personnel to avoid gathering in groups, and when not possible, respect the one-meter physical distancing and the required use of masks. In line with Austrian regulations on indoor private gatherings, the VIC Medical Service recommends limiting gatherings, receptions and group meetings without assigned seating to a maximum of 10 people.

VIC personnel should notify the Medical Service at this email address if they or family members test positive

The following is important to note:

  • The home quarantine or work-from-home period for identified close contacts is 10 days, independent from the PCR test result
  • To end a close-contact home quarantine the person must be free of symptoms for the last two days of the 10-day period, otherwise the period is extended
  • Austrian Authorities may check home quarantine and may also decide to retest the person

LATEST AUSTRIAN DEVELOPMENTS AND MEASURES:

The official Austrian dashboard with the latest data on COVID-19 has been relaunched with more detail in clear format. It is still available in English as well as German. Officials say it will be updated daily at 1400.

The total number of people who tested positive yesterday was 1,214. This was the highest daily total since the first cases were recorded in late February at the start of the pandemic.

More on the traffic light system here (in German): https://corona-ampel.gv.at/. See VIC CMT Update from 15 September for information in English.

NOTE ON COVID-19 UPDATES:

Updates are issued whenever there is fresh information from the VBOs or the Host Country.

Between updates, you can keep up to date and refer to previous material by visiting our VBO COVID-19 website.

On the site you can find all updates, guidelines, reminders and messages issued so far, as well as useful links including to official information in English and other languages. No log-in is needed.

COVID-19 WEBSITE FOR ALL UN SYSTEM PERSONNEL

FEEDBACK/SUGGESTIONS: Please write to martin.nesirky@un.org

In today’s update:

  • Message from the four main Vienna International Centre (VIC)-based organizations – message from the VIC Medical Service
  • Latest Austrian developments and measures – Austria relaunches its COVID-19 dashboard, available in English and German

MESSAGE FROM THE MAIN VIC-BASED ORGANIZATIONS (VBOs) UNOV/UNODC – IAEA – UNIDO – CTBTO

VIC Medical Service Update:

The VIC Medical Service reported today that five people – two from UNOV/UNODC, two from IAEA and one from UNIDO - have tested positive for SARS CoV-2. Close contacts have been informed.

The cumulative total number of people who have tested positive among personnel of the main VIC-based organizations is 78, of whom 65 work at the VIC and 50 have already recovered.

The following is important to note:

  • The home quarantine or work-from-home period for identified close contacts is 10 days, independent from the PCR test result
  • To end a close-contact home quarantine the person must be free of symptoms for the last two days of the 10-day period, otherwise the period is extended
  • Austrian Authorities may check home quarantine and may also decide to retest the person

MESSAGE FROM THE VIC MEDICAL SERVICE:

The VIC Medical Service recommends wearing fitted nose-mouth coverings/masks rather than face shields/visors.This is because new scientific evidence shows better reduction of droplets and aerosols when wearing a mask or a nose-mouth covering made from fabric compared to face shields/visors.

This is also in line with the updated recommendation from the Austrian Health Authorities, which states that although every protection device is legally allowed, it is recommended to wear a nose-mouth covering/masks rather than a face shield or chin protection https://www.sozialministerium.at/Informationen-zum-Coronavirus/Coronavirus---Haeufig-gestellte-Fragen/FAQ--Mechanische-Schutzvorrichtung-(MNS).html

Masks must be worn in ALL common spaces in the VIC, such as bathrooms, corridors, the Rotunda and kitchens. This is in addition to those spaces where masks were already required, such as the Commissary, banks and post office. Masks may be removed in the workplace or office, when in assigned seating in a meeting and while eating or drinking seated in the cafeteria or restaurant and at coffee corners. The Medical Service reminds all personnel not to come to work with symptoms or when feeling ill. The Medical Service encourages everyone to adhere at and outside the workplace to the physical distancing rule, washing hands and wearing a mask when required or when close contact situations cannot be avoided. It also reminds all personnel to avoid gathering in groups, and when not possible, respect the one-meter physical distancing and the required use of masks. In line with Austrian regulations on indoor private gatherings, the VIC Medical Service recommends limiting gatherings, receptions and group meetings without assigned seating to a maximum of 10 people.

VIC personnel should notify the Medical Service at this email address if they or family members test positive

LATEST AUSTRIAN DEVELOPMENTS AND MEASURES:

The official Austrian dashboard with the latest data on COVID-19 has been relaunched with more detail in clear format. It is still available in English as well as German. Officials say it will be updated daily at 1400.

More on the traffic light system here (in German): https://corona-ampel.gv.at/. See VIC CMT Update from 15 September for information in English.

NOTE ON COVID-19 UPDATES:

Updates are issued whenever there is fresh information from the VBOs or the Host Country.

Between updates, you can keep up to date and refer to previous material by visiting our VBO COVID-19 website.

On the site you can find all updates, guidelines, reminders and messages issued so far, as well as useful links including to official information in English and other languages. No log-in is needed.

COVID-19 WEBSITE FOR ALL UN SYSTEM PERSONNEL

FEEDBACK/SUGGESTIONS: Please write to martin.nesirky@un.org

In today’s update:

  • Message from the four main Vienna International Centre (VIC)-based organizations – message from the VIC Medical Service
  • Latest Austrian developments and measures – City of Vienna and Chamber of Commerce providing free app to restaurants, bars and cafes to help customers register for contact tracing

MESSAGE FROM THE MAIN VIC-BASED ORGANIZATIONS (VBOs) UNOV/UNODC – IAEA – UNIDO – CTBTO

VIC Medical Service Update:

The VIC Medical Service reported today that one person from UNOV/UNODC has tested positive for SARS CoV-2.

There was no workplace exposure. This means the individual concerned was not at work during the time of potential infectivity. This is defined by the Austrian authorities as 48 hours before having symptoms or 48 hours prior to a positive test result.

The cumulative total number of people who have tested positive among personnel of the main VIC-based organizations is 73, of whom 60 work at the VIC and 50 have already recovered.

The following is important to note:

  • The home quarantine or work-from-home period for identified close contacts is 10 days, independent from the PCR test result
  • To end a close-contact home quarantine the person must be free of symptoms for the last two days of the 10-day period, otherwise the period is extended
  • Austrian Authorities may check home quarantine and may also decide to retest the person

MESSAGE FROM THE VIC MEDICAL SERVICE:

The VIC Medical Service recommends wearing fitted nose-mouth coverings/masks rather than face shields/visors.This is because new scientific evidence shows better reduction of droplets and aerosols when wearing a mask or a nose-mouth covering made from fabric compared to face shields/visors.

This is also in line with the updated recommendation from the Austrian Health Authorities, which states that although every protection device is legally allowed, it is recommended to wear a nose-mouth covering/masks rather than a face shield or chin protection https://www.sozialministerium.at/Informationen-zum-Coronavirus/Coronavirus---Haeufig-gestellte-Fragen/FAQ--Mechanische-Schutzvorrichtung-(MNS).html

Masks must be worn in ALL common spaces in the VIC, such as bathrooms, corridors, the Rotunda and kitchens. This is in addition to those spaces where masks were already required, such as the Commissary, banks and post office. Masks may be removed in the workplace or office, when in assigned seating in a meeting and while eating or drinking seated in the cafeteria or restaurant and at coffee corners. The Medical Service reminds all personnel not to come to work with symptoms or when feeling ill. The Medical Service encourages everyone to adhere at and outside the workplace to the physical distancing rule, washing hands and wearing a mask when required or when close contact situations cannot be avoided. It also reminds all personnel to avoid gathering in groups, and when not possible, respect the one-meter physical distancing and the required use of masks. In line with Austrian regulations on indoor private gatherings, the VIC Medical Service recommends limiting gatherings, receptions and group meetings without assigned seating to a maximum of 10 people.

VIC personnel should notify the Medical Service at this email address if they or family members test positive

LATEST AUSTRIAN DEVELOPMENTS AND MEASURES:

The City of Vienna and Vienna’s Chamber of Commerce are making a free app available to restaurants, bars and cafes so that customers can register for contact tracing. Paper forms and existing QR code apps can still be used by those establishments.

The official Austrian dashboard reflecting the latest data on COVID-19 is available in English as well as German. It is updated frequently.

More on the traffic light system here (in German): https://corona-ampel.gv.at/. See VIC CMT Update from 15 September for information in English.

NOTE ON COVID-19 UPDATES:

Updates are issued whenever there is fresh information from the VBOs or the Host Country.

Between updates, you can keep up to date and refer to previous material by visiting our VBO COVID-19 website.

On the site you can find all updates, guidelines, reminders and messages issued so far, as well as useful links including to official information in English and other languages. No log-in is needed.

COVID-19 WEBSITE FOR ALL UN SYSTEM PERSONNEL

FEEDBACK/SUGGESTIONS: Please write to martin.nesirky@un.org

In today’s update:

  • Message from the four main Vienna International Centre (VIC)-based organizations – message from the VIC Medical Service
  • Latest Austrian developments and measures – People who have tested positive have used Austrian Red Cross’s Stopp Corona app as way to alert contacts; app downloaded more than one million times and available in English

MESSAGE FROM THE MAIN VIC-BASED ORGANIZATIONS (VBOs) UNOV/UNODC – IAEA – UNIDO – CTBTO

VIC Medical Service Update:

The VIC Medical Service reported today that four people - two from the IAEA, one from UNIDO and one from UNOV/UNODC - have tested positive for SARS CoV-2. All close contacts have been informed.

The following is important to note:

  • The home quarantine or work-from-home period for identified close contacts is 10 days, independent from the PCR test result
  • To end a close-contact home quarantine the person must be free of symptoms for the last two days of the 10-day period, otherwise the period is extended
  • Austrian Authorities may check home quarantine and may also decide to retest the person

MESSAGE FROM THE VIC MEDICAL SERVICE:

The VIC Medical Service recommends wearing fitted nose-mouth coverings/masks rather than face shields/visors.This is because new scientific evidence shows better reduction of droplets and aerosols when wearing a mask or a nose-mouth covering made from fabric compared to face shields/visors.

This is also in line with the updated recommendation from the Austrian Health Authorities, which states that although every protection device is legally allowed, it is recommended to wear a nose-mouth covering/masks rather than a face shield or chin protection https://www.sozialministerium.at/Informationen-zum-Coronavirus/Coronavirus---Haeufig-gestellte-Fragen/FAQ--Mechanische-Schutzvorrichtung-(MNS).html

Masks must be worn in ALL common spaces in the VIC, such as bathrooms, corridors, the Rotunda and kitchens. This is in addition to those spaces where masks were already required, such as the Commissary, banks and post office. Masks may be removed in the workplace or office, when in assigned seating in a meeting and while eating or drinking seated in the cafeteria or restaurant and at coffee corners. The Medical Service reminds all personnel not to come to work with symptoms or when feeling ill. The Medical Service encourages everyone to adhere at and outside the workplace to the physical distancing rule, washing hands and wearing a mask when required or when close contact situations cannot be avoided. It also reminds all personnel to avoid gathering in groups, and when not possible, respect the one-meter physical distancing and the required use of masks. In line with Austrian regulations on indoor private gatherings, the VIC Medical Service recommends limiting gatherings, receptions and group meetings without assigned seating to a maximum of 10 people.

VIC personnel should notify the Medical Service at this email address if they or family members test positive

LATEST AUSTRIAN DEVELOPMENTS AND MEASURES:

The Federal Commander in Charge of Austria’s Red Cross told Radio Wien today that some 200 people had used the Stopp Corona app to alert potential contacts that they had tested positive. Additionally, more than 1,200 people who suspected they were positive and were awaiting a test result used the app to tell contacts, said Gerry Foitik, who is also a member of the Managing Board.

Foitik said the app, which is run by the Austrian Red Cross, had been downloaded more than one million times. It is available here for Android and iOS: https://www.roteskreuz.at/index.php?id=67933

The website is in German but the app itself can be set to English.

The official Austrian dashboard reflecting the latest data on COVID-19 is available in English as well as German. It is updated frequently.

More on the traffic light system here (in German): https://corona-ampel.gv.at/. See VIC CMT Update from 15 September for information in English.

NOTE ON COVID-19 UPDATES:

Updates are issued whenever there is fresh information from the VBOs or the Host Country.

Between updates, you can keep up to date and refer to previous material by visiting our VBO COVID-19 website.

On the site you can find all updates, guidelines, reminders and messages issued so far, as well as useful links including to official information in English and other languages. No log-in is needed.

COVID-19 WEBSITE FOR ALL UN SYSTEM PERSONNEL

FEEDBACK/SUGGESTIONS: Please write to martin.nesirky@un.org

In today’s update:

  • Message from the four main Vienna International Centre (VIC)-based organizations – message from the VIC Medical Service
  • Latest Austrian developments and measures – Health Minister says daily cases stabilized between 600 and 800, but goal is to halve that within one or two months

MESSAGE FROM THE MAIN VIC-BASED ORGANIZATIONS (VBOs) UNOV/UNODC – IAEA – UNIDO – CTBTO

VIC Medical Service Update:

The VIC Medical Service reported today that three people – two from UNIDO and one from the IAEA - have tested positive for SARS CoV-2.

There was no workplace exposure. This means the individuals concerned were not at work during the time of potential infectivity. This is defined by the Austrian authorities as 48 hours before having symptoms or 48 hours prior to a positive test result.

The following is important to note:

  • The home quarantine or work-from-home period for identified close contacts is 10 days, independent from the PCR test result
  • To end a close-contact home quarantine the person must be free of symptoms for the last two days of the 10-day period, otherwise the period is extended
  • Austrian Authorities may check home quarantine and may also decide to retest the person

MESSAGE FROM THE VIC MEDICAL SERVICE:

The VIC Medical Service recommends wearing fitted nose-mouth coverings/masks rather than face shields/visors. This is because new scientific evidence shows better reduction of droplets and aerosols when wearing a mask or a nose-mouth covering made from fabric compared to face shields/visors. This is also in line with the updated recommendation from the Austrian Health Authorities, which states that although every protection device is legally allowed, it is recommended to wear a nose-mouth covering/masks rather than a face shield or chin protection https://www.sozialministerium.at/Informationen-zum-Coronavirus/Coronavirus---Haeufig-gestellte-Fragen/FAQ--Mechanische-Schutzvorrichtung-(MNS).html

Masks must be worn in ALL common spaces in the VIC, such as bathrooms, corridors, the Rotunda and kitchens. This is in addition to those spaces where masks were already required, such as the Commissary, banks and post office. Masks may be removed in the workplace or office, when in assigned seating in a meeting and while eating or drinking seated in the cafeteria or restaurant and at coffee corners. The Medical Service reminds all personnel not to come to work with symptoms or when feeling ill. The Medical Service encourages everyone to adhere at and outside the workplace to the physical distancing rule, washing hands and wearing a mask when required or when close contact situations cannot be avoided. It also reminds all personnel to avoid gathering in groups, and when not possible, respect the one-meter physical distancing and the required use of masks. In line with Austrian regulations on indoor private gatherings, the VIC Medical Service recommends limiting gatherings, receptions and group meetings without assigned seating to a maximum of 10 people.

VIC personnel should notify the Medical Service at this email address if they or family members test positive

LATEST AUSTRIAN DEVELOPMENTS AND MEASURES:

At a televised briefing, Health Minister Rudolf Anschober said numbers in Austria were stabilizing between 600 and 800 new cases a day. He said his goal was to halve the cases within one or two months. He urged people to take individual responsibility by following the rules on masks and distancing.

With immediate effect, masks must be worn on entering any premises of Wiener Linien, which runs Vienna’s public transport, not just on the platforms and in public transport.

The City of Vienna announced it would introduce more gargling tests, which are quicker to administer and provide swifter results.

The official Austrian dashboard reflecting the latest data on COVID-19 is available in English as well as German. It is updated frequently.

More on the traffic light system here (in German): https://corona-ampel.gv.at/. See VIC CMT Update from 15 September for information in English.

NOTE ON COVID-19 UPDATES:

Updates are issued whenever there is fresh information from the VBOs or the Host Country.

Between updates, you can keep up to date and refer to previous material by visiting our VBO COVID-19 website.

On the site you can find all updates, guidelines, reminders and messages issued so far, as well as useful links including to official information in English and other languages. No log-in is needed.

COVID-19 WEBSITE FOR ALL UN SYSTEM PERSONNEL

FEEDBACK/SUGGESTIONS: Please write to martin.nesirky@un.org

In today’s update:

  • Message from the four main Vienna International Centre (VIC)-based organizations – message from the VIC Medical Service, QR code for cafeteria and coffee corners
  • Latest Austrian developments and measures – Health Minister says numbers stabilized but still too high, colder weather and university reopening are risk factors

MESSAGE FROM THE MAIN VIC-BASED ORGANIZATIONS (VBOs) UNOV/UNODC – IAEA – UNIDO – CTBTO

VIC Medical Service Update:

The VIC Medical Service reported today that one person who works for UNIDO has tested positive for SARS CoV-2.

There was no workplace exposure. This means the individual concerned was not at work during the time of potential infectivity. This is defined by the Austrian authorities as 48 hours before having symptoms or 48 hours prior to a positive test result.

The cumulative total number of VIC personnel who have tested positive is 58.

The cumulative total number of those working for VBOs outside Vienna is six.

Of the total who have tested positive, 51 people have already recovered.

  1. The home quarantine or work-from-home period for identified close contacts is 10 days, independent from the PCR test result
  2. To end a close-contact home quarantine the person must be free of symptoms for the last two days of the 10-day period, otherwise the period is extended
  3. Austrian Authorities may check home quarantine and may also decide to retest the person

QR code available for VIC cafeteria and coffee corners:

EUREST, which operates the cafeteria and coffee corners in the VIC, introduced a QR code today for customers who plan to sit and drink or eat in the cafeteria or at the coffee corners, to register online to comply with the Host City’s regulations. Those who are buying takeaway food or drinks and do not plan to sit do not need to fill out the form.

The simple English-language online form is already available in the cafeteria and at the coffee corners through the QR code or the link, both below. From Thursday, 1 October, QR codes will also be available next to the table numbers.

For those who do not speak German, please note that the English-language online form contains a couple of German headings:

  1. Allgemeine Angaben means general information
  2. Einverständnis means agreement, in this case accepting EUREST’s data protection and legal information.

The online registration replaces the paper forms that were initially used as a stopgap measure. However, the paper forms will still be available in German for those who do not have a smartphone in the cafeteria or at the coffee corners.

MESSAGE FROM THE VIC MEDICAL SERVICE:

The VIC Medical Service recommends wearing fitted nose-mouth coverings/masks rather than face shields/visors. This is because new scientific evidence shows better reduction of droplets and aerosols when wearing a mask or a nose-mouth covering made from fabric compared to face shields/visors.

This is also in line with the updated recommendation from the Austrian Health Authorities, which states that although every protection device is legally allowed, it is recommended to wear a nose-mouth covering/masks rather than a face shield or chin protection https://www.sozialministerium.at/Informationen-zum-Coronavirus/Coronavirus---Haeufig-gestellte-Fragen/FAQ--Mechanische-Schutzvorrichtung-(MNS).html

Masks must be worn in ALL common spaces in the VIC, such as bathrooms, corridors, the Rotunda and kitchens. This is in addition to those spaces where masks were already required, such as the Commissary, banks and post office.

Masks may be removed in the workplace or office, when in assigned seating in a meeting and while eating or drinking seated in the cafeteria or restaurant and at coffee corners.

The Medical Service reminds all personnel not to come to work with symptoms or when feeling ill.

The Medical Service encourages everyone to adhere at and outside the workplace to the physical distancing rule, washing hands and wearing a mask when required or when close contact situations cannot be avoided.

It also reminds all personnel to avoid gathering in groups, and when not possible, respect the one-meter physical distancing and the required use of masks.

In line with Austrian regulations on indoor private gatherings, the VIC Medical Service recommends limiting gatherings, receptions and group meetings without assigned seating to a maximum of 10 people.

VIC personnel should notify the Medical Service at this email address if they or family members test positive

LATEST AUSTRIAN DEVELOPMENTS AND MEASURES:

  • At a televised briefing following the weekly cabinet meeting, Health Minister Rudolf Anschober said numbers in Austria were clearly too high, although they had stabilized since 20 September. He expected a gradual reduction during the first half of October, but said he considered the colder weather and the re-opening of universities to be additional risk factors.
  • Health authorities in Vienna reported there were more people in hospital in the city with COVID-19 than during the lockdown in March, but there was capacity to spare.

The official Austrian dashboard reflecting the latest data on COVID-19 is available in English as well as German. It is updated frequently.

More on the traffic light system here (in German). See VIC CMT Update from 20 September for information in English.

NOTE ON COVID-19 UPDATES:

Updates are issued whenever there is fresh information from the VBOs or the Host Country.

Between updates, you can keep up to date and refer to previous material by visiting our VBO COVID-19 website.

On the site you can find all updates, guidelines, reminders and messages issued so far, as well as useful links including to official information in English and other languages. No log-in is needed.

COVID-19 WEBSITE FOR ALL UN SYSTEM PERSONNEL

FEEDBACK/SUGGESTIONS: Please write to martin.nesirky@un.org

In today’s update:

  • Message from the four main Vienna International Centre (VIC)-based organizations
  • message from the VIC Medical Service

MESSAGE FROM THE MAIN VIC-BASED ORGANIZATIONS (VBOs) UNOV/UNODC – IAEA – UNIDO – CTBTO

VIC Medical Service Update:

The VIC Medical Service reported today that one person who works for UNIDO, but not at the headquarters in Vienna, has tested positive for SARS CoV-2.

The cumulative total number of personnel working for VBOs outside Vienna who have tested positive is six.

The cumulative total number of VIC personnel is 57.

Of the total who have tested positive, 51 people have already recovered.

The following is important to note:

  • The home quarantine or work-from-home period for identified close contacts is 10 days, independent from the PCR test result
  • To end a close-contact home quarantine the person must be free of symptoms for the last two days of the 10-day period, otherwise the period is extended
  • Austrian Authorities may check home quarantine and may also decide to retest the person

MESSAGE FROM THE VIC MEDICAL SERVICE:

The VIC Medical Service recommends wearing fitted nose-mouth coverings/masks rather than face shields/visors. This is because new scientific evidence shows better reduction of droplets and aerosols when wearing a mask or a nose-mouth covering made from fabric compared to face shields/visors.

This is also in line with the updated recommendation from the Austrian Health Authorities, which states that although every protection device is legally allowed, it is recommended to wear a nose-mouth covering/masks rather than a face shield or chin protection https://www.sozialministerium.at/Informationen-zum-Coronavirus/Coronavirus---Haeufig-gestellte-Fragen/FAQ--Mechanische-Schutzvorrichtung-(MNS).html

Masks must be worn in ALL common spaces in the VIC, such as bathrooms, corridors, the Rotunda and kitchens. This is in addition to those spaces where masks were already required, such as the Commissary, banks and post office.

Masks may be removed in the workplace or office, when in assigned seating in a meeting and while eating or drinking seated in the cafeteria or restaurant and at coffee corners.

The Medical Service reminds all personnel not to come to work with symptoms or when feeling ill.

The Medical Service encourages everyone to adhere at and outside the workplace to the physical distancing rule, washing hands and wearing a mask when required or when close contact situations cannot be avoided.

It also reminds all personnel to avoid gathering in groups, and when not possible, respect the one-meter physical distancing and the required use of masks.

VIC personnel should notify the Medical Service at this email address if they or family members test positive

LATEST AUSTRIAN DEVELOPMENTS AND MEASURES:

The official Austrian dashboard reflecting the latest data on COVID-19 is available in English as well as German. It is updated frequently.

More on the traffic light system here (in German). See VIC CMT Update from 15 September for information in English.

NOTE ON COVID-19 UPDATES:

Updates are issued whenever there is fresh information from the VBOs or the Host Country.

Between updates, you can keep up to date and refer to previous material by visiting our VBO COVID-19 website.

On the site you can find all updates, guidelines, reminders and messages issued so far, as well as useful links including to official information in English and other languages. No log-in is needed.

COVID-19 WEBSITE FOR ALL UN SYSTEM PERSONNEL

FEEDBACK/SUGGESTIONS: Please write to martin.nesirky@un.org

In today’s update:

  • Message from the four main Vienna International Centre (VIC)-based organizations – message from the VIC Medical Service, advice from Medical Service on face masks
  • Latest Austrian development and measures – restaurants, bars and cafes in Vienna collecting contact details of guests from Monday; contact forms required at VIC cafeteria and coffee corners, except takeaways

MESSAGE FROM THE MAIN VIC-BASED ORGANIZATIONS (VBOs) UNOV/UNODC – IAEA – UNIDO – CTBTO

VIC Medical Service Update:

The VIC Medical Service reported today two people working for the IAEA at the VIC have contracted COVID-19.

There was no workplace exposure. This means the individuals concerned were not at work during the time of potential infectivity. This is defined by the Austrian authorities as 48 hours before having symptoms or 48 hours prior to a positive test result.

The cumulative total number of VIC personnel who have tested positive is 5

The cumulative figure among personnel working for VBOs outside Vienna is five. [This corrects from six in previous updates.]

Of the total who have tested positive, 51 people have already recovered.

VIC Medical Service analysis of recent cases at VIC shows a very similar trend to that seen in the Host Country. People typically contract the virus in the family, in household settings and among friends.

In line with the new Austrian regulation on indoor private gatherings, the VIC Medical Service recommends limiting gatherings, receptions and group meetings without assigned seating to a maximum of 10 people.

The following is important to note:

  • The home quarantine or work-from-home period for identified close contacts is 10 days, independent from the PCR test result.
  • To end a close-contact home quarantine the person must be free of symptoms for the last two days of the 10-day period, otherwise the period is extended.
  • Austrian Authorities may check home quarantine and may also decide to retest the person.

NOTE ON VIC CAFETERIA AND COFFEE CORNERS

  • From tomorrow, Tuesday 29 September, and pending further guidance from the Host City on their new regulation, EUREST will require customers to fill out their details on this form if they plan to sit and drink or eat in the cafeteria or at the coffee corners.
  • Those who are buying takeaway food or drinks and do not plan to sit do not need to fill out the form.
  • The form is in German. EUREST needs the following details on the form, which can be printed out and mostly filled out in advance:
  1. Vorname (Given name – complete before arriving)
  2. Name (Family name – complete before arriving)
  3. Telefonnummer (telephone number – complete before arriving)
  4. E-Mail-Adresse (email address – complete before arriving)
  5. Tischnummer (table number – to be completed after eating or drinking)
  6. Datum & Uhrzeit (date and time – to be completed after eating or drinking)
  • EUREST will have collection boxes for the forms and spare forms for those who forget to bring them. It is advisable to have your own pen with you. Initially there will be EUREST staff on hand to assist.

MESSAGE FROM THE VIC MEDICAL SERVICE:

The VIC Medical Service recommends wearing fitted nose-mouth coverings/masks rather than face shields/visors. This is because new scientific evidence shows better reduction of droplets and aerosols when wearing a mask or a nose-mouth covering made from fabric compared to face shields/visors.

This is also in line with the updated recommendation from the Austrian Health Authorities, which states that although every protection device is legally allowed, it is recommended to wear a nose-mouth covering/masks rather than a face shield or chin protection this email address if they or family members test positive

LATEST AUSTRIAN DEVELOPMENTS AND MEASURES:

Police carried out 7,733 spot checks on restaurants, bars and event venues over the weekend and filed 160 complaints, the Austrian Interior Ministry said in a press release today. Interior Minister Karl Nehammer said most of the complaints related to the compulsory 22:00 closing time and failure to observe distancing rules.

At a televised briefing following a meeting of the Government with representatives of the Austrian provinces Friday evening, Chancellor Sebastian Kurz said there were three clear nationwide measures: private gatherings limited to 10 people, seated consumption only at restaurants and bars and masks compulsory in many areas.

Beyond the nationwide measures, it was possible for provinces to adopt their own additional measures, which the Chancellor said were urgently needed given the very different picture among the provinces. Kurz said Carinthia had the lowest seven-day incidence numbers at 14. Vienna had 114. A figure over 50 was internationally considered a high-risk area.

Kurz emphasized that it was important not to be classified as a high-risk area internationally as travel warnings damaged the economy.

From today, Vienna requires restaurants, cafes and bars to log contact details of customers.

The official Austrian dashboard reflecting the latest data on COVID-19 is available in English as well as German. It is updated frequently.

More on the traffic light system here (in German): https://corona-ampel.gv.at/. See VIC CMT Update from 15 September for information in English.

NOTE ON COVID-19 UPDATES:

Updates are issued whenever there is fresh information from the VBOs or the Host Country.

Between updates, you can keep up to date and refer to previous material by visiting our VBO COVID-19 website.

On the site you can find all updates, guidelines, reminders and messages issued so far, as well as useful links including to official information in English and other languages. No log-in is needed.

COVID-19 WEBSITE FOR ALL UN SYSTEM PERSONNEL

FEEDBACK/SUGGESTIONS: Please write to martin.nesirky@un.org

In today’s update:

  • Message from the four main Vienna International Centre (VIC)-based organizations – message from the VIC Medical Service
  • Latest Austrian development and measures – Health Minister sees infections stabilized at a too high level, restaurants in Vienna to collect contact details of guests from Monday

MESSAGE FROM THE MAIN VIC-BASED ORGANIZATIONS (VBOs) UNOV/UNODC – IAEA – UNIDO – CTBTO

VIC Medical Service Update:

The VIC Medical Service reported today one person working for the IAEA at the VIC has contracted COVID-19. Close contacts have been informed. The total number of VIC personnel who have tested positive is 55.The number among personnel working for VBOs outside Vienna is six. Of the total who have tested positive, 46 people have already recovered.

VIC Medical Service analysis of recent cases at VIC shows a very similar trend to that seen in the Host Country. People typically contract the virus in the family, in household settings and among friends.

In line with the new Austrian regulation on indoor private gatherings, the VIC Medical Service recommends limiting gatherings, receptions and group meetings without assigned seating to a maximum of 10 people.

  • The home quarantine or work-from-home period for identified close contacts is 10 days, independent from the PCR test result
  • To end a close-contact home quarantine the person must be free of symptoms for the last two days of the 10-day period, otherwise the period is extended
  • Austrian Authorities may check home quarantine and may also decide to retest the person

MESSAGE FROM THE VIC MEDICAL SERVICE:

Masks must be worn in ALL common spaces in the VIC, such as bathrooms, corridors, the Rotunda and kitchens. This is in addition to those spaces where masks were already required, such as the Commissary, banks and post office. Masks may be removed in the workplace or office, when in assigned seating in a meeting and while eating or drinking seated in the cafeteria or restaurant and at coffee corners. The Medical Service reminds all personnel not to come to work with symptoms or when feeling ill. The Medical Service encourages everyone to adhere at and outside the workplace to the physical distancing rule, washing hands and wearing a mask when required or when close contact situations cannot be avoided. It also reminds all personnel to avoid gathering in groups, and when not possible, respect the one-meter physical distancing and the required use of masks.

VIC personnel should notify the Medical Service at this email address if they or family members test positive

LATEST AUSTRIAN DEVELOPMENTS AND MEASURES:

At a televised briefing this morning Health Minister Rudolf Anschober spoke of stabilization of infections at a too high level. There were too high numbers for this point in time, but no longer the increases seen until 17-18 September. He said he expected the various measures implemented over the past weeks to take an effect on infection numbers with two or three weeks’ delay, around the beginning of October.

The Health Minister made an urgent appeal to use the “Stop-Corona-App” of the Austrian Red Cross.

The City of Vienna announced Thursday it would issue a decree requiring restaurants to distribute forms to guests to collect their contact details. This is planned to enter into force Monday 28 September. Restaurants would be required to distribute the forms and were encouraged to refuse service to guests who did not want to provide their contact details.

The Corona Commission categorized ten additional districts in Austria as Orange (high risk) on Thursday. Twelve districts were re-categorized from Green to Yellow. Six districts in Upper Austria were re-categorized from Yellow to Green. Vienna remains Orange.

Travellers to Germany from Austrian provinces classified as high-risk areas by Germany will need to pre-register on-line from 15 October, media reported Thursday. This currently refers to Vienna as well as Vorarlberg.

The official Austrian dashboard reflecting the latest data on COVID-19 is available in English as well as German. It is updated frequently.

More on the traffic light system here (in German): https://corona-ampel.gv.at/. See VIC CMT Update from 15 September for information in English.

NOTE ON COVID-19 UPDATES:

Updates are issued whenever there is fresh information from the VBOs or the Host Country.

Between updates, you can keep up to date and refer to previous material by visiting our VBO COVID-19 website.

On the site you can find all updates, guidelines, reminders and messages issued so far, as well as useful links including to official information in English and other languages. No log-in is needed.

COVID-19 WEBSITE FOR ALL UN SYSTEM PERSONNEL

FEEDBACK/SUGGESTIONS: Please write to martin.nesirky@un.org

In today’s update:

  • Message from the four main Vienna International Centre (VIC)-based organizations – message from the VIC Medical Service
  • -
  • Latest Austrian development and measures – Austrian Government outlines plans for this winter’s ski season and markets

MESSAGE FROM THE MAIN VIC-BASED ORGANIZATIONS (VBOs) UNOV/UNODC – IAEA – UNIDO – CTBTO

VIC Medical Service Update:

The VIC Medical Service reported today two people working for VBOs at the VIC have contracted COVID-19.

One person works for UNIDO and the other for CTBTO.

There was no workplace exposure. This means the individual concerned was not at work during the time of potential infectivity. This is defined by the Austrian authorities as 48 hours before having symptoms or 48 hours prior to a positive test result.

The total number of VIC personnel who have tested positive is 54.

The number among personnel working for VBOs outside Vienna is six.

Of the total who have tested positive, 44 people have already recovered.

VIC Medical Service analysis of recent cases at VIC shows a very similar trend to that seen in the Host Country. People typically contract the virus in the family, in household settings and among friends.

In line with the new Austrian regulation on indoor private gatherings, the VIC Medical Service recommends limiting gatherings, receptions and group meetings without assigned seating to a maximum of 10 people.

The following is important to note:

  • The home quarantine or work-from-home period for identified close contacts is 10 days, independent from the PCR test result
  • To end a close-contact home quarantine the person must be free of symptoms for the last two days of the 10-day period, otherwise the period is extended
  • Austrian Authorities may check home quarantine and may also decide to retest the person

MESSAGE FROM THE VIC MEDICAL SERVICE:

Masks must be worn in ALL common spaces in the VIC, such as bathrooms, corridors, the Rotunda and kitchens. This is in addition to those spaces where masks were already required, such as the Commissary, banks and post office. Masks may be removed in the workplace or office, when in assigned seating in a meeting and while eating or drinking seated in the cafeteria or restaurant and at coffee corners. The Medical Service reminds all personnel not to come to work with symptoms or when feeling ill. The Medical Service encourages everyone to adhere at and outside the workplace to the physical distancing rule, washing hands and wearing a mask when required or when close contact situations cannot be avoided. It also reminds all personnel to avoid gathering in groups, and when not possible, respect the one-meter physical distancing and the required use of masks.

VIC personnel should notify the Medical Service at this email address if they or family members test positive

LATEST AUSTRIAN DEVELOPMENTS AND MEASURES:

Austrian Chancellor Sebastian Kurz told a televised briefing today that this winter’s ski season could go ahead, but with special measures in place and no traditional après-ski because of the high infection risks.

He noted tourism accounted for 15 per cent of Austrian GDP and hundreds of thousands of jobs and urged all those in Austria to contribute to reducing infection rates so that other countries’ travel warnings could be lifted.

In ski resorts, food and drink must be consumed seated, outdoors as well as indoors, ministers said. Among the measures, masks will be compulsory in ski lifts and ski schools are recommended to limit class sizes to a maximum of 10 people. Those working in the winter tourism sector will be offered regular testing.

Health Minister Rudolf Anschober said measures were being coordinated with other countries in the region.

Christmas markets will be permitted if a prevention and hygiene plan is in place, Tourism Minister Elisabeth Köstinger said.

The official Austrian dashboard reflecting the latest data on COVID-19 is available in English as well as German. It is updated frequently.

More on the traffic light system here (in German): https://corona-ampel.gv.at/. See VIC CMT Update from 15 September for information in English.

NOTE ON COVID-19 UPDATES:

Updates are issued whenever there is fresh information from the VBOs or the Host Country.

Between updates, you can keep up to date and refer to previous material by visiting our VBO COVID-19 website.

On the site you can find all updates, guidelines, reminders and messages issued so far, as well as useful links including to official information in English and other languages. No log-in is needed.

