Amended COVID-19 regulation has entered into force

Mar 17, 2021 Benn-Ibler Rechtsanwälte

As of 15 March 2021, COVID-19 measures will be scaled back in many areas in the province of Vorarlberg. The amended Protective Measures Regulation (Schutzmaßnahmenverordnung) also stipulates that companies with more than 51 employees implement a COVID-19 prevention concept as of 1 April 2021.

For Vorarlberg, the Protective Measures Regulation now contains a number of special provisions in Sec. 24 of the Regulation.

Unlike in the other federal provinces, in Vorarlberg, all types of businesses in the food service industry, for example, may once again receive customers under certain conditions.

The conditions include that groups of persons are only admitted if they live in the same household or consist of a maximum of four persons (who in turn come from a maximum of two households). Admission requires a negative rapid test result not older than 48 hours or a negative PCR test result not older than 72 hours.

There must be a distance of at least 2 meters between groups of visitors in the premises (unless there are suitable protective measures in place for spatial separation). Customers must wear an FFP2 mask. Self-service is not permitted.

Events in Vorarlberg are again permitted with up to 100 people, whereby a maximum of half of the seating capacity may be used. A distance of one meter must be maintained from persons not belonging to the household.

Participation in events also requires a negative COVID-19 test result. No food or drinks may be served at events.

The following applies to the whole of Austria: From 1 April 2021, every operator of an establishment with more than 51 employees must carry out a risk analysis in order to draw up and implement a COVID-19 prevention concept to minimize the risk of infection (specific hygiene requirements, regulations on what to do if an infection occurs, risk analysis, regulations on the use of sanitary facilities, regulations on employee and customer flows, distancing measures such as barriers and floor markings).

BGBl. II No. 111/2021