COVID-19 updates: Vienna-Based UN Organizations

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 Management 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:

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:

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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 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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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 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 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.

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 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.

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:

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

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.

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:

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

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.

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

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.

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

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.

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.

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
B0E
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

“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 here. Personnel 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.

Link to the site: https://nucleus.iaea.org/sites/covid19/SitePages/Home.aspx

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.

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.

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.

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 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.

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".

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):

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

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:

- 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:

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".

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:

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: https://iaeacloud.sharepoint.com/sites/intranet/related-pages/my-remote-hub/

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".

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:

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: https://iaeacloud.sharepoint.com/sites/intranet/related-pages/my-remote-hub/

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.

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:
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”.

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 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

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.

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:

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 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:

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”.

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.