COVID-19 WEBSITE FOR ALL UN SYSTEM PERSONNEL

FEEDBACK/SUGGESTIONS: Please write to martin.nesirky@un.org

In today’s update:

  • Message from the four main Vienna International Centre (VIC)-based organizations – message from the VIC Medical Service, message on VIC restaurant
  • Latest Austrian development and measures – gargling tests to be introduced in schools, Education Minister says, Opera Ball 2021 cancelled, soldiers to resume guarding diplomatic missions

MESSAGE FROM THE MAIN VIC-BASED ORGANIZATIONS (VBOs) UNOV/UNODC – IAEA – UNIDO – CTBTO

VIC Medical Service Update:

The VIC Medical Service reported today three people working for VBOs at the VIC have contracted COVID-19. There was no workplace exposure.

Of these three people, two are from UNIDO and one is from the IAEA.

The total number of VIC personnel who have tested positive is 52.

The number among personnel working for VBOs outside Vienna is six.

Of the total who have tested positive, 41 people have already recovered.

VIC Medical Service analysis of recent cases at VIC shows a very similar trend to that seen in the Host Country. People typically contract the virus in the family, in household settings and among friends.

In line with the new Austrian regulation on indoor private gatherings, the VIC Medical Service recommends limiting gatherings, receptions and group meetings without assigned seating to a maximum of 10 people.

The following is important to note:

  • The home quarantine or work-from-home period for identified close contacts is 10 days, independent from the PCR test result
  • To end a close-contact home quarantine the person must be free of symptoms for the last two days of the 10-day period, otherwise the period is extended
  • Austrian Authorities may check home quarantine and may also decide to retest the person

MESSAGE FROM THE VIC MEDICAL SERVICE:

Masks must be worn in ALL common spaces in the VIC, such as bathrooms, corridors, the Rotunda and kitchens. This is in addition to those spaces where masks were already required, such as the Commissary, banks and post office. Masks may be removed in the workplace or office, when in assigned seating in a meeting and while eating or drinking seated in the cafeteria or restaurant and at coffee corners. The Medical Service reminds all personnel not to come to work with symptoms or when feeling ill. The Medical Service encourages everyone to adhere at and outside the workplace to the physical distancing rule, washing hands and wearing a mask when required or when close contact situations cannot be avoided. It also reminds all personnel to avoid gathering in groups, and when not possible, respect the one-meter physical distancing and the required use of masks.

VIC personnel should notify the Medical Service at this email address if they or family members test positive

MESSAGE ON VIC RESTAURANT

From tomorrow, Thursday 24 September, the VIC restaurant will be closed until further notice.

LATEST AUSTRIAN DEVELOPMENTS AND MEASURES:

  • Education Minister Heinz Faßmann said at a televised briefing on Tuesday mobile health teams were being deployed to test faster in schools. The teams are testing with the ‘gargle method’ that delivers results within 24 hours. From next week, 600.000 test kits will be ready to use.
  • The Austrian Government announced today that the 2021 Opera Ball had been cancelled. The Chancellor and Vice-Chancellor said in a statement it would have been irresponsible to go ahead, given the rise in COVID-19 cases in Austria.
  • The Opera Ball is economically as well as culturally significant. Some other balls have already been cancelled by organizers.
  • From this evening, soldiers will resume guarding diplomatic missions to free up police for COVID-19 and other duties.
  • The official Austrian dashboard reflecting the latest data on COVID-19 is available in English as well as German. It is updated frequently.
  • More on the traffic light system here (in German): https://corona-ampel.gv.at/. See VIC CMT Update from 15 September for information in English.

NOTE ON COVID-19 UPDATES:

Updates are issued whenever there is fresh information from the VBOs or the Host Country.

Between updates, you can keep up to date and refer to previous material by visiting our VBO COVID-19 website.

On the site you can find all updates, guidelines, reminders and messages issued so far, as well as useful links including to official information in English and other languages. No log-in is needed.

COVID-19 WEBSITE FOR ALL UN SYSTEM PERSONNEL

FEEDBACK/SUGGESTIONS: Please write to martin.nesirky@un.org

In today’s update:

  • Message from the four main Vienna International Centre (VIC)-based organizations – message from the VIC Medical Service

MESSAGE FROM THE MAIN VIC-BASED ORGANIZATIONS (VBOs) UNOV/UNODC – IAEA – UNIDO – CTBTO

VIC Medical Service Update:

The VIC Medical Service reported today five people working for VBOs at the VIC have contracted COVID-19. Close contacts have been informed.

Of these five people, two are from CTBTO and one each from UNOV/UNODC, IAEA and UNIDO.

The total number of VIC personnel who have tested positive is 49.

In addition, one participant attending meetings at the VIC has also been reported as positive. Following the established protocols, Medical Services contacted all close contacts and were informed in line with the requirements of local authorities.

The number among personnel working for VBOs outside Vienna is six.

Of the total number who have tested positive, 41 people have already recovered.

VIC Medical Service analysis of recent cases at VIC shows a very similar trend to that seen in the Host Country. People typically contract the virus in the family, in household settings and among friends.

In line with the new Austrian regulation on indoor private gatherings that took effect today, the VIC Medical Service recommends limiting gatherings, receptions and group meetings without assigned seating to a maximum of 10 people.

The following is important to note:

  • The home quarantine or work-from-home period for identified close contacts is 10 days, independent from the PCR test result
  • To end a close-contact home quarantine the person must be free of symptoms for the last two days of the 10-day period, otherwise the period is extended
  • Austrian Authorities may check home quarantine and may also decide to retest the person

MESSAGE FROM THE VIC MEDICAL SERVICE:

Masks must be worn in ALL common spaces in the VIC, such as bathrooms, corridors, the Rotunda and kitchens. This is in addition to those spaces where masks were already required, such as the Commissary, banks and post office. Masks may be removed in the workplace or office, when in assigned seating in a meeting and while eating or drinking seated in the cafeteria or restaurant and at coffee corners. The Medical Service reminds all personnel not to come to work with symptoms or when feeling ill. The Medical Service encourages everyone to adhere at and outside the workplace to the physical distancing rule, washing hands and wearing a mask when required or when close contact situations cannot be avoided. It also reminds all personnel to avoid gathering in groups, and when not possible, respect the one-meter physical distancing and the required use of masks.

VIC personnel should notify the Medical Service at this email address if they or family members test positive

LATEST AUSTRIAN DEVELOPMENTS AND MEASURES

  • The official Austrian dashboard reflecting the latest data on COVID-19 is available in English as well as German. It is updated frequently.
  • More on the traffic light system here (in German): https://corona-ampel.gv.at/. See VIC CMT Update from 15 September for information in English.

NOTE ON COVID-19 UPDATES:

Updates are issued whenever there is fresh information from the VBOs or the Host Country.

Between updates, you can keep up to date and refer to previous material by visiting our VBO COVID-19 website.

On the site you can find all updates, guidelines, reminders and messages issued so far, as well as useful links including to official information in English and other languages. No log-in is needed.

COVID-19 WEBSITE FOR ALL UN SYSTEM PERSONNEL

FEEDBACK/SUGGESTIONS: Please write to martin.nesirky@un.org

In today’s update:

  • Message from the four main Vienna International Centre (VIC)-based organizations – message from the VIC Medical Service
  • Latest Austrian developments and measures – Austrian Government, business and labour agree to work to place all telecommuting matters on a firm legal footing, with first results from working groups expected in March 2021

MESSAGE FROM THE MAIN VIC-BASED ORGANIZATIONS (VBOs) UNOV/UNODC – IAEA – UNIDO – CTBTO

VIC Medical Service Update:

The VIC Medical Service reported today that a person working for the IAEA at the VIC has contracted COVID-19. Close contacts have been informed.

The total number of VIC personnel who have tested positive is 44.

The number among personnel working for VBOs outside Vienna is six.

Of the total number who have tested positive, 36 have already recovered.

VIC Medical Service analysis of recent cases at VIC shows a very similar trend to that seen in the Host Country. People typically contract the virus in the family, in household settings and among friends.

The following is important to note:

  • The home quarantine or work-from-home period for identified close contacts is 10 days, independent from the PCR test result
  • To end a close-contact home quarantine the person must be free of symptoms for the last two days of the 10-day period, otherwise the period is extended
  • Austrian Authorities may check home quarantine and may also decide to retest the person

MESSAGE FROM THE VIC MEDICAL SERVICE:

Masks must be worn in ALL common spaces in the VIC, such as bathrooms, corridors, the Rotunda and kitchens. This is in addition to those spaces where masks were already required, such as the Commissary, banks and post office. Masks may be removed in the workplace or office, when in assigned seating in a meeting and while eating or drinking seated in the cafeteria or restaurant and at coffee corners. The Medical Service reminds all personnel not to come to work with symptoms or when feeling ill. The Medical Service encourages everyone to adhere at and outside the workplace to the physical distancing rule, washing hands and wearing a mask when required or when close contact situations cannot be avoided. It also reminds all personnel to avoid gathering in groups, and when not possible, respect the one-meter physical distancing and the required use of masks.

VIC personnel should notify the Medical Service at this email address if they or family members test positive

LATEST AUSTRIAN DEVELOPMENTS AND MEASURES

  • Labour Minister Christine Aschbacher met with business and labour representatives this morning to discuss in what way labour laws could be modernized to provide a solid legal framework for all matters related to telecommuting. The negotiators agreed to form working groups to apply the lessons learned to a legal framework. First results are expected in March 2021.
  • The official Austrian dashboard reflecting the latest data on COVID-19 is available in English as well as German. It is updated frequently.
  • More on the traffic light system here (in German): https://corona-ampel.gv.at/. See VIC CMT Update from 15 September for information in English.

NOTE ON COVID-19 UPDATES:

Updates are issued whenever there is fresh information from the VBOs or the Host Country.

Between updates, you can keep up to date and refer to previous material by visiting our VBO COVID-19 website.

On the site you can find all updates, guidelines, reminders and messages issued so far, as well as useful links including to official information in English and other languages. No log-in is needed.

COVID-19 WEBSITE FOR ALL UN SYSTEM PERSONNEL

FEEDBACK/SUGGESTIONS: Please write to martin.nesirky@un.org

In today’s update:

  • Message from the four main Vienna International Centre (VIC)-based organizations – VIC CMT message on stigmatization, message from the VIC Medical Service
  • Latest Austrian developments and measures – Austrian Chancellor says COVID-19 cases rising exponentially, from Monday no more than 10 people at private indoor gatherings

MESSAGE FROM THE MAIN VIC-BASED ORGANIZATIONS (VBOs) UNOV/UNODC – IAEA – UNIDO – CTBTO

The VIC Medical Service has informed the VIC CMT that some of the VIC personnel who have tested positive for COVID-19 have been stigmatized. Stigmatization is unacceptable under any circumstances anywhere, including at the VIC and by VIC personnel. These are trying times for us all. Those who test COVID-19 positive may carry a psychological burden that endures well after physical symptoms fade. We can and must strive harder to show compassion and understanding.

MESSAGE FROM THE VIC MEDICAL SERVICE:

Masks must be worn in ALL common spaces in the VIC, such as bathrooms, corridors, the Rotunda and kitchens. This is in addition to those spaces where masks were already required, such as the Commissary, banks and post office. Masks may be removed in the workplace or office, when in assigned seating in a meeting and while eating or drinking seated in the cafeteria or restaurant and at coffee corners. The Medical Service reminds all personnel not to come to work with symptoms or when feeling ill. The Medical Service encourages everyone to adhere at and outside the workplace to the physical distancing rule, washing hands and wearing a mask when required or when close contact situations cannot be avoided. It also reminds all personnel to avoid gathering in groups, and when not possible, respect the one-meter physical distancing and the required use of masks.

VIC personnel should notify the Medical Service at this email address if they or family members test positive

LATEST AUSTRIAN DEVELOPMENTS AND MEASURES

  • In a televised briefing with other cabinet members today, Austrian Chancellor Sebastian Kurz said the developments of the past days and weeks had shown an exponential rise of new infections in Austria and rising numbers of hospitalizations too.
  • The situation was not equally dramatic everywhere in Austria, but numbers were rising in all regions, notably Vienna.
  • To avoid a second lockdown and to avert damage to public health and the economy, and because most infections happened through private contacts, the Government had therefore decided on the following measures to be in force from 00:00 on Monday 21 September:
    • Private gatherings indoors limited to a maximum of 10 people, except funerals. Private gatherings outdoors limited to 100 persons. No changes to professionally organized events. Kurz added that for constitutional reasons these limits did not apply to private residences. [It is not yet fully clear whether the 10-person limit will apply to exercise and dance classes.]
    • In restaurants and the catering sector, consumption of food and drinks only sitting at the table. This measure was already in force. Maximum 10 people per table.
    • Masks to be worn in shops, outdoor markets, fairs, healthcare facilities, religious services, public transport, public offices and restaurants whenever not seated at the table.
  • Vice Chancellor Werner Kogler urged people to comply with measures and use common sense. He said it was only a short step from the stupidity of a few to the unemployment of many.
  • Health Minister Rudolf Anschober cited rising numbers globally, in Europe and in Austria. Testing in Austria was at an all-time high. He reiterated that he saw the very diverging prognoses as an indication that the situation was at a crossroads.
  • Closing hours in bars and nightclubs would be applied also to private functions. Interior Minister Karl Nehammer said the police would be doing targeted checks in all provinces to enforce closing hours.
  • The official Austrian dashboard reflecting the latest data on COVID-19 is available in English as well as German. It is updated frequently.
  • More on the traffic light system here (in German): https://corona-ampel.gv.at/. See VIC CMT Update from 15 September for information in English.

NOTE ON COVID-19 UPDATES:

Updates are issued whenever there is fresh information from the VBOs or the Host Country.

Between updates, you can keep up to date and refer to previous material by visiting our VBO COVID-19 website.

On the site you can find all updates, guidelines, reminders and messages issued so far, as well as useful links including to official information in English and other languages. No log-in is needed.

COVID-19 WEBSITE FOR ALL UN SYSTEM PERSONNEL

FEEDBACK/SUGGESTIONS: Please write to martin.nesirky@un.org

In today’s update:

  • Message from the four main Vienna International Centre (VIC)-based organizations – additional measures, message from the VIC Medical Service
  • Latest Austrian developments and measures – Health Minister says traffic light classifications a wake-up call

MESSAGE FROM THE MAIN VIC-BASED ORGANIZATIONS (VBOs) UNOV/UNODC – IAEA – UNIDO – CTBTO

The rising number of COVID-19 cases in our Host Country and at the Vienna International Centre is a cause for concern. The VIC continues to adhere to Host Country and Host City regulations and recommendations, and the VIC CMT closely monitors developments. As the VBO Executive Heads said yesterday in their reply to a joint letter from Presidents of the VBO Staff Councils (VISAC), managers may extend flexible working arrangements within each organization’s respective policy framework. In keeping with the most recent Host Country regulations on consuming food and drink seated indoors, the following measures have been or are being taken:

  • Coffee Corners (CO4, C07): Buildings Management Services are working with EUREST to change seating arrangements for tables and chairs more than one metre apart. High tables at C07 and standing reception-style tables will be removed.
  • Coffee Corners M-Building: The seating area has already been arranged.
  • Cocktail Lounge (Bar): It will continue to operate as a Coffee Corner from 11.30 am to 3.00 pm – with appropriately arranged tables and chairs separated by more than one meter. Alcohol will not be served.
  • Restaurant: It will open from Monday 21 September, with distanced seating arrangements.
  • Signs and notices are being prepared to remind customers at EUREST outlets not to move chairs or tables, to wear masks when not seated to eat or drink, and to observe physical distancing.

VIC Medical Service Update:

The VIC Medical Service reported today there are five new positive COVID-19 cases at the VIC:

  • 3 IAEA
  • 1 UNOV/UNODC
  • 1 UNIDO
  • Total VIC personnel: 43

    Close contacts have been informed.

    The number of cases among personnel working for VBOs outside Vienna is six.

    Of the total cases so far, 36 have already recovered.

    MESSAGE FROM THE VIC MEDICAL SERVICE:

    Masks must be worn in ALL common spaces in the VIC, such as corridors, the Rotunda and kitchens. This is in addition to those spaces where masks were already required, such as the Commissary, banks and post office. Masks may be removed in the workplace or office, when in assigned seating in a meeting and while eating in the cafeteria. The Medical Service reminds all personnel not to come to work with symptoms or when feeling ill. The Medical Service encourages everyone to adhere at and outside the workplace to the physical distancing rule, washing hands and wearing a mask when required or when close contact situations cannot be avoided. It also reminds all personnel to avoid gathering in groups, and when not possible, respect the one-meter physical distancing and the required use of masks.

    VIC personnel should notify the Medical Service at this email address if they or family members test positive

    LATEST AUSTRIAN DEVELOPMENTS AND MEASURES

    • Health Minister Rudolf Anschober told a televised briefing today there were again considerable numbers of new infections, as well as a high level of tests, most of them in Vienna. Anschober said he was concerned as the number of hospitalizations had started to rise again too.
    • Anschober said he considered Monday’s traffic light categorization to be a wake-up call. He said prognostic modelling on case numbers suggested Austria was at a crossroads between stabilization and exponential growth.
    • The Government met with representatives of the regions classified as “Orange” today, he said. Two central challenges had been identified: private gatherings, and the long duration of testing and contact tracing in some of the Orange regions. He said in Orange areas it was particularly important to protect vulnerable groups and to extend screening programmes.
    • The Health Minister said provinces and districts could and should adopt additional measures regionally and locally.
    • The official Austrian dashboard reflecting the latest data on COVID-19 is available in English as well as German. It is updated frequently.
    • More on the traffic light system here (in German): https://corona-ampel.gv.at/. See VIC CMT Update from 15 September for information in English.

    NOTE ON COVID-19 UPDATES:

    Updates are issued whenever there is fresh information from the VBOs or the Host Country.

    Between updates, you can keep up to date and refer to previous material by visiting our VBO COVID-19 website.

    On the site you can find all updates, guidelines, reminders and messages issued so far, as well as useful links including to official information in English and other languages. No log-in is needed.

    COVID-19 WEBSITE FOR ALL UN SYSTEM PERSONNEL

    FEEDBACK/SUGGESTIONS: Please write to martin.nesirky@un.org

In today’s update:

  • Message from the four main Vienna International Centre (VIC)-based organizations – message from the VIC Medical Service
  • Latest Austrian developments and measures – Austria’s COVID-19 traffic light system classifies Vienna orange, but there are no changes to existing measures so far

MESSAGE FROM THE MAIN VIC-BASED ORGANIZATIONS (VBOs) UNOV/UNODC – IAEA – UNIDO – CTBTO

VIC Medical Service Update:

The VIC Medical Service reported today there are three new positive COVID-19 cases among VBOs:

  • 2 UNOV/UNODC, including one non-HQ
  • 1 IAEA

Total VIC personnel: 38 (32 recovered)

Close contacts have been informed.

The number of cases among personnel working for VBOs outside Vienna is six.

Correction: the case reported yesterday was a contractor for IAEA, not UNIDO.

MESSAGE FROM THE VIC MEDICAL SERVICE:

Masks must be worn in ALL common spaces in the VIC, such as corridors, the Rotunda and kitchens. This is in addition to those spaces where masks were already required, such as the Commissary, banks and post office. Masks may be removed in the workplace or office, when in assigned seating in a meeting and while eating in the cafeteria. The Medical Service reminds all personnel not to come to work with symptoms or when feeling ill. The Medical Service encourages everyone to adhere at and outside the workplace to the physical distancing rule, washing hands and wearing a mask when required or when close contact situations cannot be avoided. It also reminds all personnel to avoid gathering in groups, and when not possible, respect the one-meter physical distancing and the required use of masks.

VIC personnel should notify the Medical Service at this email address if they or family members test positive

LATEST AUSTRIAN DEVELOPMENTS AND MEASURES

  • Austria’s COVID-19 traffic light commission, which advises the Government, updated its classification of the country’s districts today after meeting on Monday evening.
  • Information was posted on www.corona-ampel.gv.at page today, in German. The main details are below.
  • Vienna and several other cities and districts are classified as “Orange” (high risk). However, as of today there are no new measures associated with this higher classification, including for schools. The VIC is already adhering to relevant Host Country regulations and recommendations.
  • Information posted on the traffic light page on measures pertaining to the colour Orange:
    • Under the heading “Mandatory measures applying nationwide”, the page refers to the decrees (Verordnung) Lockerungsverordnung and Novelle der Lockerungsverordnung vom 12.09.2020 and lists measures codified in these.
    • Under the heading “Current recommendations of the Commission,”:
      • The page lists six recommendations that pertain to nursing facilities, hospitals, screening, measures to protect the elderly, preventive measures at places such as markets and limitations of events for invitees/private functions without safety concept.
      • The Commission further adds that no further measures for events are needed as the measures of the Lockerungsverordnung have to be implemented and the mandatory prevention concepts applied.
      • The Commission further adds that no further measures are necessary for the education sector as there is no indication that the education sector is substantially contributing to the spread of COVID-19.
  • The official Austrian dashboard reflecting the latest data on COVID-19 is available in English as well as German. It is updated frequently.
  • More on the traffic light system here (in German): https://corona-ampel.gv.at/

NOTE ON COVID-19 UPDATES:

Updates are issued whenever there is fresh information from the VBOs or the Host Country.

Between updates, you can keep up to date and refer to previous material by visiting our VBO COVID-19 website.

On the site you can find all updates, guidelines, reminders and messages issued so far, as well as useful links including to official information in English and other languages. No log-in is needed.

COVID-19 WEBSITE FOR ALL UN SYSTEM PERSONNEL

FEEDBACK/SUGGESTIONS: Please write to martin.nesirky@un.org

In today’s update:

  • Message from the four main Vienna International Centre (VIC)-based organizations – message from the VIC Medical Service
  • Latest Austrian developments and measures – Austrian Government announces new nationwide measures to tackle rise in COVID-19 cases, including much wider mask use; Chancellor Kurz sees beginning of second wave, asks all to implement measures; media report Vienna to be categorize orange under traffic light system

MESSAGE FROM THE MAIN VIC-BASED ORGANIZATIONS (VBOs) UNOV/UNODC – IAEA – UNIDO – CTBTO

VIC Medical Service Update:

The VIC Medical Service reported today there is one new positive COVID-19 case at the VIC:

  • 1 UNIDO contractor

Total VIC personnel: 35 (26 recovered)

Close contacts have been informed.

The number of cases among personnel working for VBOs outside Vienna is five.

MESSAGE FROM THE VIC MEDICAL SERVICE:

From Monday, 14 September, masks must be worn in ALL common spaces in the VIC, such as corridors, the Rotunda and kitchens. This is in addition to those spaces where masks were already required, such as the Commissary, banks and post office. Masks may be removed in the workplace or office, when in assigned seating in a meeting and while eating in the cafeteria. The Medical Service reminds all personnel not to come to work with symptoms or when feeling ill. The Medical Service encourages everyone to adhere at and outside the workplace to the physical distancing rule, washing hands and wearing a mask when required or when close contact situations cannot be avoided. It also reminds all personnel to avoid gathering in groups, and when not possible, respect the one-meter physical distancing and the required use of masks.

VIC personnel should notify the Medical Service at this email address if they or family members test positive

LATEST AUSTRIAN DEVELOPMENTS AND MEASURES

  • The Corona Commission, an advisory body to the Government, met for a special session on Monday evening to review the high number of new infections. The Commission makes recommendations to the Government for decisions to be taken at a political level. Austrian media reported the Commission had categorized Vienna orange. An announcement will be made on Tuesday.
  • At a televised briefing on Sunday following a meeting with business and labour representatives), Austrian Federal Chancellor Sebastian Kurz said we were at the beginning of a second wave. Sunday’s numbers were only lower because of fewer tests at the weekend. Aside from new measures, common sense and individual responsibility were urgently necessary.
  • Kurz said most infections happened in private life but were then often carried into the workplace. Employers therefore needed to be careful. Working from home had worked well and should be continued and increased and working in the workplace needed prevention concepts. These too had worked well and should be further extended.
  • At a televised briefing on Friday, Chancellor Sebastian Kurz, other cabinet members and the Spokesperson for the Corona-Commission announced new measures that apply nationwide and the categorization of Austrian cities and districts under the COVID-19 traffic light system for the coming week.
  • Kurz reiterated that this autumn and winter would be challenging and said the situation was becoming serious again. The numbers had risen continuously over the past weeks, worldwide and in Austria, particularly in Vienna and other urban areas. This would bring health and economic challenges, especially as Austria is a tourist destination. What happened now would be decisive for the autumn and winter.
  • The measures presented came into effect on Monday and are valid for all Austria. Kurz said he did not expect these measures to be loosened in the coming weeks.
  • These are the regulations announced:
    • Masks mandatory in all areas where they are already, plus in all shops, service providers, government offices where there is contact with the public, schools outside the classroom, and wherever there is contact with customers.
    • Events with no fixed seating: maximum 50 participants indoors, maximum 100 participants outdoors
    • Events with fixed seating: maximum 1,500 participants indoors, maximum 3,000 participants outdoors
    • Restaurants and the catering sector: masks for service staff and food and drinks to be consumed only at the table
  • Vice-Chancellor Werner Kogler said the aim was to avoid a second lockdown.
  • Health Minister Rudolf Anschober said the Commission had recommended the cities or districts of Vienna, Graz, Wiener Neustadt, Korneuburg, Innsbruck, Schwaz and Kufstein to be categorized as yellow. The rest of the country is categorized as green.
  • Anschober urged the population to be particularly careful in yellow areas. He also cautioned against misinterpreting green; it did not mean conditions were safe, but still serious. Everyone needed to take responsibility.
  • The official Austrian dashboard reflecting the latest data on COVID-19 is available in English as well as German. It is updated frequently.
  • More on the traffic light system here (in German)

NOTE ON COVID-19 UPDATES:

Updates are issued whenever there is fresh information from the VBOs or the Host Country.

Between updates, you can keep up to date and refer to previous material by visiting our VBO COVID-19 website.

On the site you can find all updates, guidelines, reminders and messages issued so far, as well as useful links including to official information in English and other languages. No log-in is needed.

COVID-19 WEBSITE FOR ALL UN SYSTEM PERSONNEL

FEEDBACK/SUGGESTIONS: Please write to martin.nesirky@un.org

In today’s update:

  • Message from the four main Vienna International Centre (VIC)-based organizations – message from the VIC Medical Service
  • Latest Austrian developments and measures – number of new cases highest since 28 March; media reports say Austrian leaders favour tougher measures

MESSAGE FROM THE MAIN VIC-BASED ORGANIZATIONS (VBOs) UNOV/UNODC – IAEA – UNIDO – CTBTO

VIC Medical Service Update:

The VIC Medical Service reported today there is one new positive COVID-19 case at the VIC:

  • 1 IAEA

Total VIC personnel: 35 (26 recovered)

Close contacts have been informed.

The number of cases among personnel working for VBOs outside Vienna is five.

MESSAGE FROM THE VIC MEDICAL SERVICE:

The Austrian authorities will issue their weekly update of the “traffic light” system on Friday. When the system was introduced last week, Vienna was assessed as being yellow on the four-colour scale. VIC measures and recommendations are in line with the measures required or recommended by the Host Country for those areas marked yellow.

More on the traffic light system here (in German)

The measures under yellow

The Medical Service reminds all personnel not to come to work with symptoms or when feeling ill.

The Medical Service encourages everyone to adhere at and outside the workplace to the physical distancing rule, washing hands and wearing a mask when required or when close contact situations cannot be avoided.

It also reminds all personnel to avoid gathering in groups, and when not possible, respect the one-meter physical distancing and the recommended use of masks.

VIC personnel should notify the Medical Service at this email address if they or family members test positive

LATEST AUSTRIAN DEVELOPMENTS AND MEASURES:

The Austrian authorities reported there were 645 new cases recorded in Austria yesterday, the highest since 28 March. According to Austrian media reports, Chancellor Sebastian Kurz wants to see tougher measures introduced to deal with the rise. The health minister is awaiting the traffic light update that he said is scheduled to be made public at 1100 on Friday, according to media reports. The Host City’s health commissioner told reporters tougher measures were needed in Vienna, where 387 cases were reported yesterday.The official Austrian dashboard reflecting the latest data on COVID-19 is available in English as well as German. It is updated frequently.

NOTE ON COVID-19 UPDATES:

Updates are issued whenever there is fresh information from the VBOs or the Host Country.

Between updates, you can keep up to date and refer to previous material by visiting our VBO COVID-19 website.

On the site you can find all updates, guidelines, reminders and messages issued so far, as well as useful links including to official information in English and other languages. No log-in is needed.

COVID-19 WEBSITE FOR ALL UN SYSTEM PERSONNEL

FEEDBACK/SUGGESTIONS: Please write to martin.nesirky@un.org

In today’s update:

  • Message from the main Vienna-based UN system organizations – message from the Vienna International Centre (VIC) Medical Service
  • Latest Austrian developments and measures – Health Minister says Austria numbers too high, more prevention needed

MESSAGE FROM THE MAIN VIENNA-BASED UN SYSTEM ORGANIZATIONS (VBOs) UNOV/UNODC – IAEA – UNIDO – CTBTO

VIC Medical Service Update:

The VIC Medical Service reported today there is one new positive COVID-19 case at the VIC:

  • 1 IAEA

Total VIC personnel: 34 (26 recovered)

This case is associated with the cases previously reported in the Commissary, involving personnel who work there. Close contacts had already been identified and informed. The VIC Medical Service assesses that there was no risk to customers.

The number of cases among personnel working for VBOs outside Vienna is five.

MESSAGE FROM THE VIC MEDICAL SERVICE:

The Medical Service reminds all personnel not to come to work with symptoms or when feeling ill.

The Medical Service encourages everyone to adhere at and outside the workplace to the physical distancing rule, washing hands and wearing a mask when required or when close contact situations cannot be avoided.

It also reminds all personnel to avoid gathering in groups, and when not possible, respect the one-meter physical distancing and the recommended use of masks.

VIC personnel should notify the Medical Service at this email address if they or family members test positive

LATEST AUSTRIAN DEVELOPMENTS AND MEASURES:

  • The Austrian authorities reported there were 533 new cases recorded in Austria yesterday.
  • Health Minister Rudolf Anschober told a televised briefing he considered the numbers in Austria too high and they needed stabilizing. He said more prevention was necessary and this was being considered.
  • The global peak had not yet been reached, and the pandemic should not be underestimated, Anschober said.
  • The official Austrian dashboard reflecting the latest data on COVID-19 is available in English as well as German. It is updated frequently.
  • NOTE ON COVID-19 UPDATES:

    Updates are issued whenever there is fresh information from the VBOs or the Host Country.

    Between updates, you can keep up to date and refer to previous material by visiting our VBO COVID-19 website.

    On the site you can find all updates, guidelines, reminders and messages issued so far, as well as useful links including to official information in English and other languages. No log-in is needed.

    COVID-19 WEBSITE FOR ALL UN SYSTEM PERSONNEL

    FEEDBACK/SUGGESTIONS: Please write to martin.nesirky@un.org

In today’s update:

  • Message from the main Vienna-based UN organizations – message from the Medical Service
  • Latest Austrian developments and measures – Authorities report highest daily total of new cases since 1 April

MESSAGE FROM THE MAIN VIENNA-BASED UN SYSTEM ORGANIZATIONS (VBOs) UNOV/UNODC – IAEA – UNIDO – CTBTO

VIC Medical Service Update:

The Vienna International Centre (VIC) Medical Service reported today there is one new positive COVID-19 case at the VIC:

  • 1 IAEA contractor

Total VIC personnel: 33 (24 recovered)

This case is associated with the cases previously reported in the Commissary. Close contacts had already been identified and informed.

The number of cases among personnel working for VBOs outside Vienna is five.

MESSAGE FROM VIC MEDICAL SERVICE:

The Medical Service reminds all personnel not to come to work with symptoms or when feeling ill. The Medical Service encourages everyone to adhere at and outside the workplace to the physical distancing rule, washing hands and wearing a mask when required or when close contact situations cannot be avoided. It also reminds all personnel to avoid gathering in groups, and when not possible, respect the one-meter physical distancing and the recommended use of masks.

VIC personnel should notify the Medical Service at this email address if they or family members test positive

LATEST AUSTRIAN DEVELOPMENTS AND MEASURES:

  • The Austrian authorities reported there were 470 new cases recorded in Austria yesterday, the highest total since 1 April.
  • The official Austrian dashboard reflecting the latest data on COVID-19 is available in English as well as German. It is updated frequently.

NOTE ON COVID-19 UPDATES:

Updates are issued whenever there is fresh information from the VBOs or the Host Country.

Between updates, you can keep up to date and refer to previous material by visiting our VBO COVID-19 website.

On the site you can find all updates, guidelines, reminders and messages issued so far, as well as useful links including to official information in English and other languages. No log-in is needed.

COVID-19 WEBSITE FOR ALL UN SYSTEM PERSONNEL

FEEDBACK/SUGGESTIONS: Please write to martin.nesirky@un.org

In today’s update:

  • Message from the main Vienna-based UN organizations – message from the Medical Service

MESSAGE FROM THE MAIN VIENNA-BASED UN ORGANIZATIONS (VBOs) UNOV/UNODC – IAEA – UNIDO – CTBTO

VIC Medical Service Update:

The Vienna International Centre (VIC) Medical Service reported today there are seven new positive COVID-19 cases at the VIC:

  • 6 IAEA
  • 1 UNOV/UNODC

Total VIC personnel: 32 (24 recovered)

The close contacts of all seven people have been identified and informed. Almost all the cases relate to the previously reported case in the Commissary. All staff working at the Commissary were tested and a deep cleaning of relevant areas took place on 4 September. Staff who tested positive and close contacts are in quarantine. The Commissary reopened today.

The number of cases among personnel working for VBOs outside Vienna is five.

MESSAGE FROM VIC MEDICAL SERVICE:

The Medical Service reminds all personnel not to come to work with symptoms or when feeling ill.

The Medical Service encourages everyone to adhere at and outside the workplace to the physical distancing rule, washing hands and wearing a mask when required or when close contact situations cannot be avoided.

It also reminds all personnel to avoid gathering in groups, and when not possible, respect the one-meter physical distancing and the recommended use of masks.

VIC personnel should notify the Medical Service at this email address if they or family members test positive

LATEST AUSTRIAN DEVELOPMENTS AND MEASURES:

The official Austrian dashboard reflecting the latest data on COVID-19 is available in English as well as German. It is updated frequently.

NOTE ON COVID-19 UPDATES:

Updates are issued whenever there is fresh information from the VBOs or the Host Country.

Between updates, you can keep up to date and refer to previous material by visiting our VBO COVID-19 website.

On the site you can find all updates, guidelines, reminders and messages issued so far, as well as useful links including to official information in English and other languages. No log-in is needed.

COVID-19 WEBSITE FOR ALL UN SYSTEM PERSONNEL

FEEDBACK/SUGGESTIONS: Please write to martin.nesirky@un.org

In today’s update:

  • Message from the main Vienna-based UN organizations – message from the Medical Service
  • Latest Austrian developments and measures – “traffic light” system introduced; most of country green; Vienna among four areas on yellow, meaning greater use of masks

MESSAGE FROM THE MAIN VIENNA-BASED UN ORGANIZATIONS (VBOs) UNOV/UNODC – IAEA – UNIDO – CTBTO

VIC Medical Service Update:

The Vienna International Centre (VIC) Medical Service reported today there are two new positive COVID-19 cases:

  • 1 IAEA staff member at the VIC
  • 1 IAEA contractor at the Seibersdorf Laboratories

Total VIC personnel: 25 (20 recovered)

The number of cases among staff working for VBOs outside Vienna is 5.

Close contacts have been informed.

MESSAGE FROM VIC MEDICAL SERVICE:

The Medical Service reminds all personnel not to come to work with symptoms or when feeling ill.

It also reminds all personnel not to gather in groups in offices or for coffee, lunchbreaks and chats.

The Medical Service encourages everyone to adhere at and outside the workplace to the physical distancing rule, washing hands and wearing a mask when required or when close contact situations cannot be avoided.

LATEST AUSTRIAN DEVELOPMENTS AND MEASURES:

  • At a televised briefing today, Chancellor Sebastian Kurz, cabinet members and the spokesperson of the new commission on the Government’s “COVID-19 traffic light system” presented the new system.
  • The German-language public website of the system is: https://corona-ampel.gv.at/
  • There are four colours: green, yellow, orange and red, depicting different risk levels for each district in Austria (and Vienna in its entirety). The levels are assessed by the Corona Commission, an advisory body to the Government. They will be updated every Friday or ad hoc when the Commission considers it necessary.
  • In the first version of the system launched today, the cities of Vienna, Graz and Linz as well as the district of Kufstein in Tyrol province are classified as yellow, the rest of the country green.<.li>
  • An overview of the guidance provided by the traffic light system for different traffic light colours can be found here (in German).

The official Austrian dashboard reflecting the latest data on COVID-19 is available in English as well as German. It is updated frequently.

NOTE ON COVID-19 UPDATES:

Updates are issued whenever there is fresh information from the VBOs or the Host Country.

Between updates, you can keep up to date and refer to previous material by visiting our VBO COVID-19 website.

