Questions and answers regarding coronavirus and the COVID-19 disease

What is coronavirus?

There are many different kinds of coronavirus (CoV). Known types of coronavirus include:

• SARS coronavirus (SARS-CoV), which was first detected in 2003;
• MERS coronavirus (MERS-CoV), which first occurred in humans in 2012.

In humans, certain types of coronavirus can cause illnesses ranging from a common cold to severe pneumonia. Other types of coronavirus can cause a variety of infectious diseases in animals. Some types of coronavirus can be transmitted from animals to humans.

The coronavirus identified in China in late 2019 was never before detected in humans.

On 11 February 2020, WHO assigned the official name COVID-19 (coronavirus disease 2019) to this disease. The designation for the pathogen (germ) was changed from 2019-nCoV to SARS–CoV-2.

How dangerous is coronavirus SARS-CoV-2?

Similar to seasonal influenza, it affects in particular elderly persons and persons with a weakened immune system.
In more severe cases, infection with coronavirus SARS–CoV-2 can, for example, cause pneumonia or severe breathing difficulties.

How does coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 spread?

Person-to-person spreading is the most frequent path of infection with coronavirus SARS–CoV-2. Contagion can be caused by:

• Mucus and saliva
• Urine and faeces
• Body fluids like for example blood

What are the symptoms of the COVID-19 disease?

When persons are infected with already better-known coronaviruses, the course of the illness is usually mild and without symptoms. In case of the  COVID-19 disease, too, there occur infections without symptoms or with a mild course and symptoms of a common cold. Indications of a severe infection with coronavirus SARS–CoV-2 include for example:

• Fever
• Cough
• Sore throat
• Shortness of breath
• Breathing difficulties
• Diarrhoea
• Sudden loss of taste and smell

How is Covis-19 treated?

Treatment is symptomatic, which means by suitably supporting the body functions in the healing process and by relieving the symptoms.

How can I protect myself against coronavirus?

As with seasonal influenza, the following measures are recommended:

• Wash your hands several times a day with soap and water or use an alcohol-based hand sanitiser.
• Cover your mouth and nose with a paper tissue or the crook of your arm whenever you cough or sneeze. Do not cover your mouth and nose with your hands whenever you cough or sneeze. Dispose of paper tissues promptly by throwing them in the trash and then wash your hands. Do not throw paper tissues in the bin for wastepaper recycling.
• Avoid direct contact with persons who are ill, irrespective of the disease.
• Turn away from other persons near you if you need to cough or sneeze.
• Keep a safe distance of at least two metres from other people and avoid large crowds.
• Do not shake hands.
• Open windows regularly to air rooms well.

When can I get a coronavirus vaccine?

Everyone in Vienna can now book an appointment for their Covid vaccination online at impfservice.wien or by phoning 1450.

• The coronavirus vaccination is free of charge.
• People from the age of 12 can get the jab.

Information around the vaccines in use, their effectiveness and about the vaccination process can be found via impfservice.wien

What is „3G“ rule?

The measures to contain the coronavirus in Austria have been eased, but a number of special safety measures apply. The „3G rule (short for German “geimpft, getestet, genesen – vaccinated, tested, recovered”) is used to define low-risk groups in epidemiological terms. The „Green Pass“ confirms that you are tested, vaccinated or have recovered from Covid 19. In Vienna, everyone over 6 years of age must comply with the 3G rule.   

The following rules apply if you have been vaccinated against Covid-19:

• The first vaccination is valid under the 3G rule from the 22nd day for a maximum of three months, counted from the day of vaccination.
• The second vaccination (booster shot) extends this period for  further 270 days .
• If the vaccine you received requires no booster shot (e.g. Johnson & Johnson), the first vaccination is valid for the 3G rule from the 22nd day after the vaccination for a total of nine months. Again, the nine months are counted from the day of vaccination.
• If you have recovered from Covid-19 and received your first vaccination, you are in the 3G group for nine months from the day of vaccination.

If you have recovered from Covid-19, you do not have to test for the virus for six months from the end of the infection. You need your quarantine order or a medical certificate from your doctor to prove you have recovered from the infection. A positive test for antibodies neutralising the virus is valid for three months from the date of testing.

Tests remain valid for different periods of time:

• PCR tests are valid for 72 hours from the time of taking the sample.
• Antigen tests carried out by an authorised body are valid for 48 hours from the time of taking the sample.
• Antigen self tests are no longer valid as entrance tests in Vienna!

