Austria: Austrian Airlines suspends passenger flights until May 31 /update 13

Event

Austrian Airlines has suspended passenger flights until Sunday, May 31, due to the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic. Previously booked passengers will be able to rebook their flights at no additional cost until Monday, August 31.

As of Thursday, April 30, non-essential shops of 400 sq m or less and DIY shops have reopened. Subsequently, all remaining shops and hairdressers will open on Friday, May 1. Shoppers are required to comply with social distancing restrictions, and face masks will be compulsory in all public spaces. All persons from high-risk groups must continue to work from home or be placed on leave, and the use of hotels will remain prohibited until at least mid-May.

Those entering Austria from Czechia and Slovakia will now be required to produce a medical certificate confirming that they are not infected with COVID-19. These measures apply to those transiting through Italy, Hungary, Liechtenstein, Slovenia, and Switzerland in the last 14 days. These border restrictions remain in effect until Thursday, April 30, and all travel to Switzerland, Spain, and France remains suspended, and flights from the UK and the Netherlands are no longer receiving landing permits. Travel warnings remain in place for France, the UK, Italy, Spain, Switzerland, the Netherlands, Russia, Ukraine, South Korea, and Iran. Individuals arriving from these countries are required to undergo 14-day home-quarantine unless they provide a certificate of health.

As of April 30, authorities have confirmed 15,402 COVID-19 cases and 580 associated deaths nationwide. Further international spread of the virus is to be expected over the near term.

Context

The first case of COVID-19 was reported on December 31 and the source of the outbreak has been linked to a wet market in Wuhan (Hubei province, China). Human-to-human and patient-to-medical staff transmission of the virus have been confirmed. Many of the associated fatalities have been due to pneumonia caused by the virus.

Cases of the virus have been confirmed in numerous countries and territories worldwide. Virus-screening and quarantining measures are being implemented at airports worldwide, as well as extensive travel restrictions. On March 11, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared the global outbreak a pandemic.

Pneumonia symptoms include dry cough, chest pain, fever, and trouble breathing. Pneumonia can be contagious and can be transmitted from human to human. The influenza virus, or the flu, is a common cause of viral pneumonia.

Advice

Measures adopted by local authorities evolve quickly and are usually effective immediately. Depending on the evolution of the outbreak in other countries, authorities are likely to modify, at very short notice, the list of countries whose travelers are subject to border control measures or entry restrictions upon their arrival to the territory in question. It is advised to postpone nonessential travel due to the risk that travelers may be refused entry or be subject to quarantine upon their arrival or during their stay.

To reduce the risk of transmission, travelers are advised to abide by the following measures:

• Frequently clean hands by applying an alcohol-based hand rub or washing with soap and water.
• When coughing and sneezing, cover mouth and nose with a flexed elbow or tissue; if used, throw the tissue away immediately and wash hands.
• If experiencing a fever, cough, difficulty breathing, or any other symptoms suggestive of respiratory illness, including pneumonia, call emergency services before going to the doctor or hospital to prevent the potential spread of the disease.

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