On the site you can find all updates, guidelines, reminders and messages issued so far, as well as useful links including to official information in English and other languages. No log-in is needed.

COVID-19 WEBSITE FOR ALL UN SYSTEM PERSONNEL

FEEDBACK/SUGGESTIONS: Please write to martin.nesirky@un.org

In today’s update:

  • Message from the main Vienna-based UN organizations – message from the Medical Service

MESSAGE FROM THE MAIN VIENNA-BASED UN ORGANIZATIONS (VBOs) UNOV/UNODC – IAEA – UNIDO – CTBTO

VIC Medical Service Update:

The Vienna International Centre (VIC) Medical Service reported there are five new positive COVID-19 cases at the VIC:

  • 2 UNOV/UNODC
  • 2 IAEA
  • 1 UNIDO

Total VIC personnel: 24 (20 recovered)

The close contacts of all five people have been identified and informed. One of the IAEA cases is a Commissary staff member. The VIC Medical Service’s assessment is there is no risk for non-Commissary staff or other clients. As a precautionary measure and to allow time for Commissary staff to be tested and for deep cleaning of relevant areas, the Commissary will be closed tomorrow, 4 September.

UNIDO has also noted a positive case at a non-VIC headquarters field location. This brings the total number of positive cases involving non-VIC staff outside of Austria to four.

MESSAGE FROM VIC MEDICAL SERVICE:

The Medical Service encourages everyone to adhere at and outside the workplace to the physical distancing rule, washing hands and wearing a mask when required or when close contact situations cannot be avoided.

It also reminds all staff not to come to work with symptoms or when feeling ill.

LATEST AUSTRIAN DEVELOPMENTS AND MEASURES:

The official Austrian dashboard reflecting the latest data on COVID-19 is available in English as well as German. It is updated frequently.

NOTE ON COVID-19 UPDATES:

Updates are issued whenever there is fresh information from the VBOs or the Host Country.

Between updates, you can keep up to date and refer to previous material by visiting our VBO COVID-19 website.

On the site you can find all updates, guidelines, reminders and messages issued so far, as well as useful links including to official information in English and other languages. No log-in is needed.

COVID-19 WEBSITE FOR ALL UN SYSTEM PERSONNEL

FEEDBACK/SUGGESTIONS: Please write to martin.nesirky@un.org

In today’s update:

    Latest Austrian developments and measures – Austrian government urges people to help keep COVID-19 down by making greater use of masks, meet in smaller private groups

LATEST AUSTRIAN DEVELOPMENTS AND MEASURES:

  • Austrian Chancellor Sebastian Kurz and other cabinet members gave a televised briefing today after their first cabinet meeting after the summer break.
  • Kurz said it looked as though the research on vaccines and treatment may allow the next summer to be a normal one. Austria had come through the pandemic well so far.
  • However, now at the start of autumn, the numbers were at a relatively high level and everyone must contribute to get through the autumn and winter well.
  • The Government made three central recommendations:
    1. Continue distancing and hygiene measures
    2. Wear a mask where distance cannot be kept and where people feel they could be at risk
    3. When holding private social gatherings, it was recommended to have fewer people or a maximum of 25 attending and to keep distance where possible.
  • Vice Chancellor Werner Kogler said if the situation became more difficult, new measures would become necessary.
  • Health Minister Rudolf Anschober said he considered the number of infections somewhat too high but not dramatic. One of the main areas of cluster formation in recent weeks had been at private gatherings; this was the reason for the recommendation on reducing numbers at private gatherings and maintaining distance.
  • Large gatherings of people and indoor spaces with poor ventilation and/or high background noise should be avoided in the coming months, as these were settings in which the virus thrived, he said.
  • On masks, Anschober said the government recommended people use them more, with influenza and colds as well as COVID-19 in mind in the coming autumn and winter months.
  • He appealed to people to stay home if they had symptoms and call a doctor and said it was a good time now to download the Stop Corona App.
  • Interior Minister Karl Nehammer said everyone needed to be more alert again as autumn approaches. He underlined that compliance with quarantine measures was a legal requirement. People who were under quarantine and did not comply were subject to fines if not infected and to criminal penalties if tested positive.
  • A “traffic light system” will be introduced on Friday which will depict the situation in different parts of the country at district level and will provide guidance on measures to be taken by local authorities in response.
  • Hungary closed all borders to non-citizens as of 1 September; for citizens the requirement is 14 days compulsory home quarantine or two negative tests.
  • The official Austrian dashboard reflecting the latest data on COVID-19 is available in English as well as German. It is updated frequently.

NOTE ON COVID-19 UPDATES:

Updates are issued whenever there is fresh information from the VBOs or the Host Country.

Between updates, you can keep up to date and refer to previous material by visiting our VBO COVID-19 website.

On the site you can find all updates, guidelines, reminders and messages issued so far, as well as useful links including to official information in English and other languages. No log-in is needed.

COVID-19 WEBSITE FOR ALL UN SYSTEM PERSONNEL

FEEDBACK/SUGGESTIONS: Please write to martin.nesirky@un.org

In today’s update:

  • Message from the main Vienna-based UN organizations – message from the Medical Service

MESSAGE FROM THE MAIN VIENNA-BASED UN ORGANIZATIONS (VBOs) UNOV/UNODC – IAEA – UNIDO – CTBTO

NEW CASES:

The Vienna International Centre (VIC) Medical Service reported today there is a new positive COVID-19 case at the VIC working at UNOV/UNODC. UNIDO also registered a positive case at a non-VIC headquarters field location. All close contact persons have been informed. This brings the total number of positive cases involving VBOs personnel to 22. 16 have already recovered.

MESSAGE FROM VIC MEDICAL SERVICE:

The Medical Service encourages everyone to adhere at and outside the workplace to the physical distancing rule, washing hands and wearing a mask when required or when close contact situations cannot be avoided.

It also reminds all staff not to come to work with symptoms or when feeling ill.

LATEST AUSTRIAN DEVELOPMENTS AND MEASURES:

The official Austrian dashboard reflecting the latest data on COVID-19 is available in English as well as German. It is updated frequently.

NOTE ON COVID-19 UPDATES:

Updates are issued whenever there is fresh information from the VBOs or the Host Country.

Between updates, you can keep up to date and refer to previous material by visiting our VBO COVID-19 website.

On the site you can find all updates, guidelines, reminders and messages issued so far, as well as useful links including to official information in English and other languages. No log-in is needed.

COVID-19 WEBSITE FOR ALL UN SYSTEM PERSONNEL

FEEDBACK/SUGGESTIONS: Please write to martin.nesirky@un.org

In today’s update:

  • Message from the main Vienna-based UN organizations – message from the Medical Service

MESSAGE FROM THE MAIN VIENNA-BASED UN ORGANIZATIONS (VBOs) UNOV/UNODC – IAEA – UNIDO – CTBTO

NEW CASES:

The Vienna International Centre (VIC) Medical Service reported on Monday there are three new positive COVID-19 cases; two in UNOV/UNODC and one at the IAEA. All close contact persons have been informed. This brings the total number of positive cases involving VIC personnel to 20; 16 have already recovered.

MESSAGE FROM VIC MEDICAL SERVICE:

The Medical Service encourages everyone to adhere at and outside the workplace to the physical distancing rule, washing hands and wearing a mask when required or when close contact situations cannot be avoided.

It also reminds all staff not to come to work with symptoms or when feeling ill.

PROTOCOL FOR ADDRESSING COVID-19 CASES IN THE VIC:

A protocol is in place at the VIC for addressing COVID-19 cases among staff, which is based on the regulations of the Austrian health authorities. According to this protocol, if a staff member or other personnel reports that he or she has tested positive for COVID-19, the VIC Medical Service, following the guidelines for contact tracing provided by the Austrian authorities, will notify staff who are considered potential close contact persons of the confirmed case and advise on further steps.

Close contact is considered to be face-to-face contact with a person who tested positive for COVID-19:

  • for at least 15 minutes (uninterrupted),
  • at a distance of less than two metres and
  • during the 48 hours before the symptoms started or the test was performed.
Staff identified as close contacts are asked to work from home and the VIC Medical Service will contact the Austrian health authorities to arrange testing for them. In addition, a specific cleaning protocol for the relevant area is activated. In the event of a confirmed positive case, all VIC staff are notified through the VIC COVID-19 updates and informed about the steps being taken.

LATEST AUSTRIAN DEVELOPMENTS AND MEASURES:

The Austrian authorities reported as of 1500 today 25,404 people had tested positive with COVID-19 in Austria. There were 222 new cases registered yesterday. The number of people who have recovered is 21,657. The death toll stands at 733. There have been 1,101,206 tests.

The official Austrian dashboard reflecting the latest data on COVID-19 is available in English as well as German. It is updated frequently.

NOTE ON COVID-19 UPDATES

  • Updates will be issued whenever there is fresh information from the VBOs or the Host Country.
  • Between updates, you can keep up to date and refer to previous material by visiting our VBO COVID-19 website.
  • On the site you can find all updates, reminders and messages issued so far, as well as useful links including to information in English and other languages.No log-in is needed. Link to the site: https://nucleus.iaea.org/sites/covid19/SitePages/Home.aspx

COVID-19 WEBSITE FOR ALL UN SYSTEM PERSONNEL

FEEDBACK/SUGGESTIONS: Please write to martin.nesirky@un.org

In today’s update:

  • Message from the main Vienna-based UN organizations – message from the Medical Service

MESSAGE FROM THE MAIN VIENNA-BASED UN ORGANIZATIONS (VBOs) UNOV/UNODC – IAEA – UNIDO – CTBTO

The Vienna International Centre (VIC) Medical Service reports there is a positive COVID-19 case involving a UNIDO staff member, whose symptoms are not severe. There was no workplace exposure because the person was on holiday and not at work.

The Medical Service encourages anyone who has returned or will return from Croatia or the Balearic Islands to undergo testing.

LATEST AUSTRIAN DEVELOPMENTS AND MEASURES:

The Austrian authorities reported as of 0800 today 24,310 people had tested positive with COVID-19 in Austria. There were 330 new cases registered yesterday. The number of people who have recovered is 20,958. The death toll stands at 729. There have been 1,048,216 tests.

The official Austrian dashboard reflecting the latest data on COVID-19 is available in English as well as German. It is updated frequently.

NOTE ON COVID-19 UPDATES

  • Updates will be issued whenever there is fresh information from the VBOs or the Host Country.
  • Between updates, you can keep up to date and refer to previous material by visiting our VBO COVID-19 website.
  • On the site you can find all updates, reminders and messages issued so far, as well as useful links including to information in English and other languages.No log-in is needed. Link to the site: https://nucleus.iaea.org/sites/covid19/SitePages/Home.aspx

COVID-19 WEBSITE FOR ALL UN SYSTEM PERSONNEL

FEEDBACK/SUGGESTIONS: Please write to martin.nesirky@un.org

In today’s update:

  • Message from the main Vienna-based UN organizations – message from the Medical Service
  • Latest Austrian developments and measures – From Monday, tests needed from those returning from Spain’s Balearic Islands; Austrian leaders express concern about rising number of cases
  • MESSAGE FROM THE MAIN VIENNA-BASED UN ORGANIZATIONS (VBOs) UNOV/UNODC – IAEA – UNIDO – CTBTO

    Message from the Vienna International Centre (VIC) Medical Service:

    The COVID-19 pandemic is far from over. Staff and personnel must remain vigilant at the VIC and in our host community.

    Keeping physical distance is, together with regular hand washing, the most effective preventive measure against COVID-19.

    Remember to keep at least one metre distance from others, and wear a mask whenever this is not possible, such as when using the elevators. Occupancy in the elevators remains limited to the posted maximum.

    Masks are required at Security entrances, when interacting with Security officers and in the Commissary, the cafeteria, pharmacy, banks and post office at the VIC.

    VIC personnel may, of course, wear masks whenever they are in public spaces at the VIC if they wish.

    The top priority at the VIC is the health and wellbeing of all. Individual responsibility plays an important part in this.

    LATEST AUSTRIAN DEVELOPMENTS AND MEASURES:

    From Monday 24 August, those returning from Spain’s Balearic Islands must produce a negative COVID-19 test taken within the past 72 hours or go into home quarantine and obtain a test within 48 hours, the Austrian Government announced on Tuesday. Free testing will be available at all Austrian airports for those returning from these islands; details will be announced today.

    Chancellor Sebastian Kurz told a televised briefing the summer had gone quite well, but the situation had worsened in Austria and elsewhere in Europe. The largest group of positive cases involved returning holidaymakers.

    Border controls would be strengthened with 500 extra police officers and 800 Austrian armed forces personnel would be available to help support health officials, Kurz said. A network of 38 mobile testing centres were available across the country.

    Health Minister Rudolf Anschober said the average age of those testing positive had dropped and was now 23.5, with more than two-thirds of them male. “Yes, we all look forward to that holiday. But we really must act responsibly,” he said. The increase in cases was broadly in line with expectations but the figures were a cause for concern.

    Interior Minister Karl Nehammer said there were more than 20,000 people in quarantine in Austria at the moment. He noted compliance with quarantine measures was a legal requirement and non-compliance if infected was a criminal offence. He encouraged people to take their vacation in Austria.

    The Austrian authorities reported as of 0800 today 23,952 people had tested positive with COVID-19 in Austria. There were 222 new cases registered yesterday. The number of people who have recovered is 20,958. The death toll stands at 729. There have been 1,048,216 tests.

    The official Austrian dashboard reflecting the latest data on COVID-19 is available in English as well as German. It is updated frequently.

    NOTE ON COVID-19 UPDATES

    • Updates will be issued whenever there is fresh information from the VBOs or the Host Country.
    • Between updates, you can keep up to date and refer to previous material by visiting our VBO COVID-19 website.
    • On the site you can find all updates, reminders and messages issued so far, as well as useful links including to information in English and other languages.No log-in is needed. Link to the site: https://nucleus.iaea.org/sites/covid19/SitePages/Home.aspx

    COVID-19 WEBSITE FOR ALL UN SYSTEM PERSONNEL

    FEEDBACK/SUGGESTIONS: Please write to martin.nesirky@un.org

In today’s update:

  • Message from the main Vienna-based UN organizations – Update from Security on Commissary access cards for family members and dependents
  • Latest Austrian developments and measures – test required from those returning from Croatia, Education Minister outlines return-to-school plans

MESSAGE FROM THE MAIN VIENNA-BASED UN ORGANIZATIONS (VBOs) UNOV/UNODC – IAEA – UNIDO – CTBTO

UN Security and Safety Service update on Commissary access cards for family members:

It has been discovered that, due to a technical issue, some old family member access cards may not allow access to the Vienna International Centre (VIC).

For this reason, prior to a Commissary visit, family members with old access cards should first go to the Pass Office at Gate 1 to receive a new access card.

Please note family members will then need to exit Gate 1 and re-enter the VIC through Gate 3 or Gate 4 to reach the Commissary. Gate 4 is for vehicles entering and leaving the VIC. Gate 3 is a pedestrian entrance and exit, and an exit for vehicles.

The Pass Office opening hours are from 08:00 to 16:00 Monday to Friday. The Pass Office is accessible through the Gate 1 Visitors Entrance.

Thank you for your understanding.

LATEST AUSTRIAN DEVELOPMENTS AND MEASURES:

  • From today, those returning to Austria from Croatia must have a negative COVID-19 test conducted within the previous 72 hours or go into quarantine and take a test within 48 hours. This is because about a third of the recent positive cases involve holidaymakers returning from Croatia, according to the Health Ministry.
  • Those who live in Vienna and returned from Croatia between 7 and 16 August can take a free test at a centre set up outside the Ernst Happel stadium in Prater. This will be possible until Friday 21 August.
  • People who returned from Croatia between 7 and 16 August can also have a free test at home; to request such a test call the COVID-19 helpline on 1450. Those who feel unwell should ask for a test at home and not go to the test centre.
  • Tests for those arriving back in Austria from Croatia from today on are not free.
  • In a tweet, Austrian Chancellor Sebastian Kurz urged people to be careful and noted the pandemic was not yet over. He said people should do everything to protect people’s health and avoid a second lockdown so that jobs and the economy are not put at risk.
  • Education Minister Heinz Fassmann told a televised briefing on Monday that schools and kindergartens would open without restrictions when the new school year starts. He said schools were well prepared and that a handbook on hygiene measures would be sent to schools. He urged parents not to send children to school if they are unwell. A digital distance learning portal will be online in September for use if schools have to close.
  • Fassmann outlined four measures:
    1. Classrooms must be ventilated every 20 minutes for five minutes.
    2. Outdoor classes are recommended whenever possible.
    3. Face masks important in entry halls and staircases. It is recommended children remain with their class groups and minimize mixing with other groups.
    4. A “traffic light” system that tracks and responds to infection rates will be used, with four stages ranging from green (regular operations) to red (distance learning if there is general lockdown in a region).
  • The Austrian authorities reported as of 1500 today 23,515 people had tested positive with COVID-19 in Austria. There were 138 new cases registered yesterday. The number of people who have recovered is 20,765. The death toll stands at 729. There have been 1,024,067 tests.
  • The official Austrian dashboard reflecting the latest data on COVID-19 is available in English as well as German. It is updated frequently.

    NOTE ON COVID-19 UPDATES

    • Updates will be issued whenever there is fresh information from the VBOs or the Host Country.
    • Between updates, you can keep up to date and refer to previous material by visiting our VBO COVID-19 website.
    • On the site you can find all updates, reminders and messages issued so far, as well as useful links including to information in English and other languages.No log-in is needed. Link to the site: https://nucleus.iaea.org/sites/covid19/SitePages/Home.aspx

    COVID-19 WEBSITE FOR ALL UN SYSTEM PERSONNEL

    FEEDBACK/SUGGESTIONS: Please write to martin.nesirky@un.org

In today’s update:

  • Message from the main Vienna-based UN organizations – Commissary access for family members and dependents
  • Latest Austrian developments and measures

MESSAGE FROM THE MAIN VIENNA-BASED UN ORGANIZATIONS (VBOs) UNOV/UNODC – IAEA – UNIDO – CTBTO

From Monday, 17 August, family member and dependants who are Commissary cardholders will again be able to access the Commissary. This includes relevant family members and dependents linked to Permanent Missions and other international organizations as well as family members and dependents of Vienna International Centre (VIC) staff.

However, due to continued COVID-19 restrictions, family cardholders can access the Commissary through Gate 4 or Gate 3 only and should park in the Commissary car park.

Access to the main area of the VIC and through Gate 1 or Gate 5 is not allowed for family card holders at the moment. Please note that children are currently not allowed to enter the VIC, including the Commissary.

Family members may continue to use the old access cards which are still valid and are reminded that it is not possible to exchange them for new access cards at Gate 1 for the time being.

To avoid extended waiting times and crowding during peak periods, all Commissary cardholders should register at https://www.signupgenius.com/go/vic-commissary for a date and timeslot. Cardholders will receive an automatically generated confirmation of their registration by email that must be shown (electronically or as a printout) to the staff managing the Commissary entrances. No limit is placed on the frequency of visits.

Please note that face masks are required in the Commissary and at the Security Gates when entering and exiting the VIC.

LATEST AUSTRIAN DEVELOPMENTS AND MEASURES:

The Austrian authorities reported as of 0800 today 22,881 people had tested positive with COVID-19 in Austria. There were 211 new cases registered yesterday. The number of people who have recovered is 20,499. The death toll stands at 725. There have been 1,003,432 tests.

The official Austrian dashboard reflecting the latest data on COVID-19 is available in English as well as German. It is updated frequently.

p>NOTE ON COVID-19 UPDATES
  • Updates are no longer being issued daily.
  • Updates will be issued whenever there is fresh information from the VBOs or the Host Country.
  • Between updates, you can keep up to date and refer to previous material by visiting our VBO COVID-19 website.
  • On the site you can find all updates, reminders and messages issued so far, as well as useful links including to information in English and other languages.No log-in is needed. Link to the site: https://nucleus.iaea.org/sites/covid19/SitePages/Home.aspx

COVID-19 WEBSITE FOR ALL UN SYSTEM PERSONNEL

FEEDBACK/SUGGESTIONS: Please write to martin.nesirky@un.org

In today’s update:

  • Message from the main Vienna-based UN organizations – reminder on staying safe and well, updates on VIC meeting guidelines for organizers and participants, links to travel and entry guidance
  • Latest Austrian developments and measure

MESSAGE FROM THE MAIN VIENNA-BASED UN ORGANIZATIONS (VBOs) UNOV/UNODC – IAEA – UNIDO – CTBTO

As a reminder, staff and personnel must remain vigilant at the Vienna International Centre (VIC) and in our host community. That means maintaining physical distancing of at least one metre, using face masks where they are required and observing hand hygiene. The top priority at the VIC is the health and wellbeing of all. Individual responsibility plays an important part in this.

VIC Medical Service guidelines for meeting organizers and participants are now available:

Organizers

Participants

The guidelines may also be published individually by each organization as it deems appropriate to ensure that they become available to the intended recipient, including Members States or experts.

New Information on travel and entry requirements

The Austrian authorities have issued a new set of regulations regarding travel advice. They can be consulted in the following links:

In English

Appendices 1 and 2 referred to in the document can be found here (Anlage A1)

It should also be noted that as of 10 August adjustments were made to the mainland of Spain:

  • In Appendix A1 (entry without restrictions) the listing of “Spain” has been restricted to “only the Balearic Islands and the Canaries”.
  • In Appendix A2 (countries in which there is an increased risk of COVID-19) the phrase “Spain (with the exception of the Balearic Islands and the Canaries)” has been inserted.

In German:

This is the Austrian regulation in full, in German

Health Ministry helpline (which can usually answer in English as well as German):

  • Phone: 0800 201 611 (then press 2 and wait for a helpline worker to answer; it may take a while)
  • Email: buergerservice@sozialministerium.at

A list of diplomatic representations in Vienna or accredited to Austria can be found here

LATEST AUSTRIAN DEVELOPMENTS AND MEASURES:

The Austrian authorities reported as of 1500 today 22,086 people had tested positive with COVID-19 in Austria. There were 74 new cases registered yesterday. The number of people who have recovered is 20,010. The death toll stands at 723. There have been 965,758 tests.

The official Austrian dashboard reflecting the latest data on COVID-19 is available in English as well as German. It is updated frequently.

LINK TO ADDENDUM ON GENERAL GUIDELINES FOR VIC RETURN:

The key points from the Addendum to General Guidelines for the Return to the Vienna International Centre are in the 12 June VIC CMT update, available by scrolling down the page here

The full Addendum text is here

The key points from the overall General Guidelines for the Return to the Vienna International Centre are in the 14 May VIC CMT update, available on COVID-19 page; scroll down to 14 May.

The full General Guidelines are available here

NOTE ON COVID-19 UPDATES

  • Updates are no longer being issued daily.
  • Updates will be issued whenever there is fresh information from the VBOs or the Host Country.
  • Between updates, you can keep up to date and refer to previous material by visiting our VBO COVID-19 website.
  • On the site you can find all updates, reminders and messages issued so far, as well as useful links including to information in English and other languages.No log-in is needed. Link to the site: https://nucleus.iaea.org/sites/covid19/SitePages/Home.aspx

COVID-19 WEBSITE FOR ALL UN SYSTEM PERSONNEL

FEEDBACK/SUGGESTIONS: Please write to martin.nesirky@un.org

In today’s update:

The Vienna International Centre Medical Service has been informed that a person working at the International Atomic Energy Agency has tested COVID-19 positive. Over the weekend, the staff member developed symptoms and took a test, the result of which was available today. The Medical Service has identified, contacted and advised all staff listed as primary contacts of the affected staff member, and will continue to monitor them.

LINK TO ADDENDUM ON GENERAL GUIDELINES FOR VIC RETURN:

The key points from the Addendum to General Guidelines for the Return to the Vienna International Centre are in the 12 June VIC CMT update, available by scrolling down the page here

The full Addendum text is here

The key points from the overall General Guidelines for the Return to the Vienna International Centre are in the 14 May VIC CMT update, available on COVID-19 page; scroll down to 14 May.

The full General Guidelines are available here

NOTE ON COVID-19 UPDATES

  • Updates are no longer being issued daily.
  • Updates will be issued whenever there is fresh information from the VBOs or the Host Country.
  • Between updates, you can keep up to date and refer to previous material by visiting our VBO COVID-19 website.
  • On the site you can find all updates, reminders and messages issued so far, as well as useful links including to information in English and other languages.No log-in is needed. Link to the site: https://nucleus.iaea.org/sites/covid19/SitePages/Home.aspx

COVID-19 WEBSITE FOR ALL UN SYSTEM PERSONNEL

FEEDBACK/SUGGESTIONS: Please write to martin.nesirky@un.org

In today’s update:

  • Message from the main Vienna-based UN organizations – reminder on face masks and access
  • Latest Austrian developments and measures – face masks measures come into force; tightened entry requirements delayed

MESSAGE FROM THE MAIN VIENNA-BASED UN ORGANIZATIONS (VBOs) UNOV/UNODC – IAEA – UNIDO – CTBTO

This is a reminder that in keeping with the latest Austrian measures outlined below, face masks will be required in the Commissary, post office and bank offices at the Vienna International Centre (VIC) from today, Friday 24 July.

Please note existing requirements for wearing face masks at the VIC, such as in the cafeteria and at the Security gates, remain in place.

Please also be reminded there are still access restrictions in place at the VIC, as outlined in the guidance from 23 June, notably: “Until further notice, family members, retirees and private visitors will not have access to the VIC. Guided tours remain suspended until 1 October.”

The only children with access to the VIC are those who attend the childcare centre (kindergarten).

LATEST AUSTRIAN DEVELOPMENTS AND MEASURES:

  • From today it is compulsory to wear face masks in supermarkets, grocery stores, bakeries, banks, post offices and petrol/gas stations with grocery stores, according to updated official regulations. They are also required when visiting hospitals, care homes and spas.
  • Chancellor Sebastian Kurz had announced the measures on Tuesday.
  • As before, face masks are obligatory on public transport, including taxis, and in pharmacies and at medical practices.
  • Austria also announced on Tuesday that from today entry from high-risk areas would be possible only with a negative COVID-19 test carried out by a laboratory recognised by the Austrian authorities.
  • However, the Health Ministry told Austria’s APA news agency on Thursday the introduction of these tightened entry rules was being delayed. It was not clear when the new entry measures would be introduced.
  • The Austrian authorities reported as of 0800 today 20,224 people had tested positive with COVID-19 in Austria. There were 123 new cases registered yesterday. The number of people who have recovered is 18,042. The death toll stands at 711. There have been 833,841 tests.
  • The official Austrian dashboard reflecting the latest data on COVID-19 is available in English as well as German. It is updated frequently.
  • LINK TO ADDENDUM ON GENERAL GUIDELINES FOR VIC RETURN:

    The key points from the Addendum to General Guidelines for the Return to the Vienna International Centre are in the 12 June VIC CMT update, available by scrolling down the page here

    The full Addendum text is here

    The key points from the overall General Guidelines for the Return to the Vienna International Centre are in the 14 May VIC CMT update, available on COVID-19 page; scroll down to 14 May.

    The full General Guidelines are available here

    NOTE ON COVID-19 UPDATES

    • Updates are no longer being issued daily.
    • Updates will be issued whenever there is fresh information from the VBOs or the Host Country.
    • Between updates, you can keep up to date and refer to previous material by visiting our VBO COVID-19 website.
    • On the site you can find all updates, reminders and messages issued so far, as well as useful links including to information in English and other languages.No log-in is needed. Link to the site: https://nucleus.iaea.org/sites/covid19/SitePages/Home.aspx

    COVID-19 WEBSITE FOR ALL UN SYSTEM PERSONNEL

    FEEDBACK/SUGGESTIONS: Please write to martin.nesirky@un.org

In today’s update:

  • Message from the main Vienna-based UN organizations on face masks
  • Latest Austrian developments and measures – face masks compulsory in supermarkets, banks and post offices from Friday; tighter checks at borders

MESSAGE FROM THE MAIN VIENNA-BASED UN ORGANIZATIONS (VBOs) UNOV/UNODC – IAEA – UNIDO – CTBTO

In keeping with the latest Austrian measures outlined below, face masks will be required in the Commissary, post office and bank offices at the Vienna International Centre (VIC) from Friday 24 July.

Please note existing requirements for wearing face masks at the VIC, such as in the cafeteria and at the Security gates, remain in place.

LATEST AUSTRIAN DEVELOPMENTS AND MEASURES:

  • From this Friday, 24 July, it will be compulsory to wear face masks in supermarkets, banks and post offices, Chancellor Sebastian Kurz announced at a televised briefing on Tuesday.
  • The reintroduction of compulsory masks in those settings had both public health and symbolic value, he said, noting that it would remind people the coronavirus remained a threat.
  • Health Minister Rudolf Anschober said a four-phase “traffic light” system was being developed to help pinpoint and respond to regional and local clusters. This would be ready for the autumn, when the number of cases was likely to increase.
  • Interior Minister Karl Nehammer said there would be tighter checks at Austria’s borders and on those who have to undergo 14 days’ quarantine. Also, from Friday, entry from high-risk areas would be possible only with a negative test carried out by a laboratory recognised by the Austrian authorities.
  • Kurz said the measures were in response to the recent increase in the number of COVID-19 cases, notably linked to people returning or arriving from the Western Balkans.
  • Kurz urged people not to travel to the Western Balkans over the summer.
  • The Austrian authorities reported as of 1500 today 19,801 people had tested positive with COVID-19 in Austria. There were 86 new cases registered yesterday. The number of people who have recovered is 17,716. The death toll stands at 710. There have been 805,600 tests.
  • The official Austrian dashboard reflecting the latest data on COVID-19 is available in English as well as German. It is updated frequently.

LINK TO ADDENDUM ON GENERAL GUIDELINES FOR VIC RETURN:

The key points from the Addendum to General Guidelines for the Return to the Vienna International Centre are in the 12 June VIC CMT update, available by scrolling down the page here

The full Addendum text is here

The key points from the overall General Guidelines for the Return to the Vienna International Centre are in the 14 May VIC CMT update, available on COVID-19 page; scroll down to 14 May.

The full General Guidelines are available here

NOTE ON COVID-19 UPDATES

  • Updates are no longer being issued daily.
  • Updates will be issued whenever there is fresh information from the VBOs or the Host Country.
  • Between updates, you can keep up to date and refer to previous material by visiting our VBO COVID-19 website.
  • On the site you can find all updates, reminders and messages issued so far, as well as useful links including to information in English and other languages.No log-in is needed. Link to the site: https://nucleus.iaea.org/sites/covid19/SitePages/Home.aspx

COVID-19 WEBSITE FOR ALL UN SYSTEM PERSONNEL

FEEDBACK/SUGGESTIONS: Please write to martin.nesirky@un.org

In today’s update:

MESSAGE FROM THE MAIN VIENNA-BASED UN ORGANIZATIONS (VBOs) UNOV/UNODC – IAEA – UNIDO – CTBTO

The VIC Medical Service has been informed that a person working at the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime was tested COVID-19 positive. As the staff member had been self-isolating prior to developing symptoms and being tested, their most recent contacts at the Vienna International Centre are not considered at risk but have been informed.

LINK TO ADDENDUM ON GENERAL GUIDELINES FOR VIC RETURN:

The key points from the Addendum to General Guidelines for the Return to the Vienna International Centre are in the 12 June VIC update, available by scrolling down the page here: https://nucleus.iaea.org/sites/covid19/SitePages/Home.aspx

The full Addendum text is here

The key points from the overall General Guidelines for the Return to the Vienna International Centre are in the 14 May VIC CMT update, available on COVID-19 page; scroll down to 14 May.

The full General Guidelines are available here

NOTE ON COVID-19 UPDATES

  • Updates are no longer being issued daily.
  • Updates will be issued whenever there is fresh information from the VBOs or the Host Country.
  • Between updates, you can keep up to date and refer to previous material by visiting our VBO COVID-19 website.
  • On the site you can find all updates, reminders and messages issued so far, as well as useful links including to information in English and other languages.No log-in is needed. Link to the site: https://nucleus.iaea.org/sites/covid19/SitePages/Home.aspx

COVID-19 WEBSITE FOR ALL UN SYSTEM PERSONNEL

FEEDBACK/SUGGESTIONS: Please write to sonja.wintersberger@un.org

In today’s update:

  • Message from the main Vienna-based UN organizations
  • Latest Austrian developments and measures

MESSAGE FROM THE MAIN VIENNA-BASED UN ORGANIZATIONS (VBOs) UNOV/UNODC – IAEA – UNIDO – CTBTO

From today, the Vienna International Centre is returning to 100 percent staffing. Also, the maximum number of meeting participants will be increased to 250, with the same hygiene and mitigation measures in place as hitherto. At the same time, a significant number of restrictions are being eased in our Host Country, as outlined in VIC Crisis Management Team update on 24 June. As a reminder, staff and personnel must remain vigilant in our Headquarters and in our host community. That means maintaining physical distancing of at least one metre, using face masks where they are required and observing hand hygiene. While masks are not required in most settings, the Austrian authorities still recommend they be worn where distancing becomes more difficult to observe. The top priority at the VIC is the health and wellbeing of all. Individual responsibility plays an important part in this.

LATEST AUSTRIAN DEVELOPMENTS AND MEASURES:

In a televised briefing on Tuesday, Health Minister Rudolf Anschober said the authorities were ready to take measures if the position worsened.

The Austrian authorities reported as of 0800 today 17,778 people had tested positive with COVID-19 in Austria. There were 93 new cases registered yesterday. The number of people who have recovered is 16,478. The death toll stands at 705. There have been 606,375 tests.

The official Austrian dashboard reflecting the latest data on COVID-19 is available in English as well as German. It is updated frequently.

The key points from the Addendum to General Guidelines for the Return to the Vienna International Centre are in the 12 June VIC CMT update, available by scrolling down the page here

The full Addendum text is here

The key points from the overall General Guidelines for the Return to the Vienna International Centre are in the 14 May VIC CMT update, available on COVID-19 page; scroll down to 14 May.

The full General Guidelines are available here

NOTE ON COVID-19 UPDATES

  • Updates are no longer being issued daily.
  • Updates will be issued whenever there is fresh information from the VBOs or the Host Country.
  • Between updates, you can keep up to date and refer to previous material by visiting our VBO COVID-19 website.
  • On the site you can find all updates, reminders and messages issued so far, as well as useful links including to information in English and other languages.No log-in is needed. Link to the site: https://nucleus.iaea.org/sites/covid19/SitePages/Home.aspx

COVID-19 WEBSITE FOR ALL UN SYSTEM PERSONNEL

FEEDBACK/SUGGESTIONS: Please write to martin.nesirky@un.org

In today’s update:

  • Message from the main Vienna-based UN organizations
  • Latest Austrian developments and measures

MESSAGE FROM THE MAIN VIENNA-BASED UN ORGANIZATIONS (VBOs) UNOV/UNODC – IAEA – UNIDO – CTBTO

The Vienna International Centre (VIC) Medical Service has been informed by the Austrian authorities today that there is a suspected COVID-19 case linked to one of the groups at the VIC kindergarten. That group will not attend kindergarten from the end of today, 29 June, until at least when the individual’s test result is known.

The test result on the suspected case reported on 25 June was negative. The kindergarten said the group that had been affected by this would be able to return to kindergarten tomorrow, 30 June.

LATEST AUSTRIAN DEVELOPMENTS AND MEASURES:

The Austrian authorities reported as of 0800 today 17,650 people had tested positive with COVID-19 in Austria. There were 57 new cases registered yesterday. The number of people who have recovered is 16,420. The death toll stands at 703. There have been 606,375 tests.

The official Austrian dashboard reflecting the latest data on COVID-19 is available in English as well as German. It is updated frequently.

LINK TO ADDENDUM ON GENERAL GUIDELINES FOR VIC RETURN:

The key points from the Addendum to General Guidelines for the Return to the Vienna International Centre are in the 12 June VIC CMT update, available by scrolling down the page here

The full Addendum text is here

The key points from the overall General Guidelines for the Return to the Vienna International Centre are in the 14 May VIC CMT update, available on COVID-19 page; scroll down to 14 May.

The full General Guidelines are available here

NOTE ON COVID-19 UPDATES

  • Updates are no longer being issued daily.
  • Updates will be issued whenever there is fresh information from the VBOs or the Host Country.
  • Between updates, you can keep up to date and refer to previous material by visiting our VBO COVID-19 website.
  • On the site you can find all updates, reminders and messages issued so far, as well as useful links including to information in English and other languages.No log-in is needed. Link to the site: https://nucleus.iaea.org/sites/covid19/SitePages/Home.aspx

COVID-19 WEBSITE FOR ALL UN SYSTEM PERSONNEL

FEEDBACK/SUGGESTIONS: Please write to martin.nesirky@un.org

In today’s update:

  • Message from the main Vienna-based UN organizations
  • Latest Austrian developments and measures

MESSAGE FROM THE MAIN VIENNA-BASED UN ORGANIZATIONS (VBOs) UNOV/UNODC – IAEA – UNIDO – CTBTO

The Vienna International Centre (VIC) Medical Service has been informed by the Austrian authorities today that there is one suspected COVID-19 case linked to one of the groups (KKG2) at the VIC kindergarten. That group will not attend kindergarten from Friday 26 June, at least until the test result on the individual concerned is known.