What is the Green Pass and where do I get it?

The „Green Pass“ confirms that you are tested, vaccinated or have recovered from Covid 19. It is valid for travelling in the EU (from July 2021) and can also be used as entrance test in Austria. The Green Pass has the form of standardised PDF documents containing an individual QR code.

For more information about the Green Pass, please visit the website of the Austrian Federal Ministry of Social Affairs, Health, Care and Consumer Protection (German).

Green Pass with mobile signature

If you have recovered from Covid 19 or have been vaccinated, you can download the Green Pass with your mobile signature from gesundheit.gv.at.

Green Pass without mobile signature

Homecare is a central service provided by the City of Vienna to support the 3G rule (tested, recovered, vaccinated). If you were tested for Covid in any of the test centres in Vienna, you use Homecare and have access with your 12-digit PIN.

How does the coronavirus change everyday life?

From 1 July, the following rules apply in Vienna:

• There are no more curfew hours, or restrictions on leaving your home. You may go out at any time without requiring any special reason.
• There are no restrictions anymore for meeting people in a private setting.
  
• In public space: Physical distancing is not required anymore. You also do not have to wear a face mask anymore in all places where the 3G rule applies. Indoors, you must wear a face mask in all places where the 3G rule does not apply such as in shops and on public transport.
• All schools are open. All children from six years of age must wear face coverings when outside the classroom. All pupils and students are tested for the coronavirus on a regular basis.
• Guests at bars and restaurants, hotels, events and leisure facilities have to register. Registration is mandatory both indoors and outdoors as well as for meetings of more than 100 persons (except for activities deemed to have a low level of interpersonal interaction, e.g. zoos, public outdoor pools, etc.)
• Bars and restaurants are open but only for people who are tested, recovered or vaccinated (3G rule). All patrons have to register. For now, there is a maximum capacity of 75 percent.
• Hotels and lodgings are open, but access to the premises is restricted to people who are tested, recovered or vaccinated (3G rule). Guests have to register.
• All shops are open. When out shopping or running errands, you must wear a face mask.
• Close contact services (e.g. hairdressing, massages, beauty parlours) may only be offered to people who are recovered, tested or vaccinated (3G rule).
• All types of sports, including contact sports, are permitted again. There is no need to wear masks or keep a physical distance during sports activities. Only people who are tested, recovered or vaccinated (3G rule) may enter and use sports facilities like fitness studios.
• Museums, libraries and archives are open. All visitors must wear a face mask.
• Leisure facilities like public outdoor pools, zoos, botanic gardens or rides are open to people who are tested, recovered or vaccinated (3G rule). All people using indoor leisure facilities have to register.
• Weddings, garden parties and similar events for fewer than 100 people may be held without prior notification or official permission. Events for 100 or more guests are subject to the 3G rule and mandatory notification, i.e. they must be announced to the local health authorities in advance. Events for 500 or more guests need an official permission from the local health authorities. Guests have to register.
• There is basically no maximum capacity for events. However, there is a maximum capacity of 75 percent for clubs and discos. The 3G rule applies. Guests have to register.
• In residential homes for the elderly and similar facilities, the 3G rule applies to all visitors (tested, vaccinated, or recovered). They must wear a face mask indoors. Stricter rules may apply in some residential homes.
• In all hospitals in Vienna, only one visitor is allowed per patient per day. They must wear an FFP2 face mask.
• In civic office buildings (Amtshäuser) and all publicly accessible areas of city administration buildings, face masks are mandatory and physical distancing of 1 metre applies.

For further information about Covid-19 regulations, please visit the website of the Austrian Federal Ministry of Social Affairs, Health, Care and Consumer Protection

When to wear a face mask:

• In all shops and customer service areas (e.g. supermarkets, grocery stores, pharmacies, banks, post offices)
• On public transport, in all underground train stations and in taxis, on coaches
• In healthcare facilities (e.g. doctor’s surgeries, hospitals, nursing homes, sanatoriums)
• In civic office buildings, e.g. in waiting areas and inside offices

For information about municipal departments and other institutions of the City of Vienna, please visit the website of the City of Vienna. (German).

I think that I may be infected with coronavirus. What should I do? What happens now?

If you show flu-like symptoms and suspect to be infected with coronavirus, please take the following steps:

• Stay at home and avoid contact with other people.
• Call your GP (Hausarzt) and call in sick.
• Call the health hotline (“Gesundheitstelefon”) 1450 or use the online symptom checker (German).

