https://feeds.thelocal.com/ Read the latest news and views from Austria in English en-us news@thelocal.com (TheLocal) webmaster@thelocal.com (TheLocal) TheLocal RSS Feed Austria is rolling out a free, variant-adapted Covid booster for 