LATEST AUSTRIAN DEVELOPMENTS AND MEASURES:

The Austrian authorities reported as of 1500 today 17,400 people had tested positive with COVID-19 in Austria. There were 29 new cases registered yesterday. The number of people who have recovered is 16,320. The death toll stands at 698. There have been 584,243 tests.

The official Austrian dashboard reflecting the latest data on COVID-19 is available in English as well as German. It is updated frequently.

LINK TO ADDENDUM ON GENERAL GUIDELINES FOR VIC RETURN:

The key points from the Addendum to General Guidelines for the Return to the Vienna International Centre are in the 12 June VIC CMT update, available by scrolling down the page here

The full Addendum text is here

The key points from the overall General Guidelines for the Return to the Vienna International Centre are in the 14 May VIC CMT update, available on COVID-19 page; scroll down to 14 May.

The full General Guidelines are available here

NOTE ON COVID-19 UPDATES

  • Updates are no longer being issued daily.
  • Updates will be issued whenever there is fresh information from the VBOs or the Host Country.
  • Between updates, you can keep up to date and refer to previous material by visiting our VBO COVID-19 website.
  • On the site you can find all updates, reminders and messages issued so far, as well as useful links including to information in English and other languages.No log-in is needed. Link to the site: https://nucleus.iaea.org/sites/covid19/SitePages/Home.aspx

COVID-19 WEBSITE FOR ALL UN SYSTEM PERSONNEL

FEEDBACK/SUGGESTIONS: Please write to martin.nesirky@un.org

In today’s update:

  • Latest Austrian developments and measures – further easing of measures for sports and gastronomy, but vigilance still needed

LATEST AUSTRIAN DEVELOPMENTS AND MEASURES:

  • The Austrian Government announced a significant further easing of a number of restrictions today.
  • From 1 July, contact and team sports will be permitted, both indoors and outdoors. Contact tracing would be an important element, for example through a list of participants, Vice Chancellor Werner Kogler told a televised briefing.
  • Also, from 1 July, outdoor events with up to 1,000 people will be allowed.
  • From 1 September, the limit will be raised to 5,000 indoors and 10,000 outdoors, with fixed seating. This applies to sporting and cultural events. Distancing measures will still apply and there will be voluntary tracking.
  • Cafes, bars and restaurants will be able to open from 0500 from 1 July, said Tourism Minister Elisabeth Koestinger. There will be no closing time for wedding and family parties held in such venues with fewer than 100 participants.
  • Waiting staff will no longer have to wear masks from 1 July, although they may if they wish.
  • Health Minister Rudolf Anschober said none of the previous nine easing phases had caused a serious increase in infections. He also said a comprehensive new testing programme would be rolled out from next week. Late autumn could be a difficult period, he said.
  • “The virus has not disappeared,” said Chancellor Sebastian Kurz. “Even with the low infection rates in Austria we must continue to be vigilant.”
  • He also said, “Please don’t throw your mask away, you might still need it.”
  • Austrian President Alexander Van der Bellen had to postpone a visit to Slovakia after Slovak President Zuzana Caputova put herself in home quarantine until Friday after a member of her team came into contact with a person with COVID-19.
  • The Austrian authorities reported as of 1530 today 17,370 people had tested positive with COVID-19 in Austria. There were 37 new cases registered yesterday. The number of people who have recovered is 16,282. The death toll stands at 693. There have been 578,584 tests.
  • The official Austrian dashboard reflecting the latest data on COVID-19 is available in English as well as German. It is updated frequently.

LINKS TO ADDENDUM AND GENERAL GUIDELINES FOR VIC RETURN:

The key points from the Addendum to General Guidelines for the Return to the Vienna International Centre are in the 12 June VIC CMT update, available by scrolling down the page here

The full Addendum text is here

The key points from the overall General Guidelines for the Return to the Vienna International Centre are in the 14 May VIC CMT update, available on COVID-19 page; scroll down to 14 May.

The full General Guidelines are available here

NOTE ON COVID-19 UPDATES

  • Updates are no longer being issued daily.
  • Updates will be issued whenever there is fresh information from the VBOs or the Host Country.
  • Between updates, you can keep up to date and refer to previous material by visiting our VBO COVID-19 website.
  • On the site you can find all updates, reminders and messages issued so far, as well as useful links including to information in English and other languages.No log-in is needed. Link to the site: https://nucleus.iaea.org/sites/covid19/SitePages/Home.aspx

COVID-19 WEBSITE FOR ALL UN SYSTEM PERSONNEL

FEEDBACK/SUGGESTIONS: Please write to martin.nesirky@un.org

In today’s update:

  • Message from the main Vienna-based UN organizations
  • Latest Austrian developments and measures
  • Links to General Guidelines and Addendum on return to the VIC

MESSAGE FROM THE MAIN VIENNA-BASED UN ORGANIZATIONS (VBOs) UNOV/UNODC – IAEA – UNIDO – CTBTO

The Vienna International Centre Crisis Management Team (VIC CMT) has carefully monitored and assessed each of the three phases so far in the gradual return of personnel to the VIC. Phase Three will conclude on Tuesday 30 June.

From Wednesday 1 July, the VIC will return to 100 percent staffing. Staff and personnel with specific concerns and questions in this regard should contact their Human Resources department.

Also, from 1 July, the maximum number of meeting participants will be increased to 250, with the same hygiene and mitigation measures in place as hitherto.

The hygiene measures for the whole VIC as outlined in the Guidelines and Addendum remain in place.

Until further notice, family members, retirees and private visitors will not have access to the VIC. Guided tours remain suspended until 1 October.

The top priority remains the health and safety of all at the VIC. The VIC CMT will continue to monitor developments in the VIC and in our Host Country.

LATEST AUSTRIAN DEVELOPMENTS AND MEASURES:

Austrian Foreign Minister Alexander Schallenberg told reporters on Monday he hoped that by the end of June the European Union would have agreed common list of non-EU countries and criteria for lifting restrictions on travel to and from third countries, for example those in the Western Balkans.

It would be important to coordinate across the EU, particularly within the Schengen area because once a third country national enters a Schengen country they can travel further unhindered, Schallenberg noted during a visit to Slovenia.

The Austrian authorities reported as of 1500 today 17,324 people had tested positive with COVID-19 in Austria. There were 33 new cases registered yesterday. The number of people who have recovered is 16,261. The death toll stands at 693. There have been 572,473 tests.

The official Austrian dashboard reflecting the latest data on COVID-19 is available in English as well as German. It is updated frequently.

LINKS TO ADDENDUM AND GENERAL GUIDELINES FOR VIC RETURN:

The key points from the Addendum to General Guidelines for the Return to the Vienna International Centre are in the 12 June VIC CMT update, available by scrolling down the page here

The full Addendum text is here

The key points from the overall General Guidelines for the Return to the Vienna International Centre are in the 14 May VIC CMT update, available on COVID-19 page; scroll down to 14 May.

The full General Guidelines are available here

NOTE ON COVID-19 UPDATES

  • Updates are no longer being issued daily.
  • Updates will be issued whenever there is fresh information from the VBOs or the Host Country.
  • Between updates, you can keep up to date and refer to previous material by visiting our VBO COVID-19 website.
  • On the site you can find all updates, reminders and messages issued so far, as well as useful links including to information in English and other languages.No log-in is needed. Link to the site: https://nucleus.iaea.org/sites/covid19/SitePages/Home.aspx

COVID-19 WEBSITE FOR ALL UN SYSTEM PERSONNEL

FEEDBACK/SUGGESTIONS: Please write to martin.nesirky@un.org

In today’s update:

  • Latest Austrian developments and measures – summer camps, congresses, airlines
  • Link to Addendum to the General Guidelines for the Return to the Vienna International Centre

LATEST AUSTRIAN DEVELOPMENTS AND MEASURES:

The Austrian Government announced over the weekend that summer camps could take place during the school vacation in July and August. Special measures will be put in place so that groups do not exceed 20 young people, staff are trained and there is minimum contact between the groups. As in school, face masks and one-metre physical distancing will not be required.

“With these measures we are making it possible, despite the difficult situation, for children to have holiday fun again this summer and for many parents to catch their breath,” Health Minister Rudolf Anschober said in a press release.

A detailed guide is being prepared.

Here is a link to a searchable German-language site owned by the Austrian Federal Ministry of Labour, Family and Youth that lists hundreds of summer camps and activities.

Here are links to details in English on the City of Vienna’s Summer City Camps:https://www.wien.gv.at/english/education-research/summer-city-camps.html and https://www.ferieninwien.at/folder/Uebersichtstabelle_SummerCityCamp_Englisch.pdf

Under eased measures from today, congresses and exhibitions may be held in Austria, provided there is an approved plan.

As previously announced, from today in Austria face masks are compulsory only in public transport, at health services including pharmacies, for catering trade staff who are in contact with customers and for services where one metre distance cannot be maintained. Health Minister Anschober said there was greater emphasis on individual responsibility. Face masks can continue to be worn and are recommended where there large gatherings of people.

Please note the specific mask requirements at the VIC (see Addendum to the General Guidelines, link below).

Austrian Airlines began to operate flights again today, along with a number of other airlines. The details are available in German here

More general information in English here

The Austrian authorities reported as of 1500 today 17,074 people had tested positive with COVID-19 in Austria. There were 26 new cases registered yesterday. The number of people who have recovered is 16,066. The death toll stands at 678. There have been 527,670 tests.

The official Austrian dashboard reflecting the latest data on COVID-19 is available in English as well as German. It is updated frequently.

LINK TO ADDENDUM ON GENERAL GUIDELINES FOR VIC RETURN:

The key points from the Addendum to General Guidelines for the Return to the Vienna International Centre are in the 12 June VIC CMT update, available by scrolling down the page here: https://nucleus.iaea.org/sites/covid19/SitePages/Home.aspx

The full Addendum text is here

The key points from the overall General Guidelines for the Return to the Vienna International Centre are in the 14 May VIC CMT update, available on COVID-19 page; scroll down to 14 May.

The full General Guidelines are available here

NOTE ON COVID-19 UPDATES

  • Updates are no longer being issued daily.
  • Updates will be issued whenever there is fresh information from the VBOs or the Host Country.
  • Between updates, you can keep up to date and refer to previous material by visiting our VBO COVID-19 website.
  • On the site you can find all updates, reminders and messages issued so far, as well as useful links including to information in English and other languages.No log-in is needed. Link to the site: https://nucleus.iaea.org/sites/covid19/SitePages/Home.aspx

COVID-19 WEBSITE FOR ALL UN SYSTEM PERSONNEL

FEEDBACK/SUGGESTIONS: Please write to martin.nesirky@un.org

In today’s update:

  • Message on Phase 3 of the return to the Vienna International Centre
  • Latest Austrian developments and measures – travel to and from many European countries possible from 16 June
  • Update on positive cases among VIC personnel

MESSAGE FROM THE MAIN VIENNA-BASED UN ORGANIZATIONS (VBOs) UNOV/UNODC – IAEA – UNIDO – CTBTO

From Monday 15 June, we will begin the third phase of our gradual and cautious return to the Vienna International Centre (VIC). The top priority remains the health and well-being of all at the VIC.

For the third phase, which will run from Monday 15 June to Tuesday 30 June, the agreed limit is 80 per cent of VIC staff and other personnel, the composition of which will be determined by each VBO.

This continues to reflect the particular mission and operational needs of each Organization, including the possibility of unforeseen and exceptional circumstances. Under such circumstances, each VBO within its respective mandate continues to have flexibility to determine its staffing requirement throughout the period of gradual return.

Following the General Guidelines for the Return to the Vienna International Centre, virtual meetings may continue to be used for professional interaction or, where appropriate, hybrid meetings.

KEY POINTS FROM THE ADDENDUM TO THE GENERAL GUIDELINES FOR THE RETURN TO THE VIENNA INTERNATIONAL CENTRE:

Access:

During Phase 3, from 15 to 30 June, access to the Vienna International Centre (VIC) is limited to a maximum of 80 per cent of an Organization’s staff and other personnel. In Phase 3, there continues to be no access for family members (except for access to the Childcare Centre), private visitors, retirees and the general public.

Face masks:

Face masks are required:

  • When entering and exiting all perimeter gates as well as in any contact with UNDSS Security Officers
  • At the Pharmacy and VIC Medical Service premises
  • Where one-metre physical distancing cannot be maintained

While no longer a requirement in most settings, anyone may continue to wear a face mask in the VIC, if they wish to do so.

Office space:

For shared offices, a one-metre physical distance must be maintained between personnel.

Workspaces in shared offices should be arranged so that personnel do not sit directly across from each other without a protective barrier.

Meetings and events:

Meetings up to a maximum of 100 people may be organized, provided the mitigation measures outlined in the Addendum to the General Guidelines are adhered to.

Events that involve gatherings of people – for example, cultural or other events in the Rotunda - will not be permitted until further notice.

The Addendum is available here: https://nucleus.iaea.org/sites/covid19/SitePages/Home.aspx

The key points from the overall General Guidelines for the Return to the Vienna International Centre are in the 14 May VIC CMT update, available on this page by scrolling down to the 14 May.

The General Guidelines are available here

LATEST AUSTRIAN DEVELOPMENTS AND MEASURES:

  • Austrian Foreign Minister Alexander Schallenberg told a televised briefing on Wednesday that entry restrictions into Austria would be lifted for many European countries from 16 June.
  • From that date, negative COVID-19 tests or 14 days of quarantine will no longer be needed for those entering Austria from all European Union, European Free Trade Association and European Economic Area countries, including San Marino, Andorra, Monaco and Vatican City.
  • This means those living in Austria can travel to those places and return without tests or quarantine, in other words summer holidays can be taken.
  • Schallenberg nonetheless again encouraged people to spend their vacation in Austria and said to those who do plan to travel abroad, “When you pack your bags don’t forget common sense.”
  • Entry requirements remain in place, for now, for Portugal, Sweden, Spain and the United Kingdom. Unrestricted travel to and from Spain is expected to be possible from 1 July. There is a travel advisory in place for Italy’s Lombardy region.
  • Entry remains closed to other third countries, including non-EU countries in the Western Balkans and Turkey.
  • Health Minister Rudolf Anschober said conditions would be reviewed every two weeks.
  • The Austrian authorities reported as of 1500 today 16,970 people had tested positive with COVID-19 in Austria. There were 21 new cases registered yesterday. The number of people who have recovered is 15,985. The death toll stands at 675. There have been 516,581 tests.
  • The official Austrian dashboard reflecting the latest data on COVID-19 is available in English as well as German. It is updated frequently.

UPDATE ON POSITIVE CASES AMONG VIC PERSONNEL:

The VIC Medical Service says the total of confirmed and reported COVID-19 cases among VIC personnel is 12. All have recovered. To date, there have been seven cases at the IAEA, including one contractor, three at UNOV/UNODC, and most recently one each at UNIDO and CTBTO.

NOTE ON COVID-19 UPDATES

  • Updates are no longer being issued daily.
  • Updates will be issued whenever there is fresh information from the VBOs or the Host Country.
  • Between updates, you can keep up to date and refer to previous material by visiting our VBO COVID-19 website.
  • On the site you can find all updates, reminders and messages issued so far, as well as useful links including to information in English and other languages.No log-in is needed. Link to the site: https://nucleus.iaea.org/sites/covid19/SitePages/Home.aspx

COVID-19 WEBSITE FOR ALL UN SYSTEM PERSONNEL

FEEDBACK/SUGGESTIONS: Please write to martin.nesirky@un.org

In today’s update:

  • Message on DHL service
  • Latest Austrian developments and measures – unrestricted travel to Austria’s neighbours (except Italy) from 15 June, Government urges people not to take holidays abroad.

MESSAGE FROM THE MAIN VIENNA-BASED UN ORGANIZATIONS (VBOs) UNOV/UNODC – IAEA – UNIDO – CTBTO

DHL office at the Vienna International Centre (VIC):

The DHL office for private shipments in the VIC (F-1) reopened on Tuesday 2 June. It is operating normal opening hours: Monday to Friday from 13:00 to 15:00.

LATEST AUSTRIAN DEVELOPMENTS AND MEASURES:

  • Austrian Foreign Minister Alexander Schallenberg told a televised briefing today that COVID-19-related border checks would be removed for those entering from neighbouring countries, minus Italy, from tomorrow. Those living in Austria could travel to all neighbouring countries except Italy from tomorrow, although some neighbouring countries may still have their own restrictions in place until mid-June.
  • Health Minister Rudolf Anschober told the same briefing a partial opening to and from Italy could be possible in mid-June, if conditions allow.
  • The Foreign Ministry recommendation to avoid unnecessary foreign travel remains in place. Full travel freedom, including to other countries in Europe and around the world, was not likely to be restored for several months.
  • “From a global perspective, we are still in the middle of the pandemic,” said Schallenberg.
  • Both ministers said the Government continues to recommend that those in Austria take their summer holiday in Austria.
  • “The corona virus is not on vacation,” Anschober said.
  • Those who nonetheless do decide to travel abroad needed to use common sense and take responsibility for thorough planning, including understanding the measures in place at the destination and considering how to return home if conditions deteriorate.
  • The Austrian authorities reported as of 1500 today 16,700 people had tested positive with COVID-19 in Austria. There were 16 new cases registered yesterday. The number of people who have recovered is 15,672. The death toll stands at 670. There have been 462,958 tests.
  • The official Austrian dashboard reflecting the latest data on COVID-19 is available in English as well as German. It is updated frequently.

NOTE ON COVID-19 UPDATES

  • Updates are no longer being issued daily.
  • Updates will be issued whenever there is fresh information from the VBOs or the Host Country.
  • Between updates, you can keep up to date and refer to previous material by visiting our VBO COVID-19 website.
  • On the site you can find all updates, reminders and messages issued so far, as well as useful links including to information in English and other languages.No log-in is needed. Link to the site: https://nucleus.iaea.org/sites/covid19/SitePages/Home.aspx

COVID-19 WEBSITE FOR ALL UN SYSTEM PERSONNEL

FEEDBACK/SUGGESTIONS: Please write to martin.nesirky@un.org

In today’s update:

  • Message on catering
  • Latest Austrian developments and measures – easing of some restrictions at schools from 3 June

MESSAGE FROM THE MAIN VIENNA-BASED UN ORGANIZATIONS (VBOs) UNOV/UNODC – IAEA – UNIDO – CTBTO

Catering services at the VIC

To reduce congestion in the catering areas/waiting lines, and based on the recommendation of the Infrastructure Committee, Buildings Management Services are pleased to inform you that additional vending machines with fresh food (sandwiches; see below) will be available at the VIC according to this schedule and at the following locations:

Phase 1

Location 1: F0E (outside of the Cafeteria)

Starting: as of 9 June 2020

Phase 2

Location 2: D0E/E0E (Ground Level)

Location 3: A0E/B0E (Ground Level)

Starting: as of 29 June 2020

The prices and assortment of products are listed below:

Type Size Price
Zwei wraps "Backhuhn" 263g Euro 4,40
Zwei wraps "Mozzarella and Tomate" 260g Euro 4,40
Zwei wraps "Schinken and Kase" 250g Euro 4,40
Tramezzini "Salami" 175g Euro 3,90
Tramezzini "Schinken Ei" 208g Euro 3,90
Tomate "Mozzarella Weckerl" 170g Euro 3,90
Avocado "Schinken Weckerl" 205g Euro 3,90
Roast Beef Sandwich 205g Euro 3,90

LATEST AUSTRIAN DEVELOPMENTS AND MEASURES:

  • Education Minister Heinz Fassmann told a televised briefing on Saturday that from Wednesday 3 June school students would no longer be required to wear face masks at school. But students may continue do so if they wish.
  • Other COVID-19 measures remain in place, such as physical distancing and a shift system to reduce class sizes.
  • Fassmann said schools would be able to offer sports lessons from 3 June. These would not be compulsory and would not be part of the main timetable. Schools should decide by 15 June whether they can offer sports lessons.
  • Group singing at school is allowed from 3 June.
  • Schools will be able to organize graduation or school-leaving events in line with Health Ministry regulations on the size of such gatherings – 100 people indoors up to 30 June, 250 indoors or 500 outdoors from 1 July.
  • Summer camps and other activities for children will be possible during the school holidays, with smaller groups and hygiene and distancing measures.
  • The Austrian authorities reported as of 1500 today 16,643 people had tested positive with COVID-19 in Austria. There were five new cases registered yesterday. The number of people who have recovered is 15,596. The death toll stands at 668. There have been 452,820 tests.
  • The official Austrian dashboard reflecting the latest data on COVID-19 is available in English as well as German. It is updated frequently.

NOTE ON COVID-19 UPDATES

  • Updates are no longer being issued daily.
  • Updates will be issued whenever there is fresh information from the VBOs or the Host Country.
  • Between updates, you can keep up to date and refer to previous material by visiting our VBO COVID-19 website.
  • On the site you can find all updates, reminders and messages issued so far, as well as useful links including to information in English and other languages.No log-in is needed. Link to the site: https://nucleus.iaea.org/sites/covid19/SitePages/Home.aspx

COVID-19 WEBSITE FOR ALL UN SYSTEM PERSONNEL

FEEDBACK/SUGGESTIONS: Please write to martin.nesirky@un.org

In today’s update:

  • Messages from the main Vienna-based UN organizations on Commissary and catering
  • Latest Austrian developments and measures – from 15 June eased measures on face masks, extended gastronomy opening hours

MESSAGES FROM THE MAIN VIENNA-BASED UN ORGANIZATIONS (VBOs) UNOV/UNODC – IAEA – UNIDO – CTBTO

Commissary

Please be informed that the Commissary will reopen on 1 June 2020 with opening hours Monday to Friday 12:00-18:30.

In line with existing restrictions on access to the Vienna International Centre (VIC) and to enable an orderly and gradual return to normal operations, while conforming to the General Guidelines for the Return to the Vienna International Centre approved by the Heads of the VIC-based Organizations and guidelines from VIC Medical Service and the Austrian authorities, a number of temporary measures will apply during this period of gradual return until at least 30 June.

  • Only principal card holders will be able to access the Commissary; family members and dependents will not have access.
  • To avoid crowding during peak periods and extended waiting times, a simple online registration system has been put in place. Principal cardholders can register at https://www.signupgenius.com/go/vic-commissary for a date and timeslot. They will receive an automatically generated confirmation of their registration via email that must be shown (electronically or as a printout) to the staff managing the Commissary entrances.
  • Visits to the Commissary are limited to one hour per week.
  • Customers will be expected to wear a face mask as well as to maintain a distance of at least one metre from other customers. Discs will be distributed to customers to ensure that the maximum number of persons in the Commissary at any given time is adhered to.
  • Staff should refrain from accessing the VIC solely to visit the Commissary and should avoid using the parking spaces in front of the Commissary to limit the risk of congestion. Staff with monthly parking permits in the VIC are advised to use the other parking lots.
  • These temporary measures seek to ensure the safety and welfare of all customers and staff.

Catering services at the VIC

  • We are proceeding to Phase 2 of the return to the VIC. It is anticipated the number of colleagues returning to the VIC will increase. This is to inform you of the catering services that will be available, Monday to Friday except holidays:

Continuing from Phase 1

7.30 am to 3.30 pm: The Coffee Corner inside the Cafeteria will be open to offer coffee/tea, a selection of Danish pastries, yoghurts, muesli and fruit salad cups. In addition, pre-packed house salads and sandwiches will be ready for takeaways.

New in Phase 2

  • 11.30 am to 2.30 pm: Additional warm food stations to open in the cafeteria.
  • 8:00 to 10:00 am, from 2 June: The breakfast corner in the cafeteria will open to serve basic scrambled egg dishes.
  • 12:00 to 3.00 pm: The Cocktail Lounge as you exit from the restaurant area will reopen during the lunch hours to provide premium coffee and sweet delights. Only standing tables will be available to allow for social distancing.
  • 11.30 am to 2.30 pm: A pilot Pizza Delivery service will be tested. For a minimum order value of EUR10 (or 2 Pizzas), Pizzas can be delivered to your office. Look out for the menu choices to be advertised in the Cafeteria or on the EUREST website. Allow for an hour from placing your order via email at cateringVIC@eurest.at.

For those of you who are coming into the VIC during Phase 2, we take this opportunity to stress important norms that have been established:

Masks

Are required in the food serving areas and wherever, one cannot observe the minimum social distancing measure of 1 meter.

Cashless System

Regular patrons are requested to acquire a EUREST card available in machines on your left as you enter the cafeteria and to use the cashless system. The transaction process is accelerated and more hygienic.

Staggered Entry into the Cafeteria

In anticipation of the gradual increase in the number of patrons, some waiting times should be anticipated. In order to alleviate this to a certain extent, the following staggered approach to entering the cafeteria is recommended.

Time window 11.30am-12.00pm 12.00-12.30pm 12.30-1.00pm 1.00-1.30pm 1.30-2.00pm 2.00-2.30pm
last name as per VIC ID card A,B,C,D,E F,G,H,I,J K,L,M,N,O P,Q,R,S,T U,V,W,X,Y,Z Available to all

Entry and Exit

<[> The cafeteria has been remodelled to ensure social distancing and a fast-moving unidirectional flow of customers. Patrons will enter as usual from front door and will exit at the restaurant and bar area. Access to the cocktail coffee lounge during the lunch hour shall also be through the cafeteria.

Monitoring

We will continue to monitor the rate of flow, social distancing measures and other variables and to make adjustments as necessary.

Colleagues are also encouraged to avail of the kitchen facilities available on your floors to warm food brought from home or from the grocery stores. Other options such as going outside the immediate area of the VIC are also there for your consideration.

As we all go through this special experience, we thank you in advance for your continuing patience, understanding and cooperation. Thank you.

LATEST AUSTRIAN DEVELOPMENTS AND MEASURES:

Austrian Chancellor Sebastian Kurz told a televised briefing on Friday that from 15 June face masks would be mandatory in only the following cases:

  • Public transport
  • Health sector, including pharmacies
  • Services where the required one-metre distancing is not possible, such as hairdressers
  • Staff in contact with customers in restaurants, bars and cafes

However, Kurz said: “In my introduction I said individual responsibility would be more important. Of course, we strongly recommend people continue to wear face masks wherever people gather, where people are close together and where the minimum distance from strangers cannot be maintained.”

He emphasised that the virus was not eliminated and without continued care cases could increase as rapidly as they have fallen recently. He said restrictions could be reintroduced or tightened regionally and if necessary, nationally.

Basic guidelines remained in place on hygiene, no handshakes, one-metre minimum distance and face masks where required or recommended.

Kurz said the Education Minister would give details on Saturday on updated measures at schools, where face masks will also no longer be necessary from 15 June.

Kurz said from 15 June, restaurants, bars and cafes would be able to remain open until 0100 instead of 2300. There would be no restrictions on the number of people who could sit together as a group; this would be for the owners and the guests to determine. But the one-metre distance between unconnected groups must be maintained. Customers will not have to wear masks.

There are no concrete plans yet on reopening night clubs.

Health Minister Rudolf Anschober said there had been no negative consequences from the measures eased so far.

Interior Minister Karl Nehammer said during the pandemic there had been spitting attacks on police and many speeding offences that caused serious accidents in some cases.

The Austrian authorities reported as of 1500 today 16,575 people had tested positive with COVID-19 in Austria. There were 22 new cases registered yesterday. The number of people who have recovered is 15,347. The death toll stands at 668. There have been 434,302 tests.

The official Austrian dashboard reflecting the latest data on COVID-19 is available in English as well as German. It is updated frequently.

NOTE ON COVID-19 UPDATES

  • Updates are no longer being issued daily.
  • Updates will be issued whenever there is fresh information from the VBOs or the Host Country.
  • Between updates, you can keep up to date and refer to previous material by visiting our VBO COVID-19 website.
  • On the site you can find all updates, reminders and messages issued so far, as well as useful links including to information in English and other languages.No log-in is needed. Link to the site: https://nucleus.iaea.org/sites/covid19/SitePages/Home.aspx

COVID-19 WEBSITE FOR ALL UN SYSTEM PERSONNEL

FEEDBACK/SUGGESTIONS: Please write to martin.nesirky@un.org

In today’s update:

  • Message from the main Vienna-based UN organizations on next phase of return to Vienna International Centre
  • Latest Austrian developments and measures – Government to announce simplified measure on Friday; update on cases involving some Vienna schools; restrictions on entering Austria extended until 15 June but new rules to be drawn up; Austrian Airlines to resume some flights; cinemas and swimming pools to reopen

MESSAGE FROM THE MAIN VIENNA-BASED UN ORGANIZATIONS (VBOs) UNOV/UNODC – IAEA – UNIDO – CTBTO

From Monday 1 June, we will begin the second phase of our gradual and cautious return to the Vienna International Centre (VIC), with the health and well-being of all at the VIC remaining the top priority.

The first phase began on Friday 15 May and has proceeded smoothly well within the agreed 20 percent.

For the second phase, which will run from Monday 1 June to Friday 12 June, the agreed figure is 50 percent of VIC staff and other personnel, the composition of which will be determined by each VBO.

As in the first phase, this bears in mind the particular mission and operational needs of each Organization, including the possibility of unforeseen and exceptional circumstances. Under such circumstances, each VBO within its respective mandate continues to have flexibility to determine its staffing requirement throughout the period of gradual return.

Those who are not required to return in this second phase will continue to work remotely.

The key points from the General Guidelines for the Return to the Vienna International Centre are in the 14 May VIC CMT update, available on this page by scrolling down to the 14 May.

The full plan is available here

LATEST AUSTRIAN DEVELOPMENTS AND MEASURES:

  • Austrian Chancellor Sebastian Kurz told reporters on Wednesday the Government would announce simplified measures on Friday with the focus on individual responsibility.
  • He said there would be fewer rules and as much common sense as possible.
  • “As long as there is no vaccination or medication, this illness will be with us. It is not gone. It has not been eliminated. It remains a reality,” he said.
  • The Health Ministry said on Wednesday the existing restrictions on entry to Austria would be extended until 15 June. The Government will work next week on the measures to be put in place after 15 June.
  • Austrian Airlines (AUA) announced today it would resume flights, mostly to European destinations, from 15 June. More information in AUA’s English-language press release here
  • At a Health Ministry briefing today, Minister Rudolf Anstober and experts evaluated how the pandemic unfolded in Austria. Niki Popper, a simulation expert at Vienna’s University of Technology (TU Wien) said if the lockdown had started a week later than it did there would have been about 40,000 active cases at the top of the curve rather than 10,000. At the peak, people in Austria reduced their social contacts by some 90 percent, Popper said. This was a decisive factor.
  • The American International School and the Lycée advised parents that those students and families who had been self-isolating no longer needed to do so because those students concerned had tested negative.
  • Updated Austrian Government regulations mean that cinemas can reopen from 29 May rather than on 1 July as previously announced. However, many cinemas will not actually be ready to start on 29 May. Check cinema websites.
  • Fitness centres can also reopen from 29 May, but details on how they will operate are not yet fully clear. Check with your gym for the latest information.
  • Vienna’s swimming pools will reopen from 29 May, with strict rules in place that mean just one third of the usual maximum number of visitors at each pool will be allowed. This website (so far only in German) will show which pools are at capacity. It will be possible to book slots online . The same information is available, again in German, on the Stadt Wien Live app.
  • The Austrian authorities reported as of 1500 today 16,544 people had tested positive with COVID-19 in Austria. There were 37 new cases registered yesterday. The number of people who have recovered is 15,286. The death toll stands at 668. There have been 427,372 tests.
  • The official Austrian dashboard reflecting the latest data on COVID-19 is available in English as well as German. It is updated frequently.

NOTE ON COVID-19 UPDATES

  • Updates are no longer being issued daily.
  • Updates will be issued whenever there is fresh information from the VBOs or the Host Country.
  • Between updates, you can keep up to date and refer to previous material by visiting our VBO COVID-19 website.
  • On the site you can find all updates, reminders and messages issued so far, as well as useful links including to information in English and other languages.No log-in is needed. Link to the site: https://nucleus.iaea.org/sites/covid19/SitePages/Home.aspx

COVID-19 WEBSITE FOR ALL UN SYSTEM PERSONNEL

FEEDBACK/SUGGESTIONS: Please write to martin.nesirky@un.org

In today’s update:

  • Latest Austrian developments and measures – Overall COVID-19 measures may be simplified, with regional element; new details on eased measures for culture, sports and swimming pools; suspected cases involving some Vienna schools

LATEST AUSTRIAN DEVELOPMENTS AND MEASURES:

  • Health Minister Rudolf Anschober and the newly appointed State Secretary for Culture, Andrea Mayer, outlined on Monday some details on the planned steps for reopening the cultural sector, recreation and swimming pools.
  • From Friday 29 May, indoor cultural events with audience seating can be held for up to 100 people with one-meter distancing, Anschober said in a televised briefing.
  • As already announced, from 1 July indoor cultural events can be held for up to 250 people and from 1 August for 500, or 1,000 with an agreed robust health and safety plan.
  • Mayer said where the seating did not allow one-meter distancing then every other seat should be used chessboard style in the auditorium, and masks should be worn. Four adults, or people from the same household, can sit together.
  • Anschober said updated official regulations would be published soon, with details on cultural events, sports and swimming pools. This would also cover how many people can attend outdoor events.
  • Chancellor Sebastian Kurz’s office said on Tuesday the government was to look into simplifying and reducing the number of COVID-19 measures. Provincial governors have been asked to provide input on how measures could be regionalised, with the emphasis on giving regions the power to reintroduce tougher measures if needed rather than the power to relax measures unilaterally.
  • Kurz’s office quoted him as saying, “There needs to be a greater focus on personal responsibility and common sense.”
  • In a briefing on Monday, Kurz and cabinet ministers outlined a one-billion-euro COVID-19 financial response package to towns and local authorities to help create jobs and foster a greener economy.
  • There have been several suspected COVID-19 cases related to a number of Vienna schools, both Austrian and international, including the American International School, Vienna International School and the Lycée. In some instances, classes and their parents are self-isolating until tests come back on those concerned. The City of Vienna’s education department said there had been several suspected cases reported at municipal schools, but a number had been false alarms.
  • The Austrian authorities reported as of 1530 today 16,497 people had tested positive with COVID-19 in Austria. There were 23 new cases registered yesterday. The number of people who have recovered is 15,182. The death toll stands at 643. There have been 411,185 tests.
  • The official Austrian dashboard reflecting the latest data on COVID-19 is available in English as well as German. It is updated frequently.

NOTE ON COVID-19 UPDATES

  • Updates are no longer being issued daily.
  • Updates will be issued whenever there is fresh information from the VBOs or the Host Country.
  • Between updates, you can keep up to date and refer to previous material by visiting our VBO COVID-19 website.
  • On the site you can find all updates, reminders and messages issued so far, as well as useful links including to information in English and other languages.No log-in is needed. Link to the site: https://nucleus.iaea.org/sites/covid19/SitePages/Home.aspx

COVID-19 WEBSITE FOR ALL UN SYSTEM PERSONNEL

FEEDBACK/SUGGESTIONS: Please write to martin.nesirky@un.org

In today’s update:

  • Message from the main Vienna-based UN organizations
  • Latest Austrian developments and measures
  • Message from UN Security and Safety Service
  • Message from VIC Medical Service
  • UN system-wide initiative to counter misinformation

MESSAGE FROM THE MAIN VIENNA-BASED UN ORGANIZATIONS (VBOs) UNOV/UNODC – IAEA – UNIDO – CTBTO

We are coming to the end of the first full working week in our gradual return to the Vienna International Centre (VIC).

Colleagues - from Security, Buildings Management, General Services, Medical Service, cleaners and others – and the Infrastructure Committee made the start of the gradual return possible and have been indispensable during these past six working days.

Those who already returned will know life and work at the VIC look and feel different, while our collective mission remains the same wherever we are working.

In this gradual return to the VIC, your health and well-being remain the top priority. Follow the guidelines to help keep everyone safe. We draw your attention to the messages below from the UN Security and Safety Service and the VIC Medical Service.

LATEST AUSTRIAN DEVELOPMENTS AND MEASURES:

  • Chancellor Sebastian Kurz told a televised briefing on Thursday the Austrian Government would introduce regular COVID-19 tests for as many people as possible working in the hotel and accommodation sector, which is due to reopen from 29 May.
  • The aim is to expand testing up to 65,000 tests a week by the beginning of July. Kurz said the federal government would pay for the tests in the sector, which is a key part of Austria’s economically crucial tourist industry.
  • In a COVID-19-related move, the Government announced on Friday it would invest 300 million euros in modernising and expanding public transport infrastructure and a further 250 million euros on railway stations. One aim is to make it easier for people to commute and to reach Austrian holiday destinations by public transport.
  • The Austrian authorities reported as of 1900 today 16,393 people had tested positive with COVID-19 in Austria. There were 25 new cases registered yesterday. The number of people who have recovered is 15,005. The death toll stands at 635. There have been 390,488 tests.
  • The official Austrian dashboard reflecting the latest data on COVID-19 is available in English as well as German. It is updated frequently.