When you phone 1450, skilled healthcare professionals will clarify if you may really be infected with coronavirus.
They will tell you if are a suspected case of Covid-19 and need to stay at home. They will provide you with further advice. Please follow this advice closely!

If you use the online symptom checker (German) and the result tells you to get a test, you can make an appointment to get tested right after answering all questions on the online symptom checker.

What will happen if I am suspected of being infected with coronavirus?

If the staff of the health hotline 1450 suspects that you may be infected with coronavirus, a team of the Red Cross or the Workers’ Samaritan Federation or a Veloce courier service will come to your home and you will be tested.

When and how will I get my test result? Who can answer my questions?

It may take up to 48 hours for a test result to be available. A 12-digit PIN code gives you direct access to your result.
Here is how you get your PIN code:

• If you are tested by a Red Cross team, they will give you the PIN right after the test.
• If you are tested via the Veloce courier service, you will receive a text message (SMS) with your PIN from the Veloce testing system. You need to provide a current mobile phone number for this purpose. The Veloce staff will check if you have received the PIN.
• If you go to a public test centre (Teststraße), you will get your PIN there.

Once your test result is available, you will receive a text message (SMS) with a web link. Enter your PIN to access your result. The PIN remains valid for four weeks. If you have not received a PIN, if you have misplaced it, or in case of technical issues (e.g. if you do not have internet access), please contact the City of Vienna Public Health Services (MA15). Phone their information hotline at 01 4000-87299, or send an email to befundanfrage@ma15.wien.gv.at  
They can help you find out about your result.

What should I (not) do while waiting for my test result?

Once you have been tested, you are considered a suspected COVID-19 case.
Please inform your doctor and your employer of the situation. Do NOT leave your home until you get your test result.
For your own safety, and to protect others, it is essential that you follow some key rules while at home:

• Keep a minimum distance of at least 2 metres (~ 6 feet) from other people,
  and avoid contact to others if possible.
• Make sure you follow all hygiene guidelines, especially when sneezing or coughing.
• Take your meals separately from others.

If your test result is positive, you will receive an official order (Bescheid) from the City of Vienna Public Health Services (MA15), telling you to remain quarantined.

Instructions on how to behave during home quarantine (coronavirus)
Support service helpline during quarantine (daily around the clock): 01 90 6 40

Where can I get tested for free?

In Vienna, there are several test centres where you can get tested for free if you meet the requirements of the test centres.
You can either drive through the test centre by car or walk through.
Test centres are open from Monday to Sunday from 06:00 to 21:00, the test centre at Austria Center Vienna is open from 07:00 to 19:00, – also during the lockdown and on public holidays.

FAQs about free rapid antigen tests

Getting tested if you have no symptoms

Walk-through test centres

• Ferry-Dusika-Stadion (2., Engerthstraße 257-269)
  Making a reservation
• Stadthalle (15., Roland-Rainer-Platz 1)
  Making a reservation
• Schule Erlaaer Schleife (23., Anton-Baumgartner-Straße 119)
  Making a reservation
• Schloss Neugebäude (11., Otmar-Brix-Gasse 1)
  Making a reservation
• Aula der Wissenschaften (1., Wollzeile 27A)
  Making a reservation

Drive-through test centres

• Drive-through test centre (Teststraße) Ernst-Happel-Stadion (2., Meiereistraße 7)
  Making a reservation

Walk-through & drive-through test centres

• Austria Center Vienna (22., Bruno-Kreisky-Platz)
  Making a reservation (Terminreservierung) for drive-through testing if you come by car
  Making a reservation (Terminreservierung) for walk-through testing if you come by public transport/on foot
• Schloß Schönbrunn (13., Schönbrunner Schloßstraße 47)
  Making a reservation (Terminreservierung) for drive-through testing if you come by car
  Making a reservation (Terminreservierung) for walk-through testing if you come by public transport/on foot
• Donauinsel (21., Donauinsel Parkplatz, Floridsdorfer Brücke)
  Making a reservation (Terminreservierung) for drive-through testing if you come by car
  Making a reservation (Terminreservierung) for walk-through testing if you come by public transport/on foot

Alles gurgelt! – free PCR self-tests for you at home

Everyone who lives or works in Vienna now has the possibility of taking a PCR test (gargle test method) for COVID-19 regularly and free of charge. You need a barcode from the website to pick up your test sets at any BIPA outlet in Vienna. After performing the test, you can hand in the samples easily on a daily basis at any REWE outlet in Vienna (Billa, Merkur, BIPA and Penny as well as all petrol station shops of BP-Merkur Inside, JET-Billa Stop & Shop, SHELL-Billa Unterwegs). If you hand in your samples before 9 a.m., you will receive the result within a period of 24 hours via email. The result is valid for 72 hours.