MESSAGE FROM UN SECURITY AND SAFETY SERVICE VIENNA (UNSSS):

UNSSS Vienna would like to thank returning VIC personnel for their cooperation and to remind everyone to protect themselves and others in line with the VIC CMT Guidelines.

It is vital that personnel adhere to all mandatory measures such as physical distancing and wearing protective face masks in the VIC premises, while exiting and entering all gates, in all security areas and in personal interactions with UN Security.

Please note personnel must bring a mask and wear it to enter the VIC through any of the gates. Those without masks cannot be admitted. Masks are not available at the gates but are readily available in shops and online.

Here is a link to the Guidelines:

MESSAGE FROM VIC MEDICAL SERVICE:

With the gradual return of staff and personnel to the VIC, Medical Services will continue to offer its in-person services to staff at F07. Please be informed that to ensure the wellbeing and safety of staff:

  • Services will be by appointment only, except emergencies.
  • To make an appointment please send an email to Medical-Admin.Contact-Point@iaea.org or call: +43 1 2600-22223
  • This applies also to the Tick vaccination campaign, which will continue every day from 14.00 to 16.00 until 30 June. For more information on the procedure please see the Tick Vaccination Registration Form and Reminders which have been made available to VBOs.
  • While waiting at Medical Services, staff will need to keep a safe distance of at least one meter from each other and wear a mask covering the face and nose.

UN SYSTEM-WIDE INITIATIVE TO FIGHT COVID-19 MISINFORMATION:

UN Secretary-General launches Verified initiative, calls for volunteers:

https://news.un.org/en/story/2020/05/1064622

Verified website, where volunteers can sign up:https://www.shareverified.com/en

NOTE ON COVID-19 UPDATES

  • Updates are no longer being issued daily.
  • Updates will be issued whenever there is fresh information from the VBOs or the Host Country.
  • Between updates, you can keep up to date and refer to previous material by visiting our VBO COVID-19 website.
  • On the site you can find all updates, reminders and messages issued so far, as well as useful links including to information in English and other languages.No log-in is needed. Link to the site: https://nucleus.iaea.org/sites/covid19/SitePages/Home.aspx

COVID-19 WEBSITE FOR ALL UN SYSTEM PERSONNEL

FEEDBACK/SUGGESTIONS: Please write to martin.nesirky@un.org

In today’s update:

  • Message from the main Vienna-based UN organizations- Latest Austrian developments and measures
  • Message from UN Security and Safety Service
  • Message on catering and commercial services
  • MESSAGE FROM THE MAIN VIENNA-BASED UN ORGANIZATIONS (VBOs) UNOV/UNODC – IAEA – UNIDO – CTBTO

    On this first day of our gradual return to the Vienna International Centre (VIC), the VIC Crisis Management Team thanks all personnel for your cooperation, whether you are working in the VIC or remotely today.

    Many colleagues – Security, Buildings Management, General Services, Medical Service, cleaners and others – and the Infrastructure Committee have worked hard behind the scenes to prepare for today, when the IAEA began to return, and for Monday when other VBOs start.

    Our return will be cautious, gradual, flexible and pragmatic, and it reflects the diversity of work and operational needs among the VBOs.

    This is the beginning of a return to the VIC but not a return to the way the VIC was before COVID-19. Yet it is clear all personnel will respond as you have throughout this pandemic, with professionalism, flexibility and patience. In this gradual return to the VIC, your health and well-being remain the top priority. Follow the guidelines to help keep everyone safe.

    LATEST AUSTRIAN DEVELOPMENTS AND MEASURES:

    • Austrian restaurants, bars and cafes can reopen from today (0600-2300), with measures in place for physical distancing. While bookings are not required, they are recommended.
    • Religious services are also allowed, again with physical distancing measures.
    • The Austrian Government said cultural events would gradually begin to be allowed from 29 May, provided the one-metre physical distancing is guaranteed.
    • From 29 May, indoor or outdoor cultural events with up to 100 participants will be allowed.
    • From 1 July, such events with up to 250 participants can take place. Cinemas will also reopen with the same limitation.
    • From 1 August, such events with up to 500 people would be allowed. Events up to 1,000 may subsequently be allowed if there is a clear health and safety plan.
    • Progress will be monitored every two weeks and measures adjusted if necessary.
    • Full details will be announced on Monday 25 May.
    • The Austrian authorities reported as of 1530 today 16,093 people had tested positive with COVID-19 in Austria. There were 33 new cases registered yesterday. The number of people who have recovered is 14,471. The death toll stands at 628. There have been 351,351 tests.
    • The official Austrian dashboard reflecting the latest data on COVID-19 is available in English as well as German. It is updated frequently.

    MESSAGE FROM UN SECURITY AND SAFETY SERVICE VIENNA (UNSSS):

    UNSSS Vienna would like to share with you some updated information and highlight several aspects of our services and operations.

    Please see below selected arrangements for Phase One (15-29 May 2020), in line with the VIC CMT Guidelines on Return to the Vienna International Centre

    UNSSS Vienna Pass Office

    • As of Friday, 15 May 2020, UNSSS Pass Office will be open workdays Monday to Friday, from 08:00 to 16:00 hours.
    • The Pass Office is open only to staff who are allowed in the VIC as part of Phase One or staff who have made an appointment related to legitimization cards.
    • Photographic services for duty travel and legitimation cards will not be available during Phase One.

    Bicycle access to the VIC premises

    • As of Friday, 15 May 2020, Gate 3 can be used for bicycle access during this period, both for outgoing and incoming traffic, between 7:00 and 19:30 hours.
    • Cyclists are required to follow the markings on the pavement (walkways/side roads) clearly marked by BMS, leading from Gate 3 towards PD1-3 level.
    • Two possibilities to park your bicycles at PD1-3 level have been established by SSS Vienna and BMS - one located at the stairs towards “D and E” building on PD1-3 level and one located at the stairs towards “B and A” building on PD1-3 level.
    • Please obey the host country traffic law in the VIC while riding your bicycle.

    Screening procedures at Gate 1

    • As of Friday, 15 May 2020, for those access categories (interns, consultants, affiliates) who require screening for entry to the VIC premises and are on the VBOs’ lists, Gate 1 Visitors Entrance will be open on workdays, Monday to Friday from 7:00 to 19:00 hours. As a polite reminder to protect yourself and others and in line with the CMT Guidelines, please adhere to all mandatory measures such as physical distancing and wearing protective face masks in the VIC premises, while exiting and entering all gates, in all security areas and in personal interactions with UN Security. Any changes will be communicated.

    MESSAGE ON CATERING AND COMMERCIAL SERVICES:

    A. Catering Services

    Opening Hours Daily – Monday to Friday except holidays

    • From 7.30 am to 3.30 pm, the coffee corner inside the cafeteria will be open to offer coffee/tea, a selection of Danish pastries as well yoghurts, muesli and fruit salad cups.
    • In addition, two different types of pre-packed house salads and sandwiches will be ready for takeaways.

    From Monday 18 May to Friday 29 May

    • In addition to takeaways at the cafeteria coffee corner, the grill corner will offer various services on different days and an additional warm dish will be available.
    • There will be close monitoring of the situation on a daily basis and adjustments in the number and types of menus will be based on lessons learned. Depending on the demand, the number of food stations can be increased.

    Staggered Entry into the Cafeteria

    During Phase 1, in anticipation of the gradual increase in the number of patrons, some waiting times should be anticipated. The following staggered approach to entering the cafeteria is recommended:

    Time window 11.30am-12.00pm 12.00-12.30pm 12.30-1.00pm 1.00-1.30pm 1.30-2.00pm 2.00-2.30pm
    last name as per VIC ID card A,B,C,D,E F,G,H,I,J K,L,M,N,O P,Q,R,S,T U,V,W,X,Y,Z Available to all

    The flow into the cafeteria will be monitored and the above schedule can be amended to reflect the actual experiences learned.

    Entry and Exit

    The cafeteria has been remodeled to ensure physical distancing and a fast-moving unidirectional flow of customers. Patrons will enter as usual from the front door and will exit through the restaurant and bar area.

    Face Masks

    Are required in the food serving areas and wherever one cannot observe the minimum physical distance of at least one meter.

    Monitoring

    EUREST, with the help of UNIDO, will monitor the entries into the cafeteria to assess the rate of flow and physical distancing measures.

    Common Kitchens and other Alternatives

    Colleagues are encouraged to use the kitchen facilities available on every floor to heat food brought from home or local grocery stores. Alternatives for dining outside the VIC should also be considered.

    Commercial Services

    The following opening schedules are provided for your information:

    Bank Austria Opens Monday, 18 May
    Cafeteria Opened Friday, 15 May (Monday-Friday 07.30-15.30)
    Child Care Centre Opened Friday, 15 May
    Commissary Closed
    Dry Cleaning Opened Friday, 15 May
    Pharmacy Opened Friday, 15 May
    Morawa/Rotunda Newspaper Stand Opens Monday, 18 May
    Austrian Post Opens Monday, 18 May
    Bundy & Bundy Hairdressing Salon Opened Friday, 15 May
    AX Travel Office remains closed (support for official travel will continue to be provided remotely; AX Travel leisure office will be closed until further notice)
    UNFCU Opened Friday, 15 May
    Vienna Service Office Opens Monday, 25 May

    NOTE ON COVID-19 UPDATES

    • Updates are no longer being issued daily.
    • Updates will be issued whenever there is fresh information from the VBOs or the Host Country.
    • Between updates, you can keep up to date and refer to previous material by visiting our VBO COVID-19 website.
    • On the site you can find all updates, reminders and messages issued so far, as well as useful links including to information in English and other languages.No log-in is needed. Link to the site: https://nucleus.iaea.org/sites/covid19/SitePages/Home.aspx

    COVID-19 WEBSITE FOR ALL UN SYSTEM PERSONNEL

    FEEDBACK/SUGGESTIONS: Please write to martin.nesirky@un.org

In today’s update:

  • Message from the Executive Heads of the four main Vienna-based UN organizations
  • Key points from the General Guidelines for the Return to the Vienna International Centre (the Guidelines will be available on the VIC COVID-19 website; see link to site below)

MESSAGE FROM THE EXECUTIVE HEADS OF THE FOUR MAIN VIENNA-BASED UN ORGANIZATIONS:

Dear Colleagues

From Friday 15 May, we will begin our announced phased return to the Vienna International Centre (VIC), a long-awaited move that will be gradual and cautious, with the health and well-being of all at the VIC remaining the top priority. Since Monday 16 March, the vast majority of you have worked remotely. Others have secured and maintained the VIC. Many of you have juggled your work with home-schooling for your children. Many have faced other challenges. Yet throughout not only have we maintained normal operations we have added new tasks to help people cope with the emergency.

Allow us again to express appreciation for your efforts in these difficult times. We offer condolences to those of you from our global community who have lost loved ones or suffered in other ways in this human crisis. We know this remains an anxious, unpredictable time and understand that some of you may have concerns about returning to the VIC.

As you know, our Host Country has begun to ease restrictions on movement and the economy, while emphasizing the need for caution because, while the figures are encouraging, the pandemic is far from over.

Throughout, we have coordinated with the Austrian authorities and adhered to their regulations and guidelines. This means we too can begin a gradual return to the VIC, starting with limited numbers and building up as conditions and medical advice allow. Many of you will continue to work remotely for the time being. Stringent measures have been put in place at the VIC, and are detailed elsewhere in this update, to keep everyone as safe as possible. The full plan we have approved will be available to you online.

Each organization has its own particular mission and operational needs, including as we return. Yet we remain united by the determination to work together to support each other, help Member States overcome this crisis and build back better, using the Sustainable Development Goals as our blueprint for action across the world.

We salute you for your commitment and flexibility during these challenging times. We look to all of you, wherever you will be working, to continue in that same collegial, innovative and productive spirit as we embark on a new way of operating in familiar surroundings. Thank you.

With gratitude,

Ghada Waly, Designated Official for Austria, Director-General/Executive Director, United Nations Office at Vienna/United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime

Rafael Mariano Grossi, Director General, International Atomic Energy Agency

LI Yong, Director General, United Nations Industrial Development Organization

Lassina Zerbo, Executive Secretary, Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty Organization

KEY POINTS FROM THE GENERAL GUIDELINES FOR THE RETURN TO THE VIENNA INTERNATIONAL CENTRE:

Access:

The number of staff and other personnel allowed and measures for each phase is based on the following constraints:

  1. Host Country guidelines;
  2. medical data in the context of occupational health and safety;
  3. the practice of social distancing;
  4. physical and logistical capacity of the VIC (which will be impacted by social distancing).

It also contemplates different operational needs and requirements to include space, circulation and support services, needed to support the work of staff and other personnel in VIC premises during each phase. This does not prejudge or impinge on the prerogative of each VBO to determine which staff and other personnel will enter the VIC during each phase. The remaining staff and other personnel are expected to continue telecommuting. Under unforeseen and exceptional circumstances, each VBO within its respective mandate continues to have flexibility to determine its staffing requirement throughout the period of gradual return.

Phase 1 is from Friday 15 May to Friday 29 May. In this period, staff will begin the gradual return to the VIC up to 20 percent, bearing in mind operational needs and when there are no unforeseen and exceptional circumstances as referred to above. Phase 2 will run from 1 to 12 June and Phase 3 from 15 to 30 June. Conditions will be monitored throughout, and feedback provided.

Each Vienna-based Organization (VBO) will determine which staff and other personnel will enter during each phase, based on operational needs. Remaining VIC personnel will continue to work remotely.

Staggered arrival and departure times and other arrangements to ease congestion will be addressed by each VBO, in consultation with the UN Security and Safety Service.

Family or designated caregivers will be able to bring children to and collect them from the Child Care Centre. Access procedures will be arranged directly between the Child Care Centre and UNSSS. Official visitors will be granted access through the established channels and for essential official business purposes.

Staff or other personnel with general concerns about returning should contact their VBO’s Human Resources department.

Staff or other personnel who are asked to return in Phase One but do not feel able to do so should contact their supervisors or Human Resources department.

Conduct entering, exiting and inside the VIC:

Individuals should avoid close contact with others and keep a distance of at least one metre. Floor and other markings are indicative to help those in the VIC to gauge distance.

Face masks must be worn entering or leaving the VIC and in public areas. (See separate section)

Hand hygiene remains crucial.

Avoid shaking hands and touching your face.

Individuals are advised to limit the touching of door knobs.

Stay home when sick with fever and/or respiratory symptoms. Seek remote guidance from VIC Medical Service if unsure.

A maximum of four people will be allowed in each elevator. Queues are anticipated. Use stairs where practicable. (See separate section)

Most hallways are wide enough to maintain one-metre distance in both directions. Narrower hallways will be marked for flow in one direction. Stairwells are mostly wide enough to maintain distance while passing. In narrower stairwells, staff should pass quickly and without touching.

The changing rooms and showers on F09 will be available but no indoor sports or VICREC sponsored activities are possible until further notice.

Those using the designated smoking areas must keep the required physical distance.

Meetings:

Virtual meetings are encouraged as the main form of professional interaction during the gradual return to the VIC.

In-person meetings should not last longer than 30 minutes and the number of participants ideally should not exceed 10.

Meetings may exceed 10 participants only if absolutely necessary, and this should be decided by the Executive Head of the VBO organizing the meeting. Meeting participants should wear face masks and maintain a distance of at least one metre.

Services:

Cafeteria will be open, with restrictions. (See separate section)

The restaurant and bar remain closed until further notice.

All commercial services will operate, including the banks, post office, Morawa and pharmacy.

The Commissary will remain closed in Phase One.

Face masks:

In line with our Host Country, all those inside the VIC compound must wear face masks in public and semi-public spaces. Face masks must be worn in shared offices if the one-metre distance cannot be adhered to. Individuals are advised to have their own masks. Homemade cloth masks are adequate. Masks can be bought in the VIC pharmacy. A limited number of washable, re-usable face masks will be distributed to each staff member. VBOs will provide details. Face masks must be worn when interacting with security officers anywhere in the VIC. The VIC Medical Service will handle distribution of face masks to security personnel, medical personnel, drivers and retail workers.

Cafeteria:

The Cafeteria will be open from 7:30h – 15:30h Monday through Friday (except UN holidays). From 11:30h – 14:30h, there will be a staggered flow into the Cafeteria every 30 minutes. The maximum seating capacity at any point in time in the Cafeteria will be reduced to 300. The maximum number of patrons at any point in time will be reduced to 30 in the food serving area. The outside areas will be opened when the weather is warmer, to increase the seating capacity.

Entry to the Cafeteria will be as usual through the front doors and exit through the restaurant/bar area.

All staff and other personnel entering the food serving areas in the Cafeteria must wear face masks. EUREST staff will also wear face masks.

All menus prepared in the Cafeteria are also offered as ‘take-away’. When the VIC opens for more staff, the coffee corners will also open for take-away menus. EUREST is working on a solution for pre-ordering take-aways.

Staff and other personnel are required to use EUREST cards for purchases. Those without cards can obtain them at the Cafeteria.

Gates:

The following VIC gate opening hours will be in effect as of 15 May 2020:

  • Gate 1: Staff entrance: 00:00h – 24:00h
  • Screening Area: 07:00h – 19:00h
  • Gate 2: Due to construction work on Wagramer Strasse, Gate 2 will be temporarily closed until end of June 2020.
  • Gate 3: Monday to Friday (excluding UN holidays): 07:00h – 19:30h. During the construction period above, staff on bicycles and pedestrians not requiring screening will be able to enter and exit via Gate 3.
  • Gate 4: 00:00h – 24:00h
  • Gate 5: Monday to Friday (excluding UN holidays): 06:00h – 12:00h

Elevators:

Staff and other personnel are encouraged to consider staggering arrival and departure times because of anticipated queues; management at each VBO will address this. Remember One Up – Two Down use of stairs and consider using the stairs more frequently. The following freight elevators will be made available for personnel transport:

  • A9 at A ST1
  • C3 close to D Building
  • D8 at DST5
  • G5 at GST6

The other freight elevators are not open for general use.

No access to the VIC for the following until further notice:

  • External participants and experts related to non-essential meetings and events.
  • Family members (except as outlined above), children not attending the Child Care Centre and private visitors.
  • Retirees.
  • General public; UN Information Service (UNIS) Visitors Service guided tours and lecture programmes remain suspended until further notice.

NOTE ON COVID-19 UPDATES

  • Updates are no longer being issued daily.
  • Updates will be issued whenever there is fresh information from the VBOs or the Host Country.
  • Between updates, you can keep up to date and refer to previous material by visiting our VBO COVID-19 website.
  • On the site you can find all updates, reminders and messages issued so far, as well as useful links including to information in English and other languages.No log-in is needed. Link to the site: https://nucleus.iaea.org/sites/covid19/SitePages/Home.aspx

COVID-19 WEBSITE FOR ALL UN SYSTEM PERSONNEL

FEEDBACK/SUGGESTIONS: Please write to martin.nesirky@un.org

In today’s update:

  • Latest Austrian developments and measures – Infection figures low but not time to relax guard; study shows likely unrecorded positive cases in Austria declined; Vienna public transport to start returning to normal schedule- UN Security and Safety Service information
  • Social media video on VIC personnel working remotely
  • LATEST AUSTRIAN DEVELOPMENTS AND MEASURES:

    • The daily number of new infections is stable and in low double digits, but Austria is still far from its goal, Health Minister Rudolf Anstober said on Tuesday.
    • In a televised briefing, he said face masks, hand hygiene and distancing remained crucial, with the additional measure of rapid testing and contact tracing with each new case.
    • Anstober said it would take 10-12 days to determine the impact of the 1 May easing of measures. May would be a decisive month, he added.
    • Education Minister Heinz Fassmann told a televised news conference on Monday a second study to estimate unrecorded COVID-19 cases in Austria showed a marked decline from the first study covering early April.
    • Fassmann, who is also responsible for science and research, said the 21-24 April tests were on a representative group over the age of 16. Test results from 1,432 of those people were analysed and there was one positive case. Extrapolated to the Austrian population, this suggested a maximum of 10,823 cases beyond those taken to hospital. This is equivalent to 0.15 percent of the population compared with 0.33 percent in the first study covering 1-6 April.
    • We’re seeing a significant drop, and that’s reassuring,” Fassmann said.
    • President Alexander Van der Bellen gave a televised and online address on Sunday evening to “Austrians and all those who live in Austria”.
    • He said Austria had spent seven weeks trying to control the virus with everything it had. “The medicine we are swallowing is bitter: isolation, restriction of personal rights, the extensive shutdown of our cultural life and our economy. And although we have to remain very careful, we can still be cautiously optimistic, because the medicine is working.”
    • The number of unemployed in Austria rose 58 percent in April compared with the same period last year to reach a record of 571,477 people, official figures showed.
    • Vienna’s Wiener Linien public transport network announced it would start to return to its normal timetable from Monday 11 May. Subway trains will operate the normal schedule from that date, with the exception of the weekend overnight service. Trams and buses will return to normal service from Monday 18 May, as many children return to school. Face masks will remain compulsory on public transport. More details on suburban VOR trains will be made available as they are announced.
    • The Austrian authorities reported as of 1530 today 15,579 people had tested positive with COVID-19 in Austria. The daily increase yesterday was 21 cases. The number of people who have recovered is 13,462. The death toll stands at 606. There have been 285,883 tests.
    • The official Austrian dashboard reflecting the latest data on COVID-19 is available in English as well as German. It is updated frequently.

    INFORMATION FROM UN SECURITY AND SAFETY SERVICE (UNSSS):

    To support the ramp-up for the gradual reopening of the VIC, UNSSS will start on Monday, 11 May, to receive regular deliveries from Monday to Friday 0600 – 0800 and 1000 – 1200 at Gate 5. This will be an almost full return to normal for deliveries to the VIC. Until further notice this does not apply to postal deliveries for VIC personnel, who should continue to have packages sent to their home addresses. Please note Gate 5 is only for deliveries. Staff arriving by private vehicle should continue to use Gate 4.

    SHORT SOCIAL MEDIA VIDEO ON UN VIENNA FAMILY WORKING REMOTELY

    NOTE ON COVID-19 UPDATES

    • Updates are no longer being issued daily.
    • Updates will be issued whenever there is fresh information from the VBOs or the Host Country.
    • Between updates, you can keep up to date and refer to previous material by visiting our VBO COVID-19 website.
    • On the site you can find all updates, reminders and messages issued so far, as well as useful links including to information in English and other languages.No log-in is needed. Link to the site: https://nucleus.iaea.org/sites/covid19/SitePages/Home.aspx

    COVID-19 WEBSITE FOR ALL UN SYSTEM PERSONNEL

    FEEDBACK/SUGGESTIONS: Please write to martin.nesirky@un.org

In today’s update:

  • Latest Austrian developments and measures – Austrian Chancellor announces three-point plan for economic recovery; encourages continued telecommuting

LATEST AUSTRIAN DEVELOPMENTS AND MEASURES

  • Austrian Chancellor Sebastian Kurz told a televised news conference the Government had agreed a three-point plan for the country’s economic recovery and to create jobs.
  • The three goals are tax relief for working people, relief for the economic sector to keep and create jobs and investment in climate and environmental protection, digitalisation and regionalisation. The Government will consult many parts of society over the next 10 days to flesh out the plan, which would then be finalized and presented to the public.
  • Kurz encouraged and requested the private sector to do as the public sector intended; to continue telecommuting where it works and makes sense. “Where telecommuting works it is of course still helpful,” he said.
  • Kurz said the mathematics behind telecommuting had not changed; the more people were working together in offices or travelling on public transport, the greater the risk of infection.
  • Future VIC CMT updates will provide more details on various announced measures as they become known.
  • The Austrian authorities reported as of 1530 today 15,352 people had tested positive with COVID-19 in Austria. The number of people who have recovered is 12,779. The death toll stands at 580. There have been 247,754 tests.
  • The official Austrian dashboard reflecting the latest data on COVID-19 is available in English as well as German. It is updated frequently.

NOTE ON COVID-19 UPDATES

  • Updates are no longer being issued daily.
  • Updates will be issued whenever there is fresh information from the VBOs or the Host Country.
  • Between updates, you can keep up to date and refer to previous material by visiting our VBO COVID-19 website.
  • On the site you can find all updates, reminders and messages issued so far, as well as useful links including to information in English and other languages.No log-in is needed. Link to the site: https://nucleus.iaea.org/sites/covid19/SitePages/Home.aspx

COVID-19 WEBSITE FOR ALL UN SYSTEM PERSONNEL

FEEDBACK/SUGGESTIONS: Please write to martin.nesirky@un.org

In today’s update:

  • Latest Austrian developments and measures – Austrian Government announces movement restrictions to be lifted from 1 May; emphasis on personal responsibility to help avoid a second wave of infections

LATEST AUSTRIAN DEVELOPMENTS AND MEASURES

  • The Austrian Government announced today that restrictions on movement in place since 16 March would be lifted from midnight on 30 April.
  • Since 16 March, all those living in Austria have been instructed to stay at home except to go to essential work, shop, help others or exercise.
  • Health Minister Rudolf Anschober told a televised briefing people would be able to move more freely from 1 May, although a minimum distance of one metre must be kept from those not living in your household. He described the change as “significantly more open”.
  • The new measure will be in place until the end of June and will be regularly reviewed based on COVID-19 data.
  • In recent days, the reproduction rate – the number of people potentially infected by a person with the virus – has been below one and stands at 0.59. This, and a daily infection rate consistently below 100 new cases since 16 April, had allowed the Government to decide to end the movement restrictions.
  • Anschober said Austria was on a good path but the pandemic was far from over, and the key in easing measures was to avoid a second wave of infections. It was vital not to become overconfident. He said the international picture remained serious.
  • Greater freedom of movement meant greater individual responsibility, Interior Minister Karl Nehammer said. “Not everything that is allowed is a good idea,” he added.
  • Face masks would remain an important part of the strategy, for example inside tourist attractions. Likewise, hand hygiene remained crucial.
  • On public transport, as more people move around, it would be admissible not to observe the one-metre rule if that was unavoidable.
  • Nehammer said gatherings of up to 10 people would be allowed, with social distancing. Up to 30 people would be able to attend funerals.
  • Rules on demonstrations would be covered by separate, amended legislation.
  • Vienna Mayor Michael Ludwig told reporters playgrounds in the city would be open again from next week.
  • Swimming pools across Austria will be allowed to open from 29 May, but with restrictions on numbers to ensure social distancing can be maintained.
  • Hotels and other places offering accommodation would be able to reopen from 29 May, Tourism Minister Elisabeth Koestinger said.
  • Restaurants, cafes and bars would reopen on 15 May, as already announced. No more than four adults and their children will be allowed at one table. The one-metre rule applies inside the establishments but not at the actual tables. Waiting staff will wear masks but not kitchen staff or customers. Reservations will be needed, but group bookings will not be allowed. Ordering at the bar will not be possible.
  • Future VIC CMT updates will provide more details on various announced measures as they become known.
  • The Austrian authorities reported as of 1500 today 15,286 people had tested positive with COVID-19 in Austria. The number of people who have recovered is 12,580. The death toll stands at 569. There have been 239,578 tests.
  • The official Austrian dashboard reflecting the latest data on COVID-19 is available in English as well as German. It is updated frequently.

VIENNA SERVICE OFFICE

Ordinarily the City of Vienna operates its Vienna Service Office in the VIC. The Office is still operating remotely and can be reached by email.

NOTE ON COVID-19 UPDATES

  • Updates are no longer being issued daily.
  • Updates will be issued whenever there is fresh information from the VBOs or the Host Country.
  • Between updates, you can keep up to date and refer to previous material by visiting our VBO COVID-19 website.
  • On the site you can find all updates, reminders and messages issued so far, as well as useful links including to information in English and other languages.No log-in is needed. Link to the site: https://nucleus.iaea.org/sites/covid19/SitePages/Home.aspx

COVID-19 WEBSITE FOR ALL UN SYSTEM PERSONNEL

FEEDBACK/SUGGESTIONS: Please write to martin.nesirky@un.org

In today’s update:

  • Important message from the Executive Heads of the four main Vienna-based UN organizations
  • Latest Austrian developments and measures – Return to school from 15 May for students aged six to 14 in shifts; older students from 29 May; details on religious services.

MESSAGE FROM EXECUTIVE HEADS OF MAIN VIENNA-BASED UN ORGANIZATIONS (VBOs)

Dear Colleagues

Almost all of you - 5,000 personnel based at the Vienna International Centre (VIC) - have been working remotely for nearly six weeks now and those at the VIC have kept the building safe and operational. We are grateful for and proud of your patient efforts, which have contributed to our Host Country’s successful efforts to flatten the COVID-19 curve. Your work from home or elsewhere has also allowed VBO operations to continue in Vienna and around the world in these unprecedented conditions, and indeed to expand as we support countries and people in the fight to end this pandemic.

From previous updates you will know Austria has begun to ease some measures while emphasizing the fight against the virus continues.

As you will have seen, the Austrian authorities plan further announcements on Tuesday 28 April. The plan announced today for a phased return to school is outlined in this update.

The VIC Crisis Management Team (CMT) is closely monitoring developments, along with the VIC Medical Service. Additionally, the Host Country briefed us today.

In consultation with the Austrian authorities, we have decided to begin a gradual, flexible and cautious return to VIC premises from Friday 15 May 2020.

The CMT and other VIC colleagues are working on the details of this gradual return. The CMT will update you on the details soon. Our overriding priority for any return is the safety and welfare of all those at the VIC. Social distancing and hygiene measures will be paramount.

Personnel with children or elderly parents or those with chronic health conditions will be able to continue telecommuting. We will continue to follow Austrian guidelines.

Please continue to comply fully with all Austrian measures to tackle COVID-19.

Sincerely and with gratitude,

Ghada Waly, Designated Official for Austria, Director-General/Executive Director, United Nations Office at Vienna/United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime

Rafael Mariano Grossi, Director General, International Atomic Energy Agency

LI Yong, Director General, United Nations Industrial Development Organization

Lassina Zerbo, Executive Secretary, Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty Organization

LATEST AUSTRIAN DEVELOPMENTS AND MEASURES

  • Education Minister Heinz Fassmann outlined the Austrian Government’s plans today for a phased return to school from 15 May and May 29.
  • He told a televised news conference his aim was for children to return because schools have a social as well as education role. He said deciding on a plan was difficult because of the balance between the need for education and the risk of infection. He recognised there are differing views, among experts and parents. The plan is aimed at reducing the number of students at school at any one time.
    1. As already announced, under Phase One students taking final-year exams will return on 4 May.
    2. In Phase Two, from May 15, students aged between six and 14 will be able to return to school.
    3. Assuming all goes well with Phase Two, from 29 May, older students will go back to school.
    4. Classes will be divided into two groups. In a given week, Group A will be at school from Monday to Wednesday and Group B on Thursday and Friday. The following week, the groups will swap so that Group B would be at school for the first three days and Group A for the last two days.
    5. On the days children are not being taught in school, they will have “homework days”, either at home or, if necessary, at school in school gymnasiums, for example. Online classes and distance learning will no longer be offered as they have been so far.
    6. Normal timetables will be taught, except for sport, other forms of exercise and music. There will be no afternoon lessons.
    7. A hygiene handbook will be provided. Masks will have to be worn at school but removed in the classroom. Students over the age of 10 must wear masks at break time. Parents must provide the masks.
    8. Parents concerned about the risk of infection will still have the option of home schooling.
  • Culture Minister Susanne Raab and Roman Catholic Cardinal Christoph Schoenborn gave a televised briefing on Thursday to give more details on religious services that would be permitted from 15 May. They said there would be strict conditions and step-by-step approach.
  • Schoenborn spoke on behalf of the 16 religions and denominations officially recognised in Austria.
  • Conditions include: the place of worship should have 20 square metres for each participant, a minimum two metres distance between each person not from the same household, face masks to be worn by all and checks at the entrance.
  • The Austrian authorities reported as of 1500 today 15,038 people had tested positive with COVID-19 in Austria. The number of people who have recovered is 11,872. The death toll stands at 530. There have been 212,686 tests.
  • The official Austrian dashboard reflecting the latest data on COVID-19 is available in English as well as German. It is updated frequently.

NOTE ON COVID-19 UPDATES

  • Updates are no longer being issued daily.
  • Updates will be issued whenever there is fresh information from the VBOs or the Host Country.
  • Between updates, you can keep up to date and refer to previous material by visiting our VBO COVID-19 website.
  • On the site you can find all updates, reminders and messages issued so far, as well as useful links including to information in English and other languages.No log-in is needed. Link to the site: https://nucleus.iaea.org/sites/covid19/SitePages/Home.aspx

COVID-19 WEBSITE FOR ALL UN SYSTEM PERSONNEL

FEEDBACK/SUGGESTIONS: Please write to martin.nesirky@un.org

In today’s update:

  • Latest Austrian developments and measures – many changes from May 15: restaurants, bars and cafes to reopen with restrictions; schools will start to be gradually reopened, public offices will open and religious services in places of worship will be allowed.

LATEST AUSTRIAN DEVELOPMENTS AND MEASURES

  • Austrian Chancellor Sebastian Kurz told a televised news conference the daily number of new infections dropped below 100 for the first time over the weekend, and this allowed for a gradual reopening in a number of sectors.
  • From May 15, restaurants, bars and cafes can reopen, he said. Staff will have to wear masks, there will be limits on group sizes and the closing time will be 2300 at the latest. More details will be given on Tuesday next week.
  • He said the aim was schools would gradually reopen for all grades from May 15 as well. Those taking final-year (Matura) or apprenticeship exams will return to school from 4 May. The Education Minister will brief on the plan for schools on Friday.
  • As a reminder, Kurz noted that kindergartens and schools still remain open for children who do not have alternative childcare arrangements but that there is no teaching in school premises.
  • Public offices will be open for clients from 15 May and religious services will be permitted from the same date in places of worship. There will be on this on Thursday.
  • Kurz said on Tuesday next week the Government would outline the measures that will be in place on restrictions on movement from 1 May. He said existing measures (stay at home except for essential work, shopping, helping others or exercising) remained in place until 30 April.
  • On travel abroad, Kurz cautioned against expecting open borders any time soon and again advised people to plan a summer holiday in Austria, as he does.
  • Kurz noted there would continue to be a two-week gap between each phase of easing measures to allow for course correction or stricter measures if the infection rate starts to climb again.
  • The Austrian authorities reported as of 1700 today 14,810 people had tested positive with COVID-19 in Austria. The number of people who have recovered is 10,971. The death toll stands at 491. There have been 189,018 tests.
  • The official Austrian dashboard reflecting the latest data on COVID-19 is available in English as well as German. It is updated frequently.
  • Regarding the measures for those who run or cycle; runners and cyclists have been advised not to slipstream directly behind other runners or cyclists. They should ideally run, or cycle diagonally offset. Runners should try to keep a minimum of 10 metres apart. For cyclists the recommended distance is 20 metres. These distances would not apply to those from the same household running or cycling together. These are recommendations that the Austrian authorities wish people to observe. Additionally, runners and cyclists should be considerate toward pedestrians in distancing.

NOTE ON COVID-19 UPDATES

  • Updates are no longer being issued daily.
  • Updates will be issued whenever there is fresh information from the VBOs or the Host Country.
  • Between updates, you can keep up to date and refer to previous material by visiting our VBO COVID-19 website.
  • On the site you can find all updates, reminders and messages issued so far, as well as useful links including to information in English and other languages.No log-in is needed. Link to the site: https://nucleus.iaea.org/sites/covid19/SitePages/Home.aspx

COVID-19 WEBSITE FOR ALL UN SYSTEM PERSONNEL

FEEDBACK/SUGGESTIONS: Please write to martin.nesirky@un.org

In today’s update:

  • Latest Austrian developments and measures – no outdoor cultural events such as music festivals before 31 August but museums to reopen mid-May; distancing rules while running or cycling; planning starting to resume delayed operations at hospitals

LATEST AUSTRIAN DEVELOPMENTS AND MEASURES

  • Vice Chancellor Werner Kogler told a televised news conference there would be no large outdoor events such as music festivals in Austria before the end of August. This extends the existing ban from the end of June.
  • Kogler said museums across Austria would start to reopen from mid-May.
  • The State Secretary for Art and Culture, Ulrike Lunacek, said federal museums (such as Albertina, Belvedere and the Natural History Museum) had decided not to open until the end of June.
  • Lunacek said cinemas wanted to reopen in late August or early September as demand in the summer was generally lower. There is no decision yet on reopening theatres as this is not easy to do in practice with social distancing. It is not yet clear when libraries and archives will reopen.
  • There are new regulations for those who run or cycle. Runners and cyclists should not slipstream directly behind other runners or cyclists. They should run or cycle diagonally offset. Runners should keep a minimum of 10 metres apart. For cyclists the distance is 20 metres. These distances would not apply to those from the same household running or cycling together.
  • Health Minister Rudolf Anschober said planning would start on how to reopen hospitals for delayed surgical operations. This would vary across Austria’s nine provinces, depending on the COVID-19 caseload. The top priority was to maintain capacity to handle COVID-19 patients and to protect against infection, including at doctors’ surgeries, which would gradually move toward more normal service.
  • The Austrian authorities reported as of 1700 today 14,563 people had tested positive with COVID-19 in Austria. The number of people who have recovered is 9,704. The death toll stands at 431. There have been 169,272 tests.
  • The official Austrian dashboard reflecting the latest data on COVID-19 is available in English as well as German. It is updated frequently.

NOTE ON COVID-19 UPDATES

  • Updates are no longer being issued daily.
  • Updates will be issued whenever there is fresh information from the VBOs or the Host Country.
  • Between updates, you can keep up to date and refer to previous material by visiting our VBO COVID-19 website.
  • On the site you can find all updates, reminders and messages issued so far, as well as useful links including to information in English and other languages. No log-in is needed. Link to the site: https://nucleus.iaea.org/sites/covid19/SitePages/Home.aspx
  • COVID-19 WEBSITE FOR ALL UN SYSTEM PERSONNEL

    FEEDBACK/SUGGESTIONS: Please write to martin.nesirky@un.org

In today’s update:

  • Latest Austrian developments and measures – some sports including golf and tennis to be allowed from 1 May; restrictions lifted on using public transport; four reasons to leave the home remain in place but shopping now covers more than just essentials; Austrian COVID-19 data site now also in English
  • Note on COVID-19 updates

LATEST AUSTRIAN DEVELOPMENTS AND MEASURES

  • Some sports will be allowed from 1 May, including golf, tennis, horse-riding, athletics, shooting, archery and gliding, Austrian Vice Chancellor Werner Kogler said at a televised news briefing. This applies to professional and amateur sportswomen and men. Only outdoor venues will be allowed initially, although professionals will be able to train indoors.
  • Kogler, who is also Sports Minister, said professional sports would focus on individual sports initially rather than team sports and martial arts. The one exception would be professional football. Professional soccer games can be scheduled but without spectators.
  • The overall restrictions on movement remain in place until the end of April, the Austrian Government said.
  • The only four reasons for leaving the house are still these - to go to work if you cannot work remotely, to shop for urgent supplies such as food or medicine, to help others in need and to exercise or get fresh air.
  • The Austrian Government said that it is of course allowed to shop in small shops as well as home improvement (DIY) and garden stores that reopened on 14 April.
  • Face masks must be worn in all shops and there are limits on how many people can access a shop at any one time.
  • Austrian authorities say there are no longer restrictions on public transport. It can now be used again to go shopping for goods and services and also to travel to areas to exercise or get fresh air. Face masks must be worn in public transport by everyone except children under the age of six. Up to now, public transport nationwide had been limited to essential workers under the COVID-19 restrictions. Public transport includes train services such as OBB as well as municipal transport.
  • The Austrian authorities reported as of 1900 today 14,325 people had tested positive with COVID-19 in Austria. The number of people who have recovered is 8,098. The death toll stands at 393. There have been 156,801 tests.
  • The official Austrian dashboard reflecting the latest data on COVID-19 has been redesigned and is now available in English as well as German. It is updated frequently.

NOTE ON COVID-19 UPDATES

Updates are no longer being issued daily. Updates will be issued whenever there is fresh information from the VBOs or the Host Country. Between updates, you can keep up to date and refer to previous material by visiting our VBO COVID-19 website.On the site you can find all updates, reminders and messages issued so far, as well as useful links including to information in English and other languages.No log-in is needed.Link to the site: https://nucleus.iaea.org/sites/covid19/SitePages/Home.aspx

COVID-19 WEBSITE FOR ALL UN SYSTEM PERSONNEL

FEEDBACK/SUGGESTIONS: Please write to martin.nesirky@un.org

In today’s update:

  • Note on COVID-19 updates
  • Message from the main Vienna-based UN organizations (VBOs) – Complying with Austrian measures
  • Latest Austrian developments and measures – Easing of some measures started today, Chancellor Kurz says will pull emergency brake if figures move in wrong direction

NOTE ON COVID-19 UPDATES

  • From today, these updates will no longer be issued daily.
  • Updates will be issued whenever there is fresh information from the VBOs or the Host Country.
  • Between updates, you can keep up to date and refer to previous material by visiting our VBO COVID-19 website.
  • On the site you can find all updates, reminders and messages issued so far, as well as useful links including to information in English and other languages.
  • No log-in is needed.Link to the site: https://nucleus.iaea.org/sites/covid19/SitePages/Home.aspx

MESSAGE FROM THE MAIN VIENNA-BASED UN ORGANIZATIONS (VBOs) UNOV/UNODC – IAEA – UNIDO – CTBTO

Please continue to comply fully with all Austrian measures to tackle COVID-19. Please take careful note of the requirements that came into force today as some smaller shops reopened, especially wearing face masks in all shops, not just supermarkets, and in public transport. (Details can be found in the reminder section of the Thursday 9 April update on the VBO COVID-19 website)

A reminder that Vienna International Centre (VIC) personnel working remotely are required to continue to do so until Thursday 30 April. Stay home unless you are approved to come to the VIC to carry out critical tasks. These requirements will be reviewed as necessary.

The COVID-19 figures in Austria are moving in the right direction, but the pandemic is far from over; VIC personnel are playing an important role in supporting our Host Country’s efforts.

LATEST AUSTRIAN DEVELOPMENTS AND MEASURES

  • Chancellor Sebastian Kurz said the previously announced easing of some measures had started today because people in Austria had adhered to the distancing regulations over the long weekend. He said the aim was for “as much freedom as possible, as many restrictions as necessary”.
  • “If the figures move in the wrong direction, we will of course pull the emergency brake,” Kurz said. He noted the rules on social distancing and working from home where possible, for example, remained in place. He also said the crisis was far from over.
  • Kurz said no decision had been taken yet on when and how schools could reopen.
  • Health Minister Rudolf Anschober said the latest figure for the daily increase in the number of positive cases was 0.8 percent. The period in which the number of cases doubles is now 39 days compared with three days at the outset. Since 4 April, the number of people deemed to have recovered has been greater than the number of newly infected.
  • Anschober said this new, second phase of relaxing some measures was more challenging. He noted it would take about 10 days before new cases became apparent.
  • Vice Chancellor Werner Kogler said this was why the planned easing of measures was phased with gaps of two-three weeks to allow the authorities to respond should the infection rate start to climb.
  • Kogler said plans for the sport and culture sectors would be outlined later this week.
  • Small shops up to 400 square metres and home improvement (DIY) and garden stores were allowed to reopen from today, Tuesday 14 April. Masks must be worn in all shops; they are not necessarily provided by all shops. Masks must also be worn on public transport.
  • The Austrian authorities reported as of 1500 today 14,159 people had tested positive with COVID-19 in Austria. The number of people who have recovered is 7,633. The death toll stands at 384. There have been 151,796 tests.
  • There is a dashboard available (in German) reflecting the latest data on COVID-19, updated frequently.

COVID-19 WEBSITE FOR ALL UN SYSTEM PERSONNEL

FEEDBACK/SUGGESTIONS: Please write to martin.nesirky@un.org

New in today’s update:

  • Message from the main Vienna-based UN organizations (VBOs) – on adhering to Austrian measures
  • Latest Austrian developments and measures – Chancellor Kurz urges people not to meet others over Easter holidays, says situation is dangerous and deceptive, and the infection risk remains very high

For previous updates and messages, and useful links including to information in English, visit and bookmark this site. (Note: no log-in is needed):https://nucleus.iaea.org/sites/covid19/SitePages/Home.aspx

MESSAGE FROM THE MAIN VIENNA-BASED UN ORGANIZATIONS (VBOs) UNOV/UNODC – IAEA – UNIDO – CTBTO

As we approach a long weekend, and a well-deserved rest for many, you are kindly reminded to adhere strictly to our Host Country’s measures on tackling COVID-19, as you have done so effectively so far. The planned easing of Austrian restrictions from 14 April depends on everyone in Austria continuing to stay home except for these four reasons – essential work, essential shopping, helping those in need and taking exercise.

LATEST AUSTRIAN DEVELOPMENTS AND MEASURES

New information:

  • Chancellor Sebastian Kurz said in a statement Austria was faring better than other countries in Western Europe, but the coronavirus remained among us and the danger persists.
  • “The most important point is this: Please do not have family celebrations over the Easter weekend. Everyone has the chance to save lives through their behaviour,” Kurz said.
  • He said the Government was fully aware everyone craved freedom of movement and wanted to meet family and friends. He said it would only be possible to gradually return to normal starting after Easter if everyone did as they had done so far under the restrictions.
  • “Even if the sun and the nice weather tempt us to make longer trips and gather outdoors, the situation remains dangerous and deceptive because the virus has not yet been defeated and the risk of infection is still very high," Kurz said.
  • The Austrian Government said it planned to establish a hardship fund to support families with children whose parents were unemployed or on reduced hours.
  • The Government also said it would lend 12,000 laptops and tablets to children who otherwise would not be able to take part in online teaching. This would be until the end of the school year.
  • The Austrian Mountain Rescue authorities and Alpine Police urged people not to head to the mountains over the long weekend. Accidents in the mountains are usually serious and require hospital treatment that would distract from efforts to tackle COVID-19.
  • The Austrian authorities reported as of 1600 today 13,163 people had tested positive with COVID-19 in Austria. The number of people who have recovered is 5,240. The death toll stands at 295. There have been 126,287 tests. More people recovered in the past 24 hours than tested positive.
  • There is a dashboard available (in German) reflecting the latest data on COVID-19, updated frequently.

A reminder of the measures in force:

  • Everyone in Austria should stay at home and avoid contact with others beyond their immediate household.
  • The Austrian authorities say there are only four reasons to leave home:
    1. To go to work if it cannot be postponed or carried out remotely.
    2. To shop for essential supplies such as food and medicine.
    3. To tend to others who need support, such as the elderly.
    4. To get some exercise (such as walking, running, cycling or walking the dog). But public transport should not be used for these purposes. If you do go outside for these activities, which should be only if absolutely necessary, it should be alone or with others from your household. You must avoid interaction with other people and keep a minimum one-metre distance from others.
  • The Austrian Government outlined these planned steps on Monday. It made clear they were dependent on how the transmission curve develops in the coming days and on the extent to which people continue to adhere to the social distancing rules during the Easter period.
    1. Small shops (up to 400 square metres) and home improvement (DIY) and garden stores to open from 14 April.
    2. All shops, shopping centres and hairdressers to open from 1 May. Masks to be worn and the number of people allowed in those premises to be controlled.
    3. Other areas such as hotels and restaurants, bars and cafes to follow in mid-May.
    4. No public events to be held before the end of June. The rules for the summer would be decided at the end of April.
    5. School leaving exams will take place under special conditions.
    6. Schools will remain closed until mid-May but in-school care for those who parents have no other option will continue to be available. To be reviewed at the end of April.
    7. Universities will remain online for this semester.
    8. From next week the rule on the compulsory wearing of masks in supermarkets and drugstores will be extended to public transport and then also to other shops as they open.
  • The Austrian Foreign Ministry says: “Diplomatic missions, Permanent Missions, International Organizations and Consulates General are expressly requested to comply with these regulations.”

The cumulative total of positive cases among the VIC community is 10.

The number of VIC personnel working remotely or otherwise at home now routinely exceeds 97 percent.

COMBATTING VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN:

Guidance and contact information can be found here

COVID-19 WEBSITE FOR ALL UN SYSTEM PERSONNEL

FEEDBACK/SUGGESTIONS: Please write to martin.nesirky@un.org

In today’s update:

  • Message from the main Vienna-based UN organizations (VBOs) – Guidance on antibody tests and face masks
  • Latest Austrian developments and measures – Austrian Foreign Minister says fully unrestricted travel abroad will only be possible once COVID-19 is defeated worldwide. Tourism Minister says goal is to start to reopen Austrian hotels and resorts mid-May, advises people to holiday in Austria this year. Health Minister says Austria plans comprehensive antibody tests from end-April
  • City of Vienna providing COVID-19 information in many more languages
  • Instagram Live with UN Youth Envoy and UN cybercrime chief on Thursday 1500 Vienna time – aimed at young people

For previous updates and messages, and useful links including to information in English, visit and bookmark this site. (Note: no log-in is needed): https://nucleus.iaea.org/sites/covid19/SitePages/Home.aspx

MESSAGE FROM THE MAIN VIENNA-BASED UN ORGANIZATIONS (VBOs) UNOV/UNODC – IAEA – UNIDO – CTBTO

A message from the Vienna International Centre (VIC) Medical Service:

Antibody testing

Medical Service is closely monitoring the validation of antibody tests by the Austrian authorities. Currently available rapid tests are unreliable, as they have a high cross reactivity to other circulating coronaviruses. Antibodies develop in an infected person generally after 7-10 days and will protect the person against the same virus for some time (how long is not yet known). Antibody tests have an important role as a tool to monitor “immunity” and also to identify persons who had COVID-19 infection but never developed symptoms. VIC Medical Service will consider offering validated antibody tests to the VIC community, as appropriate, should they become more widely available.

Clarification on mask wearing at the VIC

At the moment in Austria, wearing a face mask is only required in supermarkets and drugstores, which are generally supplying masks to clients upon entering the premises. According to the latest measures announced by the Austrian Government, the requirement to wear face masks will be extended to include public transport and shops that will reopen on April 14. It is expected that masks will be available for purchase at supermarkets and other shops in the coming days. For the time being, there is no specific guidance from the Austrian Authorities and from UN Medical Directors on mask wearing at work applicable to the VIC except for UNSSS personnel and VIC Medical Service staff.

Staff entering the VIC are therefore not required to wear a face mask at the moment.

UNSSS staff are following specific guidance of the Austrian Police and wear masks to protect others and themselves during the conduct of their security and safety duties.

In addition, VIC Medical Service staff are wearing specific face masks and gowns when activities involve potential spreading of droplets (like coughing or sneezing when looking into the throat or nose or during physical examination of a person with COVID-19 symptoms). This is in line with specific guidance for health care workers from the Austrian Health Authorities.

LATEST AUSTRIAN DEVELOPMENTS AND MEASURES

New information:

  • Foreign Minister Alexander Schallenberg told a televised briefing: “We have to recognise that from a global perspective we are still fully in the middle of the coronavirus crisis. Our aim is completely clear; we of course want to restore travel freedom, full travel freedom, as soon as possible. But we have to recognise that as long as the coronavirus is not defeated worldwide, full travel freedom will not be possible.”
  • Tourism Minister Elisabeth Köstinger said the aim was to gradually start opening hotels and tourist resorts from mid-May with strict social distancing rules. She said those in Austria should expect major restrictions on travel elsewhere and should therefore take holidays within the country this year.
  • Education Minister Heinz Fassmann said high school students would be able to sit their final Matura exam on 25 May and schools would reopen only for them on 4 May.
  • Fassmann said a decision on when other school students return would not be taken until the end of April and would take into account the COVID-19 picture at that point.
  • Health Minister Rudolf Anschober said on ORF TV on Tuesday evening the aim was to carry out comprehensive antibody tests from the end of April to determine how many people in Austria have already come into contact with the novel coronavirus. He added, “We will only start rolling this out when we have assured evidence from these tests."
  • The Austrian authorities reported as of 1900 today 12,920 people had tested positive with COVID-19 in Austria. The number of people who have recovered is 4,512. The death toll stands at 273. There have been 115,235 tests.
  • The cumulative total of positive cases among the VIC community is 10.
  • The number of VIC personnel working remotely or otherwise at home now routinely exceeds 97 percent. UN Security personnel are now wearing face masks at the VIC, in line with Austrian police rules.
  • There is a dashboard available (in German) reflecting the latest data on COVID-19, updated frequently.

A reminder of the measures in force:

  • Everyone in Austria should stay at home and avoid contact with others beyond their immediate household.
  • The Austrian authorities say there are only four reasons to leave home:
    1. To go to work if it cannot be postponed or carried out remotely.
    2. To shop for essential supplies such as food and medicine.
    3. To tend to others who need support, such as the elderly.
    4. To get some exercise (such as walking, running, cycling or walking the dog). But public transport should not be used for these purposes. If you do go outside for these activities, which should be only if absolutely necessary, it should be alone or with others from your household. You must avoid interaction with other people and keep a minimum one-metre distance from others.
  • The Austrian Government outlined these planned steps on Monday. It made clear they were dependent on how the transmission curve develops in the coming days and on the extent to which people continue to adhere to the social distancing rules during the Easter period.
    1. Small shops (up to 400 square metres) and home improvement (DIY) and garden stores to open from 14 April.
    2. All shops, shopping centres and hairdressers to open from 1 May. Masks to be worn and the number of people allowed in those premises to be controlled.
    3. Other areas such as hotels and restaurants, bars and cafes to follow in mid-May.
    4. No public events to be held before the end of June. The rules for the summer would be decided at the end of April.
    5. School leaving exams will take place under special conditions.
    6. Schools will remain closed until mid-May but in-school care for those who parents have no other option will continue to be available. To be reviewed at the end of April.
    7. Universities will remain online for this semester.
    8. From next week the rule on the compulsory wearing of masks in supermarkets and drugstores will be extended to public transport and then also to other shops as they open.
  • The Austrian Foreign Ministry says: “Diplomatic missions, Permanent Missions, International Organizations and Consulates General are expressly requested to comply with these regulations.”

CITY OF VIENNA PROVIDING ADVICE AND INFORMATION IN 22 LANGUAGES:

Our Host City has expanded its service to residents by adding to the range of languages available for advice and information in on COVID-19. This is the main site, with buttons for the 22 languages available: https://coronavirus.wien.gv.at/site/

These are the links to the basic information in each language:

INSTAGRAM LIVE WITH UN YOUTH ENVOY AND UN CYBERCRIME CHIEF:

This event on Thursday 1500 Vienna time (0900 EDT) is accessible worldwide to anyone with an Instagram account and is aimed at young people, so VIC personnel with teenagers should consider flagging it to them. The UN Youth Envoy, Jayathma Wickramanayake, is @unyouthenvoy. The UN cybercrime chief, Neil Walsh, will be on @unitednationsvienna. https://www.instagram.com/p/B-spoiNj64_/

COMBATTING VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN:

Guidance and contact information can be found here

COVID-19 WEBSITE FOR ALL UN SYSTEM PERSONNEL

FEEDBACK/SUGGESTIONS: Please write to martin.nesirky@un.org

In today’s update:

  • Latest Austrian developments and measures – Chancellor Kurz says Austria on the right path but far from the end of the crisis; planned new measures are deliberately phased to allow for course correction.
  • Detailed video briefing on staying safe online
  • For previous updates and messages, and useful links including to information in English, visit and bookmark this site. (Note: no log-in is needed): https://nucleus.iaea.org/sites/covid19/SitePages/Home.aspx

    LATEST AUSTRIAN DEVELOPMENTS AND MEASURES

    Updates:

    • Chancellor Sebastian Kurz told ORF TV’s ZIB2 news programme that Austria was on the right path but by no means out of the crisis. He said the steps announced on Monday had been deliberated phased with enough time between them so that if the transmission rate starts to climb then measures can be taken to bend the curve again.
    • Kurz appealed to everyone to continue to comply with the restrictions on movement even though this was tough for many. While Austria was on the right path now, if it wavered the picture could deteriorate rapidly as it had in some other European countries.
    • Austria’s road safety organization said drivers and passengers are allowed to wear face masks, but this is not compulsory.
    • The Austrian authorities reported as of 1600 today 12,547 people had tested positive with COVID-19 in Austria. The number of people who have recovered is 4,046. The death toll stands at 243. There have been 115,235 tests. In the past 24 hours, more people were declared recovered than tested positive for COVID-19.
    • The cumulative total of positive cases among the VIC community is 10.
    • The number of VIC personnel working remotely or otherwise at home now routinely exceeds 97 percent. UN Security personnel are now wearing face masks at the VIC, in line with Austrian police rules.
    • There is a dashboard available (in German) reflecting the latest data on COVID-19, updated frequently.

    A reminder of the measures in force:

    • Everyone in Austria should stay at home and avoid contact with others beyond their immediate household.
    • The Austrian authorities say there are only four reasons to leave home:
      1. To go to work if it cannot be postponed or carried out remotely.
      2. To shop for essential supplies such as food and medicine.
      3. To tend to others who need support, such as the elderly.
      4. To get some exercise (such as walking, running, cycling or walking the dog). But public transport should not be used for these purposes. If you do go outside for these activities, which should be only if absolutely necessary, it should be alone or with others from your household. You must avoid interaction with other people and keep a minimum one-metre distance from others.

    The Austrian Government outlined these planned steps on Monday. It made clear they were dependent on how the transmission curve develops in the coming days and on the extent to which people continue to adhere to the social distancing rules during the Easter period.

    • Small shops (up to 400 square metres) and home improvement (DIY) and garden stores to open from 14 April.
    • All shops, shopping centres and hairdressers to open from 1 May. Masks to be worn and the number of people allowed in those premises to be controlled.
    • Other areas such as hotels and restaurants, bars and cafes to follow in mid-May.
    • No public events to be held before the end of June. The rules for the summer would be decided at the end of April.
    • School leaving exams will take place under special conditions.
    • Schools will remain closed until mid-May but in-school care for those who parents have no other option will continue to be available. To be reviewed at the end of April.
    • Universities will remain online for this semester.
    • From next week the rule on the compulsory wearing of masks in supermarkets and drugstores will be extended to public transport and then also to other shops as they open. It would be up to individual businesses and offices to decide on whether masks should be worn at work.
    • The Austrian Foreign Ministry says: “Diplomatic missions, Permanent Missions, International Organizations and Consulates General are expressly requested to comply with these regulations.”

    STAYING SAFE ONLINE WHILE WORKING REMOTELY

    This is an informative online session hosted on the UN Secretariat intranet, iSeek, recently. UNODC cybercrime chief Neil Walsh, UN Secretariat cybersecurity chief Thomas Braun and Farzana Mithun, a Regional Cybersecurity Compliance Officer with the Secretariat’s Office of Information and Communications Technology, briefed staff and answered questions. View here

    COMBATTING VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN

    Guidance and contact information can be found here

    COVID-19 WEBSITE FOR ALL UN SYSTEM PERSONNEL:

    FEEDBACK/SUGGESTIONS:Please write to Martin Nesirky.

In today’s update:

  • Message from the main Vienna-based UN organizations (VBOs) – VIC personnel required to adhere to extended Austrian measures.
  • Latest Austrian developments and measures – measures extended until 30 April, phased reopening of shops from 14 April, home schooling until mid-May.
  • Information on personal mail addressed to VIC.
  • Important information on tackling domestic abuse.

For previous updates and messages, and useful links including to information in English, visit and bookmark this site. (Note: no log-in is needed): https://nucleus.iaea.org/sites/covid19/SitePages/Home.aspx

MESSAGE FROM THE MAIN VIENNA-BASED UN ORGANIZATIONS (VBOs) UNOV/UNODC – IAEA – UNIDO – CTBTO

The Austrian Chancellor, Sebastian Kurz, announced today the measures that began on Monday 16 March were being extended until Thursday 30 April 2020.

All personnel based at the Vienna International Centre (VIC) or elsewhere in Austria are required to adhere to the Austrian Government’s extended measures. VIC personnel working remotely are required to continue to do so until Thursday 30 April. Stay home unless you are approved to come to the VIC to carry out critical tasks. These requirements will be reviewed as necessary. The COVID-19 curve is beginning to flatten but the pandemic is far from over; VIC personnel have a vital role to play in supporting our Host Country’s efforts.

LATEST AUSTRIAN DEVELOPMENTS AND MEASURES

Updates:

  • In a televised government news conference, Austrian Chancellor Sebastian Kurz said the measures to fight COVID-19 were being extended to Thursday 30 April.
  • He announced the following outline of how measures would start to be eased, but only if everyone continued to comply fully with the measures. He said the Easter period would be decisive. Kurz said he would hit the stop button on relaxing the measures if necessary and even consider tightening the measures.
  • Small shops (up to 400 square metres) to open from 14 April.
  • All shops, shopping centres and hairdressers to open from 1 May. Masks to be worn and the number of people allowed in those premises to be controlled.
  • Other areas such as hotels and restaurants, bars and cafes to follow in mid-May.
  • No public events to be held before the end of June. The rules for the summer would be decided at the end of April.
  • School leaving exams will take place under special conditions.
  • Schools will remain closed until mid-May but in-school care for those who parents have no other option will continue to be available. To be reviewed at the end of April.
  • Universities will remain online for this semester.
  • From next week the rule on the compulsory wearing of masks in supermarkets and drugstores will be extended to public transport and then also to other shops as they open. It would be up to individual businesses and offices to decide on whether masks should be worn at work.
  • Interior Minister Karl Nehammer said police patrols would be stepped up. He said it was vital that everyone remained disciplined in adhering to the measures. The four reasons for going outside had not changed.
  • Health Minister Rudolf Anschober said Austria was recording the sharpest decline in Europe. This was a success, but only a partial success. The trend must continue at a faster pace. He urged people not to take any risks during the Easter holidays.
  • Kurz said it was acceptable if supermarkets or drugstores charged a small fee for masks, if this was to cover costs and not to make a profit. Most such stores are providing mask free of charge, but some are charging one euro to cover costs (for example, REWE group, which includes Billa, BIPA, Merkur and Penny, according to ORF News).
  • The Austrian authorities reported as 1800 of today 12,267 people had tested positive with COVID-19 in Austria. The number of people who have recovered is 3,463. The death toll stands at 220. There have been 111,296 tests. The daily total of people deemed to have recovered exceeded the number of new positive cases in the same period.
  • The cumulative total of positive cases among the VIC community is 10.
  • The number of VIC personnel working remotely or otherwise at home now routinely exceeds 97 percent. UN Security personnel are now wearing face masks at the VIC, in line with Austrian police rules.
  • There is a dashboard available (in German) reflecting the latest data on COVID-19, updated frequently.

A reminder of the measures in force:

  • Everyone in Austria should stay at home and avoid contact with others beyond their immediate household.
  • The Austrian authorities say there are only four reasons to leave home:
    1. To go to work if it cannot be postponed or carried out remotely.
    2. To shop for essential supplies such as food and medicine.
    3. To tend to others who need support, such as the elderly.
    4. To get some exercise (such as walking, running, cycling or walking the dog). But public transport should not be used for these purposes. If you do go outside for these activities, which should be only if absolutely necessary, it should be alone or with others from your household. You must avoid interaction with other people and keep a minimum one-metre distance from others.

The Austrian Foreign Ministry says: “Diplomatic missions, Permanent Missions, International Organizations and Consulates General are expressly requested to comply with these regulations.”

INFORMATION FROM UNOV MAIL OPERATIONS

UN Office at Vienna (UNOV) Mail Operations is receiving and processing all official Austrian Post, Diplomatic Pouch and DHL courier deliveries.

Private packages using the VIC as a mailing address are being held in the Austrian Post in the Donauzentrum. Recipients should have received an email notification directly from the Post. The parcels will be held for collection for fourteen days and then returned to the shipper if they are not picked up. When placing personal online orders, please do not use the VIC address, but have the items delivered to your current location.

COMBATTING VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN:

The UN Secretary-General has made an important statement on tackling violence against women during the COVID-19 pandemic. Austria is also launching a campaign to help deal with such abuse. Guidance and contact information already provided to VIC personnel can be found here.

Links to Secretary-General’s message:

SOCIAL MEDIA VIDEO ON HOW VIC AND PERSONNEL RESPONDING TO COVID-19: Links to a one-minute social media video by UN Information Service with input from VBOs on deserted VIC and how personnel are working remotely to keep serving the people who most need us. Feel free to share with your networks. YouTube

COVID-19 WEBSITE FOR ALL UN SYSTEM PERSONNEL:

FEEDBACK/SUGGESTIONS:Please write to Martin Nesirky.

In today’s update:

  • Message from the main Vienna-based UN organizations (VBOs) – Three weeks in, stay connected and reach out for help; advice from VIC’s medical chief
  • Latest Austrian developments and measures – President Van der Bellen urges Austrians and all those who live in our Host Country to persevere in the fight against COVID-19
  • Advice on distinguishing between allergy and COVID-19 symptoms

For previous updates and messages, and useful links including to information in English, visit and bookmark this site. (Note: no log-in is needed):

MESSAGE FROM THE MAIN VIENNA-BASED UN ORGANIZATIONS (VBOs) UNOV/UNODC – IAEA – UNIDO – CTBTO

As we end the third week working remotely or remaining at home, let’s stay connected with each other, check on colleagues and reach out if we need help. See the video message from the Chief Medical Advisor of the Vienna International Centre (VIC) Medical Service, Dr. Matthias Lademann on the VBO COVID-19 site.

LATEST AUSTRIAN DEVELOPMENTS AND MEASURES

Updates:

  • Austrian Federal President Alexander Van der Bellen gave a televised address on Thursday evening. “At some point we will look back on this strange, painful, unreal spring 2020. And we will know: it has passed,” he said. “And we may be able to better appreciate how valuable and important we are to each other.” He said people would need to persevere for longer for the sake of those most vulnerable in our Host Country and get used to the new normal. “Dear Austrians, and everyone who lives here, I want to be honest with you: I don't know how long it will take for this crisis to be overcome. And I don't know how bad it will get. Nobody can say for sure at the moment.” But he said there was one certainty; it would pass. Here is a link to the text and video of his address (in German; if an English version is made available it will be shared):
  • Vice-Chancellor Werner Kogler told reporters in a televised briefing on Friday that when the economic restrictions were relaxed it would be phased. For example, shops were likely to be able reopen before sports events were allowed again. He said details on what he called a “slow start-up” would start to be announced from next week. The aim was to protect the most vulnerable.
  • The Austrian authorities reported as of 1600 today 11,412 people had tested positive with COVID-19 in Austria. The number of people who have recovered is 1,749. The death toll stands at 168. There have been 98,343 tests.
  • The cumulative total of positive cases among the VIC community is 10.
  • The number of VIC personnel working remotely or otherwise at home now routinely exceeds 97 percent. UN Security personnel are now wearing face masks at the VIC, in line with Austrian police rules.
  • There is a dashboard available (in German) reflecting the latest data on COVID-19, updated frequently.

A reminder of the measures in force:

  • Everyone in Austria should stay at home and avoid contact with others beyond their immediate household.
  • The Austrian authorities say there are only four reasons to leave home:
    1. To go to work if it cannot be postponed or carried out remotely.
    2. To shop for essential supplies such as food and medicine.
    3. To tend to others who need support, such as the elderly.
    4. To get some exercise (such as walking, running, cycling or walking the dog). But public transport should not be used for these purposes. If you do go outside for these activities, which should be only if absolutely necessary, it should be alone or with others from your household. You must avoid interaction with other people and keep a minimum one-metre distance from others.

These measures - which also cover the announced non-essential shop and restaurant, café and bar closures - last until midnight on Monday 13 April but will be extended.

Chancellor Sebastian Kurz announced three new measures on Monday:

  1. More protection for vulnerable groups; for example, they will not have to go to work if they can work from home or they can be placed on leave.
  2. Ensuring better compliance with the measures – police will be more stringent. There have already been more than 10,000 police reports on violations, including 2,000 just last weekend. Police will not hesitate to fine people if they do not comply.
  3. Face masks must be worn in supermarkets, once the masks have been delivered. They are compulsory from Monday 6 April.

The Austrian Foreign Ministry says: “Diplomatic missions, Permanent Missions, International Organizations and Consulates General are expressly requested to comply with these regulations.”

VIC MEDICAL SERVICE ADVICE – ON ALLERGY VS COVID-19:

Is it allergy or is it COVID-19?

For people who have seasonal allergies, springtime this year coincides with the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Because both conditions affect the respiratory tract, it is understandable that a person who has seasonal allergies would get anxious this year. Keep in mind that the main difference between both conditions is that seasonal allergies generally don’t cause fever or gastro-intestinal symptoms, and they respond to treatment with an antihistamine or similar medications.

Follow the link to the VBO COVID-19 site and scroll down to the VIC Medical Service section to find advice to help distinguish the two conditions.

COVID-19 WEBSITE FOR ALL UN SYSTEM PERSONNEL:

FEEDBACK/SUGGESTIONS:Please write to Martin Nesirky.

In today’s update:

  • Message from the main Vienna-based UN organizations (VBOs) – reminder on face masks regulation
  • Latest Austrian developments and measures – Health Minister says rate of increase in COVID-19 cases beginning to flatten but Austria needs to keep going with measures, plus authorities say 1,749 people have recovered so far

For previous updates and messages, and useful links including to information in English, visit and bookmark this site. (Note: no log-in is needed):https://nucleus.iaea.org/sites/covid19/SitePages/Home.aspx

MESSAGE FROM THE MAIN VIENNA-BASED UN ORGANIZATIONS (VBOs) UNOV/UNODC – IAEA – UNIDO – CTBTO

All Vienna International Centre (VIC) personnel must comply with the new Austrian regulation on face masks worn in grocery stores and drugstores. Together with our Host Country we can help to flatten the transmission curve.

LATEST AUSTRIAN DEVELOPMENTS AND MEASURES

Updates:

  • The rate of increase in COVID-19 cases in Austria has flattened, Health Minister Rudolf Anschober told reporters in a televised briefing.
  • Three weeks ago, the number of cases was doubling every 2.4 days, he said. Two weeks ago, it was every four days. Now it is every eight days. A measure of stability is achieved when the doubling of cases is every 14 days. The aim is to ensure the hospitals can handle the case load.
  • Anschober said the measures were obviously beginning to take effect and Austria was heading in the right direction. It was important to keep going.
  • The Austrian authorities reported that as of 2200 today 11,123 people had tested positive with COVID-19 in Austria. The number of people who have recovered is 1,749. The death toll stands at 158. There have been 92,190 tests.

The cumulative total of positive cases among the VIC community is 10.

The number of VIC personnel working remotely or otherwise at home now routinely exceeds 97 percent.

There is a dashboard available (in German) reflecting the latest data on COVID-19, updated frequently.

A reminder of the measures in force:

  • Everyone in Austria should stay at home and avoid contact with others beyond their immediate household.
  • The Austrian authorities say there are only four reasons to leave home:
    1. To go to work if it cannot be postponed or carried out remotely.
    2. To shop for essential supplies such as food and medicine.
    3. To tend to others who need support, such as the elderly.
    4. To get some exercise (such as walking, running, cycling or walking the dog). But public transport should not be used for these purposes. If you do go outside for these activities, which should be only if absolutely necessary, it should be alone or with others from your household. You must avoid interaction with other people and keep a minimum one-metre distance from others.

These measures - which also cover the announced non-essential shop and restaurant, café and bar closures - last until midnight on Monday 13 April but will be extended.

Kurz announced three new measures on Monday:

  1. More protection for vulnerable groups; for example, they will not have to go to work if they can work from home or they can be placed on leave.
  2. Ensuring better compliance with the measures – police will be more stringent. There have already been more than 10,000 police reports on violations, including 2,000 just last weekend. Police will not hesitate to fine people if they do not comply.
  3. Face masks must be worn in supermarkets, once the masks have been delivered. They are compulsory from Monday 6 April.

The Austrian Foreign Ministry says: “Diplomatic missions, Permanent Missions, International Organizations and Consulates General are expressly requested to comply with these regulations.”

COVID-19 WEBSITE FOR ALL UN SYSTEM PERSONNEL

FEEDBACK/SUGGESTIONS to Martin Nesirky

In today’s update:

  • Message from the main Vienna-based UN organizations (VBOs) – on face masks regulation
  • Latest Austrian developments and measures – number of COVID-19 cases passes 10,000

For previous updates and messages, and useful links, visit and bookmark this site. (Note: no log-in is needed): https://nucleus.iaea.org/sites/covid19/SitePages/Home.aspx

MESSAGE FROM THE MAIN VIENNA-BASED UN ORGANIZATIONS (VBOs) UNOV/UNODC – IAEA – UNIDO – CTBTO

All Vienna International Centre (VIC) personnel must comply with the new Austrian regulation on face masks worn in grocery stores and drugstores. Together with our Host Country we can help to flatten the transmission curve.

LATEST AUSTRIAN DEVELOPMENTS AND MEASURES

Important updates:

  • Face masks began to be made available at supermarkets and drug stores from today. They become compulsory for grocery store visits from Monday 6 April.
  • The number of positive COVID-19 cases in Austria now exceeds 10,500.