For more information, please visit allesgurgelt.at

Gargle Test Boxes (Gurgelboxen)

Gargle Test Boxes (Gurgelboxen) are containers on the streets where you can take a PCR gargle test under the supervision of skilled healthcare professionals. You can pick up the test result 24 hours later or have the test result sent to your mobile phone. Gargle Test Boxes are open daily from 7:00 to 19:00. Please note that you need an appointment for your gargle test! Please do not eat anything two hours before the test and do not brush your teeth. This could affect the test result. In addition, you should not drink anything 30 minutes before the test.
You can book an appointment by phoning 1450 or online at https://coronavirus.wien.gv.at/gurgelboxen/ (German).

Pharmacies

Some pharmacies carry out free of charge rapid antigen tests for people without symptoms. You need to phone the pharmacy and make a prior appointment to get tested. Bring your e-card to the test.

For a list of pharmacies where you can get tested, please visit apothekerkammer.at.

From March, you can get free of charge rapid antigen tests from pharmacies to carry out at home.

Getting tested if you have symptoms

If you show first symptoms of the Covid-19 disease (e.g. high temperature, cough, sore throat, shortness of breath, or sudden loss of taste or smell) please call the health hotline at 1450.
If you are able to drive, please arrange to get tested in a drive-through test centre:

• Donauinsel (21., Donauinsel Parkplatz, Floridsdorfer Brücke)
  Making a reservation (Terminreservierung) for drive-through testing if you come by car
• Austria Center Vienna (22., Bruno-Kreisky-Platz)
  Making a reservation (Terminreservierung) for drive-through testing if you come by car
• Schloß Schönbrunn (13., Schönbrunner Schloßstraße 47)
  Making a reservation (Terminreservierung) for drive-through testing if you come by car
• Ernst-Happel-Stadion (2., Meiereistraße 7)
  Making a reservation

If you are not able to drive, please arrange to get tested at home via the health hotline 1450.

More information about requirements as well as locations and opening hours (German)

Checkbox – symptom test centres

If you have flu-like symptoms, you can come to one of the symptom test centres (“Checkbox”) and get a Covid-19 antigen test. The test centres are open daily from 07:00 to 19:00. You need to make a prior appointment.

More information and making an appointment (German)

Private testing

Some laboratories offer Covid-19 PCR-testing in line with strict medical criteria and official standards. Getting tested in laboratories is not free of charge!
Getting tested for Covid-19: list of laboratories

Which travel regulations are in place if I travel abroad or come back to Austria?

Due to the global coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic, travel warnings are in place for some countries around the world.

Entry to Austria from abroad is permitted for persons who have been tested or vaccinated or have recovered from Covid-19 (“3G” rule). They need to submit written proof of their status. Travel restrictions to Austria depend on the country or region you are arriving from. For more information, please visit the website of the Austrian Federal Ministry for European and International Affairs (Austrian Foreign Ministry) (German).

I am a business owner – what support can I get?

• Vienna Economic Chamber (Wirtschaftskammer): information for businesses (German)
• Vienna Business Agency (German)

Who can I turn to if I have further questions?

If you have any further questions, which have not been answered yet, please contact the information service of the City of Vienna’s Integration and Diversity Department. You can reach them from Monday to Friday from 9:00 to 16:00.

You can ask your questions about the coronavirus crisis in your mother tongue:

• by email: post@ma17.wien.gv.at
• on Facebook: startwien.at
• by phone: 01 4000 81540 (Please call this number, say in which language you want to ask your question, and you will be called back.)

The staff members of the City of Vienna’s Integration and Diversity Department are obviously no experts on the coronavirus. However, they will try to provide you with information from reliable sources within 24 hours. Please note that they can only answer questions if they find answers from reliable sources.

You can ask your questions in the following languages: Shqip / عربي / Български / Bosanski / Hrvatski / Srpski / English / فارس / Français / Kurdî / Маркедонски / پښتو / Polski / ਪੰਜਾਬੀ / Română / Pyccĸий / Slovenčina / Español / čeština / нохчийн маттахь / Türkҫe / Magyar