Kurz announced three new measures on Monday:

  1. More protection for vulnerable groups; for example, they will not have to go to work if they can work from home or they can be placed on leave.
  2. Ensuring better compliance with the measures – police will be more stringent. There have already been more than 10,000 police reports on violations, including 2,000 just last weekend. Police will not hesitate to fine people if they do not comply.
  3. Face masks must be worn in supermarkets, once the masks have been delivered. They are compulsory from Monday 6 April.

The Austrian Foreign Ministry says: “Diplomatic missions, Permanent Missions, International Organizations and Consulates General are expressly requested to comply with these regulations.” These measures - which also cover the announced non-essential shop and restaurant, café and bar closures - last until midnight on Monday 13 April but will be extended.

The Austrian authorities reported that as of 2100 today 10,668 people had tested positive with COVID-19 in Austria. The death toll stands at 146. There have been 55,863 tests.

The cumulative total of positive cases among the VIC community is 10.

The number of VIC personnel working remotely or otherwise at home now routinely exceeds 97 percent.

There is a dashboard available (in German) reflecting the latest data on COVID-19, updated frequently.

A reminder of the measures in force:

  • Everyone in Austria should stay at home and avoid contact with others beyond their immediate household.
  • The Austrian authorities say there are only four reasons to leave home:
    1. To go to work if it cannot be postponed or carried out remotely.
    2. To shop for essential supplies such as food and medicine.
    3. To tend to others who need support, such as the elderly.
    4. To get some exercise (such as walking, running, cycling or walking the dog). But public transport should not be used for these purposes. If you do go outside for these activities, which should be only if absolutely necessary, it should be alone or with others from your household. You must avoid interaction with other people and keep a minimum one-metre distance from others.

COVID-19 WEBSITE FOR ALL UN SYSTEM PERSONNEL:

FEEDBACK/SUGGESTIONS: Please write to martin.nesirky@un.org

In today’s update:

  • Message from the main Vienna-based UN organizations (VBOs) – one further COVID-19 case involving VIC personnel
  • Latest Austrian developments and measures – no school and university likely in April and no decision yet on return, says Education Minister, Chancellor says the difficult times yet to come

For previous updates and messages, and useful links, visit and bookmark this site. (Note: no log-in is needed): https://nucleus.iaea.org/sites/covid19/SitePages/Home.aspx

MESSAGE FROM THE MAIN VIENNA-BASED UN ORGANIZATIONS (VBOs)

This is an important message from the VIC Medical Service regarding COVID-19:

There is one more case of COVID-19 involving VIC personnel.

On Tuesday, 31 March, the Austrian authorities confirmed that a person working at the UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) was COVID-19 positive. The person was tested on 27 March and had been out of the workplace since 6 March 2020. Contact tracing is being conducted. There was no risk to any colleagues at the workplace.

This brings the cumulative total of COVID-19 among VIC personnel to 10 cases.

IMPORTANT: VIC Medical Services urges all personnel working at the VIC to report cases to the VIC Medical Service.

LATEST AUSTRIAN DEVELOPMENTS AND MEASURES

Important updates:

Education Minister Heinz Fassmann told reporters it was not yet possible to say when schools and universities would resume. Realistically speaking, it would not be possible to hold classes at the institutions in April, he said. All those who are scheduled to take school-leaving exams (Matura) or to finish compulsory schooling would be able to do so. The Matura date would be decided after Easter. Chancellor Sebastian Kurz told ORF television on Monday evening that reopening schools would be an extreme burden on the system and could lead to a huge spread of the virus if the transmission rate was not close to zero.

Kurz said that the government hoped to be able to give some indication within a week on what would happen to the announced measures after Easter. He said that a special team was working on "gradually leading the country into a new normality". Kurz said there was no alternative to the stricter measures. “The truth is the difficult times still lie ahead,” he said.

A reminder of the measures in force:

  • Everyone in Austria should stay at home and avoid contact with others beyond their immediate household.
  • The Austrian authorities say there are only four reasons to leave home:
    1. To go to work if it cannot be postponed or carried out remotely.
    2. To shop for essential supplies such as food and medicine.
    3. To tend to others who need support, such as the elderly.
    4. To get some exercise (such as walking, running, cycling or walking the dog). But public transport should not be used for these purposes. If you do go outside for these activities, which should be only if absolutely necessary, it should be alone or with others from your household. You must avoid interaction with other people and keep a minimum one-metre distance from others.

Kurz announced three new measures on Monday:

  • More protection for vulnerable groups; for example, they will not have to go to work if they can work from home or they can be placed on leave.
  • Ensuring better compliance with the measures – police will be more stringent. There have already been more than 10,000 police reports on violations, including 2,000 just last weekend. Police will not hesitate to fine people if they do not comply.
  • Face masks must be worn in supermarkets, once the masks have been delivered. The masks will probably be available at supermarket entrances from Wednesday. The masks do not protect the wearer from contracting the virus but do protect others if the wearer is already unwittingly infected. In the medium-term masks will be made compulsory anywhere people pass each other, Kurz said. An exact timeframe was not given for that. Kurz emphasized the masks were an additional measure, not a replacement for social distancing, which must continue.

The Austrian Foreign Ministry says: “Diplomatic missions, Permanent Missions, International Organizations and Consulates General are expressly requested to comply with these regulations.” These measures - which also cover the announced non-essential shop and restaurant, café and bar closures - last until midnight on Monday 13 April but will be extended.

The Austrian authorities reported that as of 1700 today 10,038 people had tested positive with COVID-19 in Austria. The death toll stands at 128. There have been 52,344 tests.

The cumulative total of positive cases among the VIC community is 10. The number of VIC personnel working remotely or otherwise at home now routinely exceeds 97 percent.There is a dashboard available (in German) reflecting the latest data on COVID-19, updated frequently.

COVID-19 WEBSITE FOR ALL UN SYSTEM PERSONNEL

FEEDBACK/SUGGESTIONS: Please write to martin.nesirky@un.org

In today’s update:

  • Message from the main Vienna-based UN organizations (VBOs) – update from Vienna International Centre (VIC) Medical Service – three new positive cases- Latest Austrian developments and measures –
  • Government tightens measures, face masks to be compulsory in supermarkets, police to enforce measures more stringently

For previous updates and messages, and useful links, visit and bookmark this site. (Note: no log-in is needed): https://nucleus.iaea.org/sites/covid19/SitePages/Home.aspx

MESSAGE FROM THE MAIN VIENNA-BASED UN ORGANIZATIONS (VBOs)

This is an important message from the VIC Medical Service regarding COVID-19:

There are three more confirmed cases of COVID-19 involving VIC personnel. These are the details:

There are two additional confirmed cases of COVID-19 involving staff members of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).

On March 27th, the Austrian authorities confirmed that two more persons had tested positive for COVID-19, who had not been in the building since 13 March. They are both under self-quarantine and recovering from home. In one case, contact tracing by the Austrian authorities and the VIC Medical Service has identified individuals who were in close contact with the person and have been contacted by the authorities with instructions to self-quarantine for 14 days. Personnel not contacted by the Austrian authorities are not considered to be at risk. In the second case, the person was under self – quarantine since March 20th. A risk assessment conducted by local authorities and the VIC Medical Service has determined that there is no additional risk of exposure to other personnel.

Monday, 30 March, the authorities confirmed that a United Nations Office at Vienna (UNOV) staff member has tested positive for COVID-19. He is doing well at home with mild symptoms. The person had been working from home for seven days. Close contact tracing was conducted by Austrian health authorities and identified one contact person for observation. A risk assessment conducted by Austrian authorities and VIC Medical Service has determined that due to working from home, there is no risk of exposure to other personnel.

These latest three cases bring the cumulative total of COVID-19 among VIC personnel to nine cases.

IMPORTANT: VIC Medical Services urges all personnel working at the VIC to report cases to the VIC Medical Service.

LATEST AUSTRIAN DEVELOPMENTS AND MEASURES

Important updates:

  • Chancellor Sebastian Kurz told a televised news conference today he knew many people in Austria had wanted to hear the measures were being relaxed. “But the truth is this is a marathon,” he said.
  • Kurz said Austria was experiencing the calm before the storm, and he feared there could be bottlenecks in hospitals within two weeks. This was why it was vital for people to adhere to the measures. Most were but a significant number still were not, and some were trivializing the outbreak. “Real normality will only return when we have beaten this virus,” he said.
  • Kurz announced three new measures:
    1. More protection for vulnerable groups; for example, they will not have to go to work if they can work from home or they can be placed on leave.
    2. Ensuring better compliance with the measures – police will be more stringent. There have already been more than 10,000 police reports on violations, including 2,000 just last weekend. Police will not hesitate to fine people if they do not comply.
    3. Face masks must be worn in supermarkets, once the masks have been delivered. The masks will probably be available at supermarket entrances from Wednesday. The masks do not protect the wearer from contracting the virus but do protect others if the wearer is already unwittingly infected. In the medium-term masks will be made compulsory anywhere people pass each other, Kurz said. An exact timeframe was not given for that. Kurz emphasized the masks were an additional measure, not a replacement for social distancing, which must continue.
  • Vice Chancellor Werner Kogler told the same briefing there was no way the measures would be eased after the Easter holidays. Kurz said when the measures were relaxed, businesses would start first. Schools and universities would follow later.
  • Health Minister Rudolf Anschober said supermarkets would be able to limit entry to supermarkets to better protect staff. He also announced that hotel businesses should close.
  • Interior Minister Karl Nehammer said it was “catastrophically dangerous” to violate the social distancing rules. He said there were roughly 700 new COVID-19 cases a day. If even just a few people violate the rules, the figure could soon reach 2,000 a day, exceeding the number of intensive care beds.

A reminder of the measures in force:

  • Everyone in Austria should stay at home and avoid contact with others beyond their immediate household.
  • The Austrian authorities say there are only four reasons to leave home:
    1. To go to work if it cannot be postponed or carried out remotely.
    2. To shop for essential supplies such as food and medicine.
    3. To tend to others who need support, such as the elderly.
    4. To get some exercise (such as walking, running, cycling or walking the dog). But public transport should not be used for these purposes. If you do go outside for these activities, which should be only if absolutely necessary, it should be alone or with others from your household. You must avoid interaction with other people and keep a minimum one-metre distance from others.
  • The Austrian Foreign Ministry says: “Diplomatic missions, Permanent Missions, International Organizations and Consulates General are expressly requested to comply with these regulations.”
  • These measures - which also cover the announced non-essential shop and restaurant, café and bar closures - last until midnight on Monday 13 April but will be extended. For how long is not yet clear.
  • The Austrian authorities reported that as of 2100 today 9,603 people had tested positive with COVID-19 in Austria. The death toll stands at 108. There have been 49,455 tests. Health Minister Rudolf Anschober and Interior Minister Karl Nehammer told reporters 636 people had recovered and that the percentage increase in the 24-hour period to 0800 today was 6.3 percent. This was the lowest percentage increase in the infection rate for the third day in a row.
  • The cumulative total of positive cases currently reported among the VIC community is 9.
  • The number of VIC personnel working remotely or otherwise at home now routinely exceeds 97 percent.
  • There is a dashboard available (in German) reflecting the latest data on COVID-19, updated frequently.

UNITED NATIONS DONATES 250,000 FACE MASKS TO NEW YORK CITY HEALTH WORKERS

COVID-19 WEBSITE FOR ALL UN SYSTEM PERSONNEL

FEEDBACK/SUGGESTIONS: Please write to martin.nesirky@un.org

In today’s update:

  • Message from the main Vienna-based UN organizations (VBOs) – message on duty of care
  • Latest Austrian developments and measures – Government says some signs measures working but the peak not reached and not time yet to ease measures
  • Important information on tackling domestic violence

For previous updates and messages, and useful links, visit and bookmark this site. (Note: no log-in is needed): https://nucleus.iaea.org/sites/covid19/SitePages/Home.aspx

MESSAGE FROM THE MAIN VIENNA-BASED UN ORGANIZATIONS (VBOs)

LMessage from the UN Department of Safety and Security (UNDSS) Chief Security Advisor for Austria, Bonnie Adkins

Dear Colleagues,

I hope this email finds you well.

In the past few weeks, we have been facing together the unique global challenge of COVID-19 pandemic, impacting our professional and personal lives. The new realities of movement restrictions and closed borders fundamentally and suddenly changed the way we operate as the United Nations system. In Vienna, almost all Vienna International Centre (VIC) staff members are telecommuting from their homes, as required by the host country authorities in order to mitigate the COVID-19 outbreak. While we are physically distanced, as a UN community we need to maintain our professional and social bonds and reach out to others.

In this context, we would like to highlight several responsibilities from the security perspective (as consistent with the UN Security Management System Framework of Accountability) as well as organizational duty of care. We would advise supervisors, in cooperation with your HR offices and security focal points, to have open communication channels with your staff, monitor closely and regularly the status of your staff members and conduct well-being checks at their homes if needed. Duty of care can be reflected at many diverse layers and on all levels. The primary duty of care starts with the Primary Supervisor/First Reporting Officer (FRO), who should ideally check daily on colleagues and their status, continuing with the wider network of other team members and the Secondary Supervisor/Second Reporting Officer (SRO), as well as other colleagues and supervisors in the entity, to senior managers and leaders. As part of this early warning system, any red flags should be raised promptly to HR offices and security focal points, particularly if a staff member does not respond and is not available on any communication channels and devices. Further, special attention should be dedicated to vulnerable personnel (elderly, pre-existing medical issues) and those staff members placed on sick leave, whether or not related to COVID-19.

We would also remind all staff that the first line of accountability lies with you, the staff member, who must keep an open channel of communication with your supervisors and organization and report any safety or security related issues immediately.

While we (UNDSS) stand ready to assist and support you in urgent cases, particularly in terms of coordination and requesting support from Host Country authorities, please be reminded that it is essential to act early on any concerns, preventing them from becoming a serious security issue, and possibly saving lives. Currently, Austria fares relatively well, comparatively speaking, but we cannot predict how the crisis will unfold in the foreseeable future and we need to take into account the possibility of decreased capacities of both the Security and Safety Service Vienna and Austrian law enforcement.

In this crisis, it is essential to act as a UN family, using all means of available modern technology, channels and applications to connect with our staff, look out for each other and overcome the crisis together.

Thank you.

Bonnie

LATEST AUSTRIAN DEVELOPMENTS AND MEASURES

Some updates:

  • The Austrian Government urged everyone on Friday to continue to comply with the measures that have now been in place for two weeks. No new measures will be introduced, pending an interim report on what impact the existing measures have had. The government will be evaluating this over the weekend.
  • Health Minister Rudolf Anschober told reporters on Friday the measures were showing some signs of having an impact on the rate of increase in the number of cases, which was about 18 percent yesterday. “But it is much, much, much too early for us to send any positive signal,” he said. The peak of infections in Austria was still to come, between mid-April and mid-May, Anschober added. By mid-April the aim was for the daily percentage increase in infections to be in the mid-single digits.
  • On Thursday evening on ORF TV, Chancellor Sebastian Kurz dampened expectations that the measures would be fully lifted after Easter. “The situation is serious, and it remains serious,” he said. The phase of massive restrictions would be followed by a phase of a new normality. It would not be possible to return to pre-crisis life until a vaccination or medication were available.
  • Interior Minister Karl Nehammer urged people to ignore fake news reports suggesting there had been an increase in asylum seekers. He said in fact the figure was about 12 a day, and this was the lowest in years.
  • The government has a special digital task force tracking, identifying and correcting false news reports on anything from conspiracy theories to fraudulent suggestions for treatment and self-diagnosis.

A reminder of the measures in force:

Everyone in Austria should stay at home and avoid contact with others beyond their immediate household.The Austrian authorities say there are only four reasons to leave home:

  1. To go to work if it cannot be postponed or carried out remotely.
  2. To shop for essential supplies such as food and medicine.
  3. To tend to others who need support, such as the elderly.
  4. To get some exercise (such as walking, running cycling or walking the dog). But public transport should not be used for these purposes. If you do go outside for these activities, which should be only if absolutely necessary, it should be alone or with others from your household. You must avoid interaction with other people and keep a minimum one-metre distance from others. This will be enforced by police; there are fines for transgressions.

The Austrian Foreign Ministry says: “Diplomatic missions, Permanent Missions, International Organizations and Consulates General are expressly requested to comply with these regulations.” These measures - which also cover the announced non-essential shop and restaurant, café and bar closures - last until midnight on Monday 13 April.

The Austrian authorities reported that as of 1500 today 7,441 people had tested positive with COVID-19 in Austria. The death toll stands at 58. There have been 39,552 tests.

The cumulative total of positive cases among the VIC community remains six.

The number of VIC personnel working remotely or otherwise at home now exceeds 97 percent.

There is a dashboard available (in German) reflecting the latest data on COVID-19, updated frequently.

SPEAKING UP AGAINST DOMESTIC VIOLENCE

The current restrictions in movement and confinement of personnel of the Vienna-based UN organizations to family homes in the Vienna duty station and elsewhere may cause additional stress for us and our families. Living in close quarters and not being able to avoid each other at times may add to potential conflict. Parenting in such circumstances of stress and lockdown could also add an additional potential compounding element.

In addition to each Organization’s duty of care towards its staff members, we wish to recognize and address issues of domestic violence that we may witness and that may increase and intensify during this stressful period. Children in particular are negatively affected by living with domestic abuse, whether or not they witness it directly.

In Vienna, there are 24-hour telephone hotlines, such as Frauenhelpline gegen Gewalt* (Women’s helpline against violence), Frauennotruf* (Women’s emergency call), and Rat auf Draht* (a helpline for children and their caregivers), which provide services in many languages, including English.

HelpChat is a 24-hour online counselling service for women and girls affected by violence, available in German, English and Turkish.

There are also advice centres – for example the Domestic Abuse Intervention Centre Vienna (Wiener Interventionsstelle gegen Gewalt in der Familie*) and Viennese Women’s Shelters (Wiener Frauenhäuser*), where victims can work with a counsellor to find a path out of violence. We want to be clear that abuse is always unacceptable and that it may constitute criminal behaviour. Therefore, local authorities - in particular, the Police - can be of immediate help, including through issuance of a restraining order (“Betretungsverbot” or “Wegweisung”) and may forward your details to Domestic Abuse Intervention Centres in Vienna that will then contact you to offer support.

For more detailed information, please visit: Metropole* or Interventionstelle-Wien* or Gewaltschutzzentrum*.

Contacts for staff in the Vienna-based UN organizations

If you are a member of the personnel of UNODC, UNOV or UNOOSA, or a member of their family and household, and affected by domestic violence in any form (including in duty stations away from Vienna), you can also reach out to the Chief of the Human Resources Management Service, Ms. Deborah Ernst.

For personnel working at the IAEA, the contact person is the Staff Counsellor, Patience Gebauer (available by appointment only)

UNIDO personnel can contact the UNIDO Staff Counsellor, Angelika Radax or UNIDO’s crisis email hotline

CTBTO personnel can also contact the Staff Counsellor, Patience Gebauer

Most of the services listed for VIC staff above are only available during established working hours. For support at any time of day or night, they may wish to contact the UNSSS Duty Room, which is staffed 24/7 or a local hotline that is always available.

Please note that those affected are not obliged to report gender-based security incidents to security personnel, and therefore assistance will only be provided if accepted by the affected persons. Notably, no action should be taken without the express permission of the affected persons, if and when appropriate.

IOM personnel can contact the Regional Human Resources Officer, Ms Filipina RIVERA in case of need.

It is in everyone’s interest to stop domestic violence.

* Please note we are not responsible for the content of external websites.

UPDATED PHARMACY GUIDANCE FROM VIC MEDICAL SERVICE (SEE POINT ON PRESCRIPTION DELIVERY):

VIC pharmacy service available online and in Vienna’s 12th district:

The VIC pharmacy is now offering its service online and at the “Maria Lourdes Apotheke” (Tivoligasse 50, 1120 Vienna) to all VIC staff and retirees under the same terms and conditions as in the VIC.

  • In accordance with Austrian Law, online orders can only be placed for non-prescription drugs.
  • To access the online pharmacy please go to https://ios.mla.at/login.php and create an account.
  • Instructions and access code are here:
  • IOS Access Code
  • Online orders can be dispatched by post or picked up at the “Maria Lourdes Apotheke” in the 12th district.
  • Prescriptions drugs can be pre-ordered by email (office@mla.at) and purchased at the “Maria Lourdes Apotheke”.
  • In very urgent cases, the delivery of prescription drugs by messenger service will be available for a fee of 10 Euros. In that case, the prescription must be sent in advance by e-mail. Staff members will be able to get a stamp and signature on the prescription once the VIC has opened again.

COVID-19 WEBSITE FOR ALL UN SYSTEM PERSONNEL:

FEEDBACK/SUGGESTIONS: Please write to martin.nesirky@un.org

In today’s update:

  • Message from the main Vienna-based UN organizations (VBOs) – some practical steps on medical prescriptions, plus Mail, Pouch and Receiving Services
  • Latest Austrian developments and measures – urgently needed shipments of protective equipment arriving from today, plus energy supplies will not be disconnected if people can’t pay bills

For previous updates and messages, and useful links, visit and bookmark this site. (Note: no log-in is needed): https://nucleus.iaea.org/sites/covid19/SitePages/Home.aspx

MESSAGE FROM THE MAIN VIENNA-BASED UN ORGANIZATIONS (VBOs)

Vienna International Centre (VIC) pharmacy service available online and in Vienna’s 12th district:

    The VIC pharmacy is now offering its service online and at the “Maria Lourdes Apotheke” (Tivoligasse 50, 1120 Vienna) to all VIC staff and retirees under the same terms and conditions as in the VIC.
  • In accordance with Austrian Law, online orders can only be placed for non-prescription drugs.
  • To access the online pharmacy please go to https://ios.mla.at/login.php and create an account.
  • Instructions and access code
  • Online orders can be dispatched by post or picked up at the “Maria Lourdes Apotheke” in the 12th district.
  • Prescriptions drugs can be pre-ordered by email (office@mla.at) and purchased at the “Maria Lourdes Apotheke”.
  • In very urgent cases, the delivery of prescription drugs by messenger service will be available for a fee of 10 Euros. In that case, the prescription must be sent in advance by e-mail and handed over to the messenger on delivery.

Operating hours of the Mail and Pouch and Receiving services:

Effective Monday, 30 March, the operating hours of the following services in the VIC will be:

  • Mail and pouch operations - Tuesdays and Fridays, 0800-1200
  • Receiving Area - Tuesdays and Fridays, 0600-1000

LATEST AUSTRIAN DEVELOPMENTS AND MEASURES

Some updates:

  • Several large deliveries of urgently needed protective equipment will arrive in Austria from Thursday onwards, Health Minister Rudolf Anschober told reporters. He added that hospitals are well prepared for the coming weeks and have enough beds as of today. He said the strength of the Austrian strategy was that many patients were staying at home rather than being treated in hospital.
  • Anschober also said laboratories now had the capacity to analyse 15,000 tests a day. Medical staff and care personnel have priority for testing.
  • Energy Minister Leonore Gewessler said electricity, gas and heating would not be disconnected if people got into difficulties with payments. This applies to private customers as well as the self-employed and small businesses. The measure is in place up to 1 May initially.

A reminder of the measures in force:

Everyone in Austria should stay at home and avoid contact with others beyond their immediate household.The Austrian authorities say there are only four reasons to leave home:

  1. To go to work if it cannot be postponed or carried out remotely.
  2. To shop for essential supplies such as food and medicine.
  3. To tend to others who need support, such as the elderly.
  4. To get some exercise (such as walking, running cycling or walking the dog). But public transport should not be used for these purposes. If you do go outside for these activities, which should be only if absolutely necessary, it should be alone or with others from your household. You must avoid interaction with other people and keep a minimum one-metre distance from others. This will be enforced by police; there are fines for transgressions.

The Austrian Foreign Ministry says: “Diplomatic missions, Permanent Missions, International Organizations and Consulates General are expressly requested to comply with these regulations.”

These measures - which also cover the announced non-essential shop and restaurant, café and bar closures - last until midnight on Monday 13 April. The Austrian government is due to assess on Friday to what extent the measures have worked and what comes next.

The Austrian authorities reported that as of 0900 today there were 6,001 people with COVID-19 in Austria. The death toll stands at 42. There have been 35,995 tests.

The cumulative total of positive cases among the VIC community so far is six.

There is usually a dashboard available (in German) reflecting the latest data on COVID-19, updated every 15 minutes. The dashboard has been offline for maintenance over the past 24 hours.

UN LAUNCHES MAJOR HUMANITARIAN APPEAL, PARTICULARLY FOR FRAGILE COUNTRIES

COVID-19 WEBSITE FOR ALL UN SYSTEM PERSONNEL:

FEEDBACK/SUGGESTIONS: Please write to martin.nesirky@un.org

In today’s update:

  • Message from the main Vienna-based UN organizations (VBOs) – four new positive cases and cumulative Vienna International Centre (VIC) figures
  • Latest Austrian developments and measures – schools may be closed “significantly longer”, rise in calls to domestic violence hotline

MESSAGE FROM THE MAIN VIENNA-BASED UN ORGANIZATIONS (VBOs)

This is an important message from the VIC Medical Service regarding COVID-19:

There are four new cases of COVID-19 in the VIC community. Here are the details on those four cases:

There are three additional confirmed cases of COVID-19 involving staff members of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), one at the VIC and two at Seibersdorf.

On Tuesday, 24 March, the Austrian authorities confirmed that a person had tested positive for COVID-19, working in the VIC. The person had been working from home for three days prior to the onset of symptoms, and a risk assessment conducted by Austrian authorities and VIC Medical Service has determined that because of the remote working, there is no additional risk of exposure to other personnel. He is under observation in the hospital with mild to moderate symptoms.

On Wednesday, 25 March, the Austrian authorities confirmed that two people had tested positive for COVID-19, working in Seibersdorf Laboratories. They had been in separate self-quarantine since returning from the same risk area, and a risk assessment conducted by the Austrian authorities and VIC Medical Service has determined that there is no additional risk of exposure to other personnel.

Tuesday, 24 March, the authorities confirmed that a United Nations Office at Vienna (UNOV) staff member has tested positive for COVID-19. He is doing well at home with mild symptoms. The person had been working from home for nine days. Close contact tracing was conducted by Austrian health authorities and identified two contact persons for observation. A risk assessment conducted by Austrian authorities and VIC Medical Service has determined that due to working from home, there is no risk of exposure to other personnel.

The three IAEA cases and one UNOV case mean there are four new cases. As of today, there have been six confirmed cases in the VIC community.

We take this opportunity to emphasize the importance of social distancing to limit the spread of COVID-19 and request that personnel continue to respect the restrictions in place.

World Health Organization and VIC Medical Service advise continuing to adhere to the general respiratory illness prevention measures, notably washing hands and social distancing.

LATEST AUSTRIAN DEVELOPMENTS AND MEASURES

Some updates:

  • Chancellor Sebastian Kurz told Austrian television on Tuesday evening school closures could last “significantly longer” than just up to 13 April.
  • He said for any measures to be relaxed the percentage rate of increase in reported positive cases would need to be in single digits. Note: The rate of increase yesterday was 24.3 percent compared with 21.0 the day before. A combination of occasional delays in reporting by some provinces and an increase in the number of tests may result in apparent fluctuations in the percentage increases.
  • The Minister of Women's Affairs, Susanne Raab, briefed the media today. She said the hotline for women suffering from or fearing domestic violence had received 50 percent more calls in recent days. So far, there has not been an increase in officially reported incidents of violence, the minister said. The hotline is 0800 222 555. The minister urged women to call the hotline at the first sign of danger.
  • (Note: the VIC CMT daily update will soon provide more information and numbers, including for non-German speakers.)

A reminder of the measures in force:

Everyone in Austria should stay at home and avoid contact with others beyond their immediate household.The Austrian authorities say there are only four reasons to leave home:

  1. To go to work if it cannot be postponed or carried out remotely.
  2. To shop for essential supplies such as food and medicine.
  3. To tend to others who need support, such as the elderly.
  4. To get some exercise (such as walking, running cycling or walking the dog). But public transport should not be used for these purposes. If you do go outside for these activities, which should be only if absolutely necessary, it should be alone or with others from your household. You must avoid interaction with other people and keep a minimum one-metre distance from others. This will be enforced by police; there are fines for transgressions.

The Austrian Foreign Ministry says: “Diplomatic missions, Permanent Missions, International Organizations and Consulates General are expressly requested to comply with these regulations.” These measures - which also cover the announced non-essential shop and restaurant, café and bar closures - last until midnight on Monday 13 April. Kurz said it was the aim to lift those measures step by step. He said the emphasis was on “aim” and “step by step”. Normal life would not resume from one day to the next. The Austrian authorities reported that as of 1430 today there were 5,560 people with COVID-19 in Austria, of them 242 are in hospital, with 28 in intensive care. Thirty people have died. Nine people have recovered. There have been 32,407 tests. A dashboard is available (in German) reflecting the latest data on COVID-19, updated every 15 minutes.

COVID-19 WEBSITE FOR ALL UN SYSTEM PERSONNEL:

FEEDBACK/SUGGESTIONS: Please write to martin.nesirky@un.org

In today’s update:

  • Message from the main Vienna-based UN organizations (VBOs) – VIC access
  • Latest Austrian developments and measures – briefing by Austrian government
  • UN Secretary-General’s message to personnel on mental health
  • Secretary-General’s global ceasefire appeal

Feedback on the daily Vienna International Centre COVID-19 update, including on topics to cover, is most welcome. Please write to martin.nesirky@un.org

MESSAGE FROM THE MAIN VIENNA-BASED UN ORGANIZATIONS (VBOs)

Important message from the UN Security and Safety Service (UNSSS):

All requests for one-day/one-time entry of staff members should be received only from the Essential Staff list focal points to our Vienna International Centre (VIC) Security Coordinator email box. UNSSS is unable to manage the increased number of requests directly from staff members (other than the Essential Staff list focal point). Please ensure these requests are absolutely essential to business continuity and are not for convenience as this increases risk of exposure all staff who should be staying at home as well as to Security and other staff who do need to be at the VIC.

LATEST AUSTRIAN DEVELOPMENTS AND MEASURES

Some updates:

  • Austrian Chancellor Sebastian Kurz told a televised briefing the authorities were aiming to expand testing, with the aim of having 15,000 tests a day.
  • Kurz said it was still too early to say whether the restrictions on movement had worked. A first snapshot would be possible on Friday. He said it appreciated it was an extreme effort to limit social life, but everyone’s behaviour would have an impact on how matters develop in the coming weeks.
  • The Interior Minister urged people to comply with the measures, saying they were orders not recommendations, and that those who did not comply faced fines. The vast majority were adhering to the measures, he said. “Those who follow the rules become life savers. All those who do not are endangering lives.”
  • Social services, notably for the elderly, will be enhanced. Civil servants such as museum guards are being redeployed to this area.
  • The American International School has informed parents that one of its non-teaching staff in the IT Department, whose last day on campus was March 13, tested positive for the virus on March 22. The staff member had limited contact with children, but significant contact with staff in the days before the school closed.

A reminder of the measures in force:

Everyone in Austria should stay at home and avoid contact with others beyond their immediate household.The Austrian authorities say there are only four reasons to leave home:

  1. To go to work if it cannot be postponed or carried out remotely.
  2. To shop for essential supplies such as food and medicine.
  3. To tend to others who need support, such as the elderly.
  4. To get some exercise (such as walking, running cycling or walking the dog). But public transport should not be used for these purposes. If you do go outside for these activities, which should be only if absolutely necessary, it should be alone or with others from your household. You must avoid interaction with other people and keep a minimum one-metre distance from others. This will be enforced by police; there are fines for transgressions.

The Austrian Foreign Ministry says: “Diplomatic missions, Permanent Missions, International Organizations and Consulates General are expressly requested to comply with these regulations." These measures - which also cover the announced non-essential shop and restaurant, café and bar closures - last until midnight on Monday 13 April. Kurz said it was the aim to lift those measures step by step. He said the emphasis was on “aim” and “step by step”. Normal life would not resume from one day to the next.The Austrian authorities reported that as of 1715 today there were 5,038 people with COVID-19 in Austria, of them 206 are in hospital, with 22 in intensive care. Twenty-eight people have died. Nine people have recovered. There have been 28,391 tests. A new dashboard is available (in German) reflecting the latest data on COVID-19, updated every 15 minutes.

UN SECRETARY-GENERAL’S LETTER TO STAFF ON MENTAL WELLBEING

English

French

UN SECRETARY-GENERAL’S GLOBAL CEASEFIRE APPEAL AND BRIEFING

Text

Video

WEB PAGE FOR ALL VIC PERSONNEL:

Please go to this page to find previous updates and messages from the main VBOs to all personnel. There you will also find useful links, including to information in English and other languages on developments in Austria.

COVID-19 WEBSITE FOR ALL UN SYSTEM PERSONNEL: https://www.un.org/en/coronavirus/info-for-un-staff

In today’s update:

  • Message from main Vienna-based UN organizations
  • Latest Austrian developments and measures
  • Vienna International Centre (VIC) Medical Service update, including laptop ergonomics tips
  • Link to watch UN Secretary-General’s virtual press briefing at 1700 today

MESSAGE FROM THE MAIN VIENNA-BASED UN ORGANIZATIONS (VBOs)

  • All but essential and critical personnel are already required to work remotely or otherwise be at home until 13 April, in line with the Austrian Government’s measures to tackle COVID-19.
  • We strongly recommend all essential and critical staff also work from home if at all possible and to prepare to do so. There are very few tasks that cannot be handled remotely.
  • The VIC week-day footprint is now below four percent of the usual number of personnel. We are working to reduce the footprint still further.
  • From today the cafeteria will be closed until 13 April.

LATEST AUSTRIAN DEVELOPMENTS AND MEASURES

Some updates and a reminder of the measures in force:

Everyone in Austria should stay at home and avoid contact with others beyond their immediate household.The Austrian authorities say there are only four reasons to leave home:

  1. To go to work if it cannot be postponed or carried out remotely.
  2. To shop for essential supplies such as food and medicine.
  3. To tend to others who need support, such as the elderly.
  4. To get some exercise (such as walking, running cycling or walking the dog). But public transport should not be used for these purposes. If you do go outside for these activities, which should be only if absolutely necessary, it should be alone or with others from your household. You must avoid interaction with other people and keep a minimum one-metre distance from others. This will be enforced by police; there are fines for transgressions.

The Austrian Foreign Ministry says: “Diplomatic missions, Permanent Missions, International Organizations and Consulates General are expressly requested to comply with these regulations.” These measures - which also cover the announced non-essential shop and restaurant, café and bar closures - last until midnight on Monday 13 April. The Austrian authorities reported that as of 1500 today there were 3,924 people with COVID-19 in Austria. Twenty-one people have died. Nine people have recovered. There have been 23,429 tests. A new dashboard is available (in German) reflecting the latest data on COVID-19.The Austrian health minister said the authorities planned to “massively increase” testing in the coming weeks, which would be in line with WHO recommendations, but that nationwide testing would not be feasible. Austria’s armed forces are mobilising 3,000 reservists as part of the COVID-19 response. This is the first such mobilisation in Austria’s post-war history.

VIC MEDICAL SERVICE UPDATE:

COVID-19 Health News:

New World Health Organization (WHO) app

To increase access to reliable information, WHO has partnered with WhatsApp to launch a WHO Health Alert messaging service. The new service, which is free to use, can be accessed via the following number on WhatsApp: +41 798 931 892. If you add the number as a contact and send the word “hi”, you will be offered to received information on several issues, from the latest numbers, to travel advice and how to donate. For more information on the app please visit https://www.whatsapp.com/coronavirus/who

Treatment and vaccination trial:

On 18 March, the WHO announced a large global trial, called SOLIDARITY, to compare experimental treatments in order to generate data to find out which treatments are the most efficient. According to WHO, the SOLIDARITY trial provides simplified procedures to enable even hospitals that have been overloaded to participate.

In addition, the WHO announced that the first vaccine trial has begun just 60 days after the genetic sequence of the virus was shared by China, calling this “an incredible achievement”.

Transmission rates to close contacts and households contacts:

According to research, during 14 days of active symptom monitoring of 445 close contacts of the initial 12 imported confirmed U.S. COVID-19 cases, 54 (12 percent) developed symptoms and subsequently were tested. Two persons who were household contacts tested positive, for an overall symptomatic secondary attack rate of 0.45 percent and a symptomatic secondary attack rate of 10.5 percent among close contacts who were household members.

Stay active:

WHO EURO has released a guide on how to stay physically active during self-quarantine which is available here.

Information about persons being confirmed as COVID-19 and home quarantine in Austria

In Austria, mandatory home quarantine is imposed on persons who have tested positive for COVID-19. The quarantine period is determined by the Austrian Health Authorities and normally lasts for 14 days from the start of symptoms or from the day when the test was conducted. Data across several countries indicates that 80 percent of COVID-19 cases are mild to moderate, 15 percent severe, and five percent critical. Estimates are that only one percent to three percent of infected individuals are "truly" asymptomatic (remaining symptom free throughout the infection). Hospitalized persons will be discharged after two negative tests within 24 hours, which are normally conducted five to seven days after the end of symptoms.

Information about close contact tracing in Austria and compliance

Data shows that about one in in 10 close contacts will get COVID-19. This is similar for household members of a person who is a confirmed case.

During this phase of community spread, you may be notified via email or letter from Austrian Health Authorities that you have been identified as a potential close contact person to someone who has been tested positive for COVID-19, requesting you to home quarantine for 14 days.

The Austrian Health Authorities are tracking close contact persons placed under mandatory home quarantine via an electronic tool, which requires them to send a daily status update on their symptoms. Should you be identified as a close contact, a link will be sent to you by SMS together with a TAN, in order to access your personalized tracking page (https://www.wien.gv.at/homecare)

Please inform VIC Medical Service right away if you have been confirmed COVID-19 positive or been identified as a close contact person and placed under 14-day home quarantine (Austrian Health Authorities do not report this directly to VIC Medical Service)

See here for useful tips on ergonomics while working remotely.

UN SECRETARY-GENERAL TO GIVE VIRTUAL PRESS BRIEFING AT 1200 EST/1700 VIENNA

You can follow this important briefing on these platforms:

UN Web TV direct live link: http://webtv.un.org/live-now/watch/un-chief-pc-covid19-conflicts-200323/5690600541001

UN YouTube: https://youtu.be/JH9sZxVlpDo

Twitter: https://twitter.com/UNWebTV/status/1241882610219061249

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/UNWebTV/posts/3187795864565942

WEB PAGE FOR ALL VIC PERSONNEL:

Please go to this page to find previous updates and messages from the main VBOs to all personnel. There you will also find useful links, including to information in English and other languages on developments in Austria. Link: https://nucleus.iaea.org/sites/covid19/SitePages/Home.aspx

COVID-19 WEBSITE FOR ALL UN SYSTEM PERSONNEL:

https://www.un.org/en/coronavirus/info-for-un-staff

Austrian measures to tackle COVID-19 extended to 13 April

The Austrian Chancellor, Sebastian Kurz, announced today the measures that began on Monday 16 March were being extended until Monday 13 April 2020. In a televised government news conference, he called on everyone to persevere, saying the fight against COVID-19 was a marathon.

All personnel based at the Vienna International Centre (VIC) or elsewhere in Austria are required to adhere to the Austrian Government’s extended measures until Monday 13 April 2020. This will be reviewed as necessary. Stay home unless you are approved to come to the VIC to carry out critical tasks.

Second positive case at VIC

This is an important message from the VIC Medical Service regarding COVID-19:

There is a confirmed case of COVID-19 involving a staff member of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) at the VIC.

On Friday 20 March, the authorities confirmed that the person had tested positive for the COVID-19 coronavirus. The person works on the 16th floor of the A building and was last in the VIC on 13 March. He is recovering at home and is under quarantine.

Close contact tracing has been initiated by authorities, and individuals among VIC personnel are being contacted by authorities with instructions to self-quarantine for 14 days. Close contact is defined as 15 minutes or more face-to-face interaction at a distance of 2 metre or less or direct contact (like a handshake).

Personnel not contacted by the Austrian authorities are not considered to be at risk.

We are in contact with the Host Country and we will provide an update to this case if needed.

World Health Organization and VIC Medical Services advise to continue to adhere to the general respiratory illness prevention measures, notably washing hands and social distancing.

The first confirmed case, announced on 17 March, involved a cleaning lady who was already recovering when the case was reported.

LATEST AUSTRIAN DEVELOPMENTS AND MEASURES

Some updates and a reminder of the measures in force:

  • Everyone in Austria should stay at home and avoid contact with others beyond their immediate household.
  • The Austrian authorities say there are only four reasons to leave home:
    1. To go to work if it cannot be postponed or carried out remotely.
    2. To shop for essential supplies such as food and medicine.
    3. To tend to others who need support, such as the elderly.
    4. To get some exercise (such as walking, running cycling or walking the dog). But public transport should not be used for these purposes. If you do go outside for these activities, which should be only if absolutely necessary, it should be alone or with others from your household. You must avoid interaction with other people and keep a minimum one-metre distance from others. This will be enforced by police; there are fines for transgressions.
  • The Austrian Foreign Ministry says: “Diplomatic missions, Permanent Missions, International Organizations and Consulates General are expressly requested to comply with these regulations.”
  • These measures - which also cover the announced non-essential shop and restaurant, café and bar closures - last until midnight on Monday 13 April. Kurz said the measures were working and that was why they were being extended. He urged people not to let up, despite the inconveniences.
  • The health minister said the infection rate had slowed. It was 40 percent from one day to the next last week and was now around 20 percent. This was a first step and not yet sufficient. The authorities were aiming for single-digit growth.
  • As of 1430 today, there were 2,388 people with COVID-19 in Austria. Six people have died. Nine people have recovered. There have been 15,613 tests.
  • A financial package is being prepared to support the Austrian economy and workforce.

UN SECRETARY-GENERAL’S PRESS BRIEFING

“My central message is clear: We are in an unprecedented situation and the normal rules no longer apply. We cannot resort to the usual tools in such unusual times. The creativity of the response must match the unique nature of the crisis – and the magnitude of the response must match its scale, Secretary-General António Guterres said in his first virtual press briefing from New York. “Our world faces a common enemy. We are at war with a virus.”

Transcript: https://www.un.org/sg/en/content/sg/press-encounter/2020-03-19/secretary-general-virtual-press-encounter-covid-19-crisis

Story and video: https://news.un.org/en/story/2020/03/1059752

WEB PAGE FOR ALL VIC PERSONNEL:

Please go to this page to find previous updates and messages from the Vienna-based organizations to all personnel. There you will also find useful links, including to information in English and other languages on developments in Austria.

Link: https://nucleus.iaea.org/sites/covid19/SitePages/Home.aspx

COVID-19 WEBSITE FOR ALL UN SYSTEM PERSONNEL

https://www.un.org/en/coronavirus/info-for-un-staff

MESSAGE FROM THE MAIN VIENNA-BASED UN ORGANIZATIONS (VBOs)

Change to opening of Gates at the Vienna International Centre (VIC):

To facilitate access for essential or critical staff, as identified by each VBO, the United Nations Security and Safety Service in Vienna would like to advise that the following arrangements will be put in place at the VIC as of Thursday, 19 March 2020.

Gates 1 and 4 will maintain regular opening hours throughout the entire period: 24 hours a day.

Gates 2, 3 and 5 will be closed.

Any deliveries must be preannounced to our Security Coordinator and must report to Gate 4.

Please note, to gain access to the VIC, staff must present a valid staff access card and be listed on the critical/essential staff list provided by the VBO administrations. All others will not have access to the VIC at this time. The United Nations Security and Safety Service of Vienna wants to thank you for your cooperation and understanding.

Communique from UN Department of Safety and Security on remote working outside normal duty station:

The UN Security and Safety Service of Vienna draws your attention to this communique from Gilles Michaud, the Under-Secretary-General for the Department of Safety and Security:

  1. In light of rapidly developing situation with COVID-19, in many countries, UN organizations are implementing remote working, including outside of the duty stations. The safety and security of UN personnel is our priority and we would like to ensure that all UN personnel remain informed of security updates and are supported by local security arrangements, irrespective of the place they are working from.
  2. When working remotely at a location outside their normal duty station, UN personnel are considered on official duty. UN personnel must request security clearance whether they arrived at the location on a personal or official travel.
  3. Therefore, we recommend that all personnel:
    • Update their TRIP profile online;
    • Request a security clearance when they are telecommuting outside of their duty station;
    • Download the Electronic Travel Advisory (e-TA) app and enable geolocation and notifications on their phones.
  4. Thank you for your cooperation. This is important to ensure that you are supported in case of security emergency.

VIC MEDICAL SERVICE UPDATE:

VIC Medical Service: COVID-19 outbreak: Taking care of yourself and your family

Insights on how to get the support you need

Around the world, social distancing, quarantine or isolation measures are part of the global effort to slow COVID 19’s spread. But cutting regular social contact and interrupting daily routines, combined with the stress of family and work responsibilities and the exposure to worrying news, can take a toll on your emotional and mental wellbeing.

What to Expect

During a period of social distancing, quarantine or isolation, you or your family members may experience:

  • Fear and anxiety: Feeling anxious or worried about contracting COVID-19 or spreading it to others, having concerns about obtaining food and personal supplies, taking time off work or fulfilling family care obligations.
  • Lack of energy and sadness: Interrupting your daily routine may result in feelings of sadness, apathy or boredom.
  • Anger, frustration or irritability: Loss of personal freedom can be frustrating. You may also experience anger or resentment leading you to get easily upset with those close to you.
  • Stigmatization: If you are sick or have been exposed to someone who has COVID-19, you may feel stigmatized by others.

How to Cope Better

It is important to recognize these emotions and to know that there are tools to help you cope better in this difficult situation.

Limit news consumption to reliable sources

It’s important to obtain accurate and timely public health information regarding COVID-19. Trusted organizations—including the World Health Organization, U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control are ideal sources of information on the virus. Remember that too much exposure to media coverage of the virus can lead to increased feelings of fear and anxiety. Psychologists recommend balancing time spent on news and social media with other activities unrelated to quarantine or isolation, such as reading, listening to music or learning a new language.

Create and follow a daily routine

Maintaining a daily routine can help both adults and children preserve a sense of order and purpose in their lives despite the unfamiliarity of isolation and quarantine. Try to include regular daily activities, such as work, exercise or learning, even if they must be executed remotely. Integrate other healthy pastimes as needed.

Stay virtually connected with others

Your face-to-face interactions may be limited, but psychologists suggest using phone calls, text messages, video chat and social media to access social support networks. If you’re feeling sad or anxious, use these conversations as an opportunity to discuss your experience and associated emotions. Reach out to those you know who are in a similar situation.

Maintain a healthy lifestyle seek professional support when needed

Get enough sleep, eat well and exercise in your home when you are physically capable of doing so. Try to avoid using alcohol or drugs as a way to cope with the stresses of isolation and quarantine. If needed, consider telehealth options for psychotherapy. If you already have a psychologist, contact her or him to see if they can continue your sessions online.

Use psychological strategies to manage stress and stay positive

Aim to make a realistic assessment of your concerns and your ability to cope. Accept that there are things beyond your control, which cannot be changed, and focus on the positive elements in your life and the things you can do. One way to do this is to keep a daily gratitude journal. You may also choose to download smartphone applications and online videos that deliver mindfulness and relaxation exercises(see for example20 Minute Connection Practice and Guided Meditation) and coping and resilience resources such as exercises for deep breathing, positive imagery, muscle relaxation and more.

https://www.headspace.com/covid-19 offers an excellent compilation of resources on meditation, stress management and other coping techniques for individuals, managers and children.

Focusing on the altruistic reasons for social distancing, quarantine or isolation can also help mitigate psychological distress. Remember that by following these measures, you and your family are protecting yourselves and your community, particularly those who are most vulnerable.

Helping your children cope with stress

Keep in mind that children may experience stress in different ways, such as being more clingy, anxious, withdrawing, angry or agitated, bedwetting etc. It is important to listen to their concerns and reassure them, providing age-appropriate factual information about the situation and the protective measures that should be followed. Keep to regular routines and schedules as much as possible, or help create new ones in a new environment, including school/learning as well as time for safely playing and relaxing.

Adapted from:

www.apa.org;

www.apa.org/practice/programs/dmhi/research-information/social-distancing

www.who.int

Other helpful resources:

https://www.mindful.org/connection-practice-remedy-feelings-isolation/

www.mindful.org/category/meditation/guided-meditation/

LATEST AUSTRIAN DEVELOPMENTS AND MEASURES

Some updates and a reminder of the measures in force:

  • Everyone in Austria should stay at home and avoid contact with others beyond their immediate household.
  • The Austrian authorities say there are only four reasons to leave home:
    1. To go to work if it cannot be postponed or carried out remotely.
    2. To shop for essential supplies such as food and medicine.
    3. To tend to others who need support, such as the elderly.
    4. To get some exercise (such as walking, running cycling or walking the dog). But public transport should not be used for these purposes. If you do go outside for these activities, which should be only if absolutely necessary, it should be alone or with others from your household. You must avoid interaction with other people and keep a minimum one-metre distance from others.
  • The Austrian Foreign Ministry says: “Diplomatic missions, Permanent Missions, International Organizations and Consulates General are expressly requested to comply with these regulations.”
  • These measures last until midnight 22 March. Austrian officials have said publicly the measures will be reviewed, and possibly extended or amended.
  • Austria’s health minister told a news conference today all those arriving by plane from abroad would need to self-quarantine for 14 days. He also said police would be intervening more if they detected people violating the restrictions on movement, especially gathering in groups.
  • As of 1430 today, there were 2,013 people with COVID-19 in Austria. Six people have died. Nine people have recovered. There have been 13,724 tests. The health minister said 11 people were in intensive care.

REMINDER OF NEW WEB PAGE FOR ALL VIC PERSONNEL:

We have a new page with VIC Medical Service updates and messages from the Vienna-based organizations to all personnel. There you will find all the information in these daily updates and more. Link: https://nucleus.iaea.org/sites/covid19/SitePages/Home.aspx

STAYING SAFE ONLINE WHILE WORKING REMOTELY – ADVICE FROM UNODC CYBERCRIME CHIEF

Watch this YouTube video with advice for VIC personnel from UNODC’s Chief of Cybercrime & Anti-Money Laundering, Neil Walsh. Key points below. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j_2PXdJwUGI

Cybercriminals are exploiting the COVID-19 virus pandemic by:

  • Sending emails with “virus updates” which then seek to gather your login and password details. Always verify the veracity of an email before you click on links or attachments.
  • Maps/Apps which display the spread of the virus are being compromised with malware – downloading these can compromise your computer and the whole organization.
  • Cybercriminals are exploiting online marketplaces – selling, for example, non-existent hand sanitizer.

COVID-19 WEBSITE FOR ALL UN SYSTEM PERSONNEL

https://www.un.org/en/coronavirus/info-for-un-staff

VIENNA INTERNATIONAL CENTRE (VIC) MEDICAL SERVICE UPDATE:

Up to now, there has been one confirmed case of COVID-19 at the VIC involving a member of the cleaning company and which we reported on 17 March. Medical Service is informed that two VIC staff members are waiting to be tested for COVID-19 due to unexplained prolonged symptoms. Since 14 March, Medical Service has monitored 99 staff members through telephone calls or emails and responded to questions and concerns related to COVID-19.

Based on the questions received so far, the VIC Medical Service wants to highlight the following key points:

  • The main driver of COVID-19 transmission is the spread of droplets resulting from symptoms (cough, sneeze);
  • While it is possible to be infected by touching contaminated surfaces and then touching your face, this is not a key factor in the transmission chain; The presence of an asymptomatic COVID-19 case in your surroundings (same building, floor or work area) does not constitute a direct risk in itself, as transmission requires close contact (handshake, face to face within one to two metres for more than 15 minutes) or that the infected person would cough or sneeze directly in your face;
  • The disinfection required for COVID-19 is just routine cleaning. The virus is as susceptible to soap and water as the influenza virus – hand sanitizer works but is not required. Normal disinfection kills this virus.
  • Air conditioning has no effect as the virus is not airborne.

Please note:

  • Not every symptom (e.g. slightly elevated temperature, cough, headache or sneezing, stuffy or runny nose) is related to COVID-19.
  • 80-90 % of persons who get infected will have a mild illness which normally lasts five to seven days.
  • Rest, stay hydrated, manage your symptoms (e.g. paracetamol to reduce fever and ease aches and pains).
  • Older persons and persons who have a chronic illness seem to be at higher risk of getting more severe disease.
  • Staff who have concerns about respiratory symptoms are advised to call the Austrian Health line 1450 or VIC Medical Service.

MESSAGE FROM THE MAIN VIENNA-BASED UN ORGANIZATIONS

The UN Security and Safety Service in Vienna reports that fewer than five percent of 5,000 personnel are now working at the VIC to carry out critical tasks. That means more than 95 percent of colleagues are working remotely or otherwise at home. Thank you to those who are keeping all Vienna-based organizations running at the VIC.

Thank you to all personnel for helping all the Vienna-based organizations (VBOs) to continue to carry out our important work and to dramatically reduce its footprint. This is contributing to Austria’s efforts to flatten the transmission curve of COVID-19.

Stay home unless you are approved to come to the VIC to carry out critical tasks. This instruction remains in place until 3 April. Look out for yourself, your families and each other.

Management of the four main VBOs is taking measures to reduce still further the presence of personnel in the VIC to the lowest achievable number possible and, in so doing, to reduce the risk of virus transmission.

Secretary-General expresses gratitude to VIC personnel:

UN Secretary-General António Guterres spoke by video conference with the leadership of a number of the VBOs on Tuesday afternoon. He expressed his full solidarity with and support to all of us, including colleagues in the field and all duty stations during this difficult time. He encouraged VBO leadership teams to minimize the negative impacts of the situation on the working conditions of staff. He also expressed his gratitude for the work we are doing.

New web page for all VIC personnel:

We have launched a new page with VIC Medical Service updates and messages from the Vienna-based organizations to all personnel. It also has useful links to further information. This page, put together by the IT and Communication teams of the IAEA, will help everyone, particularly those working remotely without access to the network of their organization. The page is not password protected and therefore will not contain any confidential information.

Guidance from Austria’s Federal Criminal Police Office:

The Host Country authorities advise VIC personnel to be vigilant and exercise caution in the context of the COVID-19 crisis, particularly for persons falsely impersonating police or other first responders and asking for the location of money or other valuables in the apartment. In such cases, police should be contacted immediately.

LATEST AUSTRIAN DEVELOPMENTS AND MEASURES

Some updates and a reminder of the measures in force:

  • Everyone in Austria should stay at home and avoid contact with others beyond their immediate household.
  • The Austrian authorities have updated their advice to say there are only four reasons to leave home:
  1. To go to work if it cannot be postponed or carried out remotely.
  2. To shop for essential supplies such as food and medicine.
  3. To tend to others who need support, such as the elderly.
  4. To get some exercise (such as walking, running cycling or walking the dog). But public transport should not be used for these purposes. If you do go outside for these activities, which should be only if absolutely necessary, it should be alone or with others from your household. You must avoid interaction with other people and keep a minimum one-metre distance from others.
  • The Austrian Foreign Ministry says: “Diplomatic missions, Permanent Missions, International Organizations and Consulates General are expressly requested to comply with these regulations.”
  • These measures last until midnight 22 March. We will seek Host Country guidance on whether the measures will be extended or amended.
  • As of 0800 today, there are more than 1,471 people with COVID-19 in Austria. Three people have died. Nine people have recovered. There have been 11,977 tests.

SECRETARY-GENERAL’S VIDEO MESSAGE TO ALL UN PERSONNEL

Text of message:

My dear Colleagues,

The strength of our United Nations is YOU - our committed and dedicated personnel.Events have moved at alarming speed over the past two weeks. This crisis is unprecedented. And I am proud of how – together - you are adapting so quickly. I understand the enormous stress that measures to contain the virus are putting on you and your families. Many of you -- like me -- are working away from loved ones and worrying deeply about them. Working from home can feel isolating and lonely at a time of great anxiety. So please, let’s continue to look out for each other – and those who are most vulnerable. Let’s find inspiration in those who are “care-mongering” – rather than scaremongering. If we are going to spread anything, let’s spread kindness.

In the meantime, we can be proud that the United Nations continues the important work on which many in the world depend – although in different ways and in different places. Please be assured that I, along with your senior management and crisis teams, remain actively on watch, and will communicate with you regularly and listen to your concerns. We are already working on some of these, including restrictions on movement, rest and recuperation, medical evacuation, leave, and other problems that are emerging.

I thank you for your commitment, professionalism and above all, your compassion.

We are all in this together, and we will get through it – together.

Thank you all.

STAYING SAFE ONLINE WHILE WORKING REMOTELY – ADVICE FROM UNODC CYBERCRIME CHIEF

Watch this YouTube video with advice for VIC personnel from UNODC’s Chief of Cybercrime & Anti-Money Laundering, Neil Walsh. Key points below.

Cybercriminals are exploiting the COVID-19 virus pandemic by:

  • Sending emails with “virus updates” which then seek to gather your login and password details. Always verify the veracity of an email before you click on links or attachments.
  • Maps/Apps which display the spread of the virus are being compromised with malware – downloading these can compromise your computer and the whole organization.
  • Cybercriminals are exploiting online marketplaces – selling, for example, non-existent hand sanitizer.

COVID-19 WEBSITE FOR ALL UN SYSTEM PERSONNEL

REPORT ON EUROPEAN UNION TRAVEL RESTRICTIONS

INFLUENZA CASE AT VIENNA INTERNATIONAL CENTRE NOW TESTED POSITIVE AS COVID-19

This is an important message from the Vienna International Centre (VIC) Medical Service regarding COVID-19: There is a confirmed case of COVID-19 involving a female member of the cleaning staff at the VIC.

The cleaner, who is employed by an outside contractor, fell ill at the VIC on 2 March 2020 after office hours and was assisted by three members of the UN Security and Safety team. The cleaner worked on 13 rooms on the 10th floor of the VIC’s B building, which is part of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). The relevant staff have been informed. The cleaner has not been in the building since 2 March.

Austrian health authorities initially diagnosed influenza. Late evening on Monday 16 March, the authorities informed the VIC Medical Service that the person had tested positive for the COVID-19 coronavirus. The person has been evaluated at a hospital and is recovering.

The VIC Medical Service assesses the risk to the first responders, who were wearing protective clothing, as zero. None of them has developed any symptoms over the last 14 days. There is no residual risk to personnel at the VIC.

Close contact tracing has identified no further individuals among VIC personnel. Close contact is defined as 15 minutes face-to-face interaction at a distance of one metre or less.

We are in contact with the Host Country and we will provide an update to this case if needed.

World Health Organization and medical advice is to continue to adhere to the general respiratory illness prevention measures, notably washing hands.

The UN Security and Safety Service in Vienna reports that 307 people out of 5,000 personnel came to work today to carry out critical tasks. That means more than 90 percent of colleagues are working remotely or otherwise at home. Thank you to those who are keeping all Vienna-based organizations running at the Vienna International Centre (VIC).

  • Thank you to all personnel for helping all the Vienna-based organizations (VBOs) to continue to carry out our important work and to dramatically reduce its footprint. This is contributing to Austria’s efforts to flatten the transmission curve of COVID-19
  • Stay home unless you are approved to come to the VIC to carry out critical tasks. This instruction remains in place until 3 April. Look out for yourself, your families and each other.
  • Management of the four main VBOs is taking measures to reduce still further the presence of personnel in the VIC to the lowest achievable number possible and, in so doing, to reduce the risk of virus transmission.
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LATEST AUSTRIAN DEVELOPMENTS AND MEASURES

Some updates and a reminder of the measures announced on Sunday, and some further details:

The Austrian Foreign Ministry said in a diplomatic note today: “Diplomatic missions, Permanent Missions, International Organizations and Consulates General are expressly requested to comply with these regulations.”

Everyone in Austria should stay at home and avoid contact with others beyond their immediate household. Only three reasons to leave home:

  1. To go to work if it cannot be postponed or carried out remotely.
  2. To shop for essential supplies such as food and medicine.
  3. To tend to others who need support, such as the elderly
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It is admissible, if absolutely necessary, to go for a walk or run or to walk the dog. But public transport should not be used for these purposes. If you do go outside for these activities it should be alone or with others from your household. You must avoid interaction with others and keep a minimum one metre distance from others.

Sports grounds, gyms and playgrounds are closed.

Restaurants, bars and cafes will close completely from Tuesday

These measures took effect today and last until midnight 22 March. We will seek Host Country guidance on whether the measures will be extended

Civilian service reservists such those who worked as ambulance crew are being mobilized. Military reservists will be used for crisis response. Military already being used to help at supermarket warehouses to speed deliveries.

No entry to travellers from the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, Ukraine and Russia.

All Austrian Airlines flights are being grounded from 18 March until 28 March.

The Austrian authorities said today there are more than 1,000 people with COVID-19 in Austria. Three people have died. There have been some 8,500 tests.

STAYING SAFE ONLINE WHILE WORKING REMOTELY – ADVICE FROM UNODC CYBERCRIME CHIEF

Advice from UNODC’s Chief of Cybercrime & Anti-Money Laundering, Neil Walsh.

Cybercriminals are exploiting the COVID-19 virus pandemic by:

  • Sending emails with “virus updates” which then seek to gather your login and password details. Always verify the veracity of an email before you click on links or attachments.
  • Maps/Apps which display the spread of the virus are being compromised with malware – downloading these can compromise your computer and the whole organization.
  • Cybercriminals are exploiting online marketplaces – selling, for example, non-existent hand sanitizer.
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  • All personnel based at the Vienna International Centre (VIC) or elsewhere in Austria are required to follow the Austrian Government’s latest urgent appeal to stay at home and not to meet anyone from now until Sunday 22 March. This will be reviewed as developments dictate.
  • Management of the four main Vienna-based organizations (VBOs) continue to take measures to reduce still further the presence of personnel in the VIC to the lowest achievable number possible and, in so doing, to reduce the risk of virus transmission.

LATEST AUSTRIAN DEVELOPMENTS AND MEASURES

Austrian Chancellor Sebastian Kurz has urgently appealed to all those in Austria to stay at home and not to meet anyone. He told Austria’s ORF public broadcaster late on Saturday that Austria was facing its greatest challenge since the Second World War.

“This week is absolutely decisive. That’s why I am issuing this urgent appeal to all Austrians; stay at home. Stay at home and do not meet anyone. There are only three reasons to leave the house. First, if you have to go to work and do your duty so that our republic functions. Second, for urgent, essential errands such as food. And third, to support those people who need support because they cannot help themselves,” he told ORF television.

Broadcast (in German)

On Sunday, Kurz announced further measures in an emergency parliamentary session, including some that further tighten those announced on Friday. He said the country faced “challenging, difficult and painful weeks”.

Measures announced on Sunday:
  • Sports grounds and playgrounds will be closed.
  • Restaurants, bars and cafes will close completely from Tuesday.
  • Civilian service reservists such those who worked as ambulance crew are being mobilized. Military reservists will be used for crisis response.
  • No entry to travellers from the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, Ukraine and Russia.
  • A curfew in the Austrian province of Tyrol.

COVID-19 WEBSITE FOR ALL UN SYSTEM PERSONNEL

REMINDER OF VIC MEDICAL SERVICE ADVICE

Advice from VIC Medical Service on practical procedures:

  • What to do if you have respiratory symptoms and are concerned about having COVID-19

    If you have travelled during the last 14 days to one of the affected countries, then call the Austrian COVID-19 hotline: 1450.

  • If you have not travelled and are still worried call your GP or 1450.

    If the symptoms are mild and you would be considered a suspected case, then 1450 will inform the Aerztefunkdienst, the mobile doctor service, and you will be tested at your home. Results are back normally within 24 hours, sometimes earlier.

    You can also contact Medical Service which is able to assist with the assessment for any suspected case and can facilitate the process with the Austrian health line 1450. Medical Service has established a 24/7 doctor hotline to answer staff’s queries remotely.

  • If you test positive for COVID-19

    If you are tested positive for COVID-19 you will be monitored and asked to stay in home quarantine by the Austrian authorities. Most of the time (more than 80 percent of cases) the illness will be a mild disease (flu-like, common cold-like illness).

    Your family members have a potential chance to be infected during your 14-day home quarantine. The principles of avoiding close contact still apply at home. If possible, you should have your own room to separate you physically from the rest of the family. If that is not possible direct or close contact should be avoided, in line with the general respiratory illness prevention measures. This procedure would apply if a family member tests positive rather than you.

    In case of any severe illness you call 144 and the emergency ambulance service will attend to you.

  • If your family members test positive for COVID-19

    You must notify the VIC Medical Service about the positive test result. This will allow the Medical Service to monitor and assist with any questions regarding healthcare matters.

Latest Austrian measures

The Austrian government announced the following this afternoon, Friday 13 March:

  • All businesses are asked to allow telecommuting wherever possible.
  • From Monday restaurants, bars and cafes are open only until 15:00. Restaurant delivery services are allowed to continue operating. It is not yet clear how long this measure will be in force.
  • From Monday shops will stay closed, except for supermarkets, pharmacies, drugstores, banks, post offices, petrol stations, newsagents and shops for pet food and other daily necessities. This measure is envisaged to apply for one week, subject to review.
  • Border controls on Swiss border.
  • Flights to and from Switzerland, Spain and France stop from Monday. No time limit given yet.
  • Austrian province of Tyrol: the areas Paznauntal and St. Anton am Arlberg have been placed under quarantine with immediate effect for 14 days because of the number of cases. Foreign nationals will be able to leave the area but must leave the country.
  • Education Ministry information: School attendance (all grades) is not mandatory from Monday 16 March. Parents of children under the age of 14 do not need to provide a written reason for their child’s absence on Monday and Tuesday.

The Austrian President will address the country on TV and online at 1930 today. More information on the measures on the Austrian government website (in German, soon):

Message from VIC Security and Safety Service

In order to facilitate access for essential or critical staff, as identified by each VBO, the United Nations Security and Safety Service in Vienna would like to advise that the following arrangements will be put in place at the Vienna International Centre as of Monday, 16 March 2020.

  • Gates 1 and 4 will maintain regular opening hours throughout the entire period: 24 hours a day.
  • Gates 5 will have the following opening hours: Monday – Friday: 6 a.m. – 10 a.m.
  • Gates 2 and 3 will be closed.

Please note, to gain access to the VIC, staff must present a valid staff access card and be listed on the critical/essential staff list provided by the VBO administrations. All others will not have access to the VIC at this time.

The United Nations Security and Safety Service of Vienna wants to thank you for your cooperation and understanding.

Diplomatic personnel

As there will be no routine meetings and most of the VIC services will be closed, access for diplomatic personnel and support staff of Permanent and Observer Missions from 16 March to 3 April will be restricted. Alternative communications such as telephone or videoconferencing are recommended.

In exceptional circumstances only, Permanent and Observer Missions should contact the respective offices for access to be arranged in cooperation with the VIC Security and Safety Service.

External service providers

The following services at the VIC will be closed 16 March -3 April 2020:

  • Commissary
  • Bank Austria
  • UNFCU
  • Bundy Bundy
  • Morowa
  • Austrian Post
  • Dry cleaners
  • Pharmacy
  • DHL

     

VIC Medical Services will provide critical/essential services on site.

VIC Medical Service message

Advice from VIC Medical Service on practical procedures: What to do if you have respiratory symptoms and are concerned about having COVID-19:

  • If you have travelled during the last 14 days to one of the affected countries, then call the Austrian COVID-19 hotline: 1450.
  • If you have not travelled and are still worried call your GP or 1450.
  • If the symptoms are mild and you would be considered a suspected case, then 1450 will inform the Aerztefunkdienst, the mobile doctor service, and you will be tested at your home. Results are back normally within 24 hours, sometimes earlier.

    You can also contact Medical Service which is able to assist with the assessment for any suspected case and can facilitate the process with the Austrian health line 1450. Medical Service has established a 24/7 doctor hotline to answer staff’s queries remotely.

If you test positive for COVID-19:

If you are tested positive for COVID-19 you will be monitored and asked to stay in home quarantine by the Austrian authorities. Most of the time (more than 80 percent of cases) the illness will be a mild disease (flu-like, common cold-like illness).

Your family members have a potential chance to be infected during your 14-day home quarantine. The principles of avoiding close contact still apply at home. If possible, you should have your own room to separate you physically from the rest of the family. If that is not possible direct or close contact should be avoided, in line with the general respiratory illness prevention measures. This procedure would apply if a family member tests positive rather than you.

In case of any severe illness you call 144 and the emergency ambulance service will attend to you.

If your family members test positive for COVID-19

You must notify the VIC Medical Service about the positive test result. This will allow the Medical Service to monitor and assist with any questions regarding healthcare matters.

Cleaning of VIC

Cleaning staff will be working this weekend to sanitize the entire Vienna International Centre.

Dear colleagues,

Bearing in mind the measures taken by the Austrian authorities and the advice from the Vienna International Centre Medical Service, the Executive Heads of the four main Vienna-based Organizations have decided to instruct all personnel to work remotely from Monday 16th to Friday 3rd April 2020. Each VBO will be in touch with those not in a position to work remotely. Only essential or critical staff, as identified by each VBO, may come to work at the VIC. Non-essential staff and all other visitors will not have access to the VIC during this period.

This measure will be reviewed prior to 3rd April, taking into account the evolving situation and the recommendations of local authorities.

The instruction applies only to those based in Austria. Those VBOs with field operations will be in touch with colleagues in those locations.

The four Executive Heads further instruct all personnel to halt all non-essential duty travel with effect from Monday 16 March 2020. Essential duty travel is subject to approval by the Executive Head of the respective VBO.

These measures are taken on clear medical advice and with the welfare of staff and their families as the central priority. As part of the community of our Host Country, Austria, we can all play our part in helping to try to contain the spread of COVID-19 and reducing the risk of transmission at the VIC and elsewhere.

Sincerely,

Ghada Waly, Designated Official for Austria, Director-General/Executive Director, United Nations Office at Vienna/United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime

Rafael Mariano Grossi, Director General, International Atomic Energy Agency

LI Yong, Director General, United Nations Industrial Development Organization

Lassina Zerbo, Executive Secretary, Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty Organization

Dear colleagues

As Secretary-General António Guterres said in his letter to all UN staff worldwide on 8 March, the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19), has become the leading cause of upheaval today and concern for the future. He assured everyone that the health and safety of all staff, and of the people we serve, are at the core of everything we are doing to address the outbreak and the disruptions it has triggered. He said there was no time to lose in preparing for what may come next.

We have requested the VIC Crisis Management Team (CMT) to continue assessing the situation and recommend concrete measures to be adopted with a common approach across all VIC organizations. The CMT met again on Tuesday and continues to prepare carefully and prudently in a fast-moving environment, following guidance from our host country Austria, the World Health Organization (WHO) and United Nations Headquarters in New York.

We know all of you are concerned for your own welfare and that of your families here in Austria and around the globe. We are a strong community of some 5,000 people from around 125 countries. Our strength comes from your professionalism, sense of duty and care for each other.

The health of staff, personnel and visitors in the VIC remains our top priority. With this in mind, we have agreed a number of measures to reduce the risk of exposure to those in the VIC and especially vulnerable groups, notably those over the age of 65 and those with health conditions that place them at greater risk.

  1. All UN Information Service (UNIS) Visitors Service guided tours and lecture programmes are suspended until further notice.
  2. UN personnel over 65 and those with serious chronic medical conditions are strongly encouraged to telecommute. Managers are encouraged to do everything possible to allow this.
  3. Retirees will not have access to the VIC until further notice. The Association of Retired International Civil Servants in Vienna will provide support to its members, liaising with relevant VBO colleagues where necessary.
  4. Private visitors will not have access to the VIC until further notice.
  5. Interns will continue to have access.

     

  6. Family members will continue to have access.
  7. Official visitors will continue to have access to the VIC. Official visitors, including meeting participants, are strongly encouraged not to come to the VIC if they are over 65 or have serious chronic medical conditions.
  8. In principle, meetings and events with more than 100 participants will not be held until further notice. Video conferencing is strongly encouraged.

All these measures come into effect from today, Wednesday 11 March 2020. These measures will be reviewed and updated as developments dictate. We appreciate that these measures may be an inconvenience; staff welfare and community responsibility drive our decision-making. We encourage everyone to follow WHO guidelines on hygiene.

For medical emergencies in the VIC, contact Medical Service or the Security Emergency Operations Centre on 99.

Outside the VIC: For emergencies call the Austrian emergency number 144, for general care seek out an urgent care clinic. For respiratory symptoms and travel history from risk areas call the Austrian Health hotline 1450 (German and English). For general care seek out an urgent care clinic (example: Akutversorgung Privatklinik Döbling, Heiligenstädter Straße 55-63, 1190 Vienna: +43 1 360 66-5599), or go to the emergency department of any of the Austrian general hospitals.

For the latest information from WHO on COVID-19 outbreak areas: https://www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019/situation-reports/

Advice and guidance from WHO on COVID-19: https://www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019 and https://www.epi-win.com:

For up-to-date information and guidelines specifically for UN personnel, visit: https://hr.un.org/page/coronavirus-disease-covid-19

We thank you for working as one, and we know we can count on your continued understanding and cooperation at this difficult time.

Sincerely,

Ghada Waly, Designated Official for Austria, Director-General/Executive Director, United Nations Office at Vienna/United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime

Rafael Mariano Grossi, Director General, International Atomic Energy Agency

LI Yong, Director General, United Nations Industrial Development Organization

Lassina Zerbo, Executive Secretary, Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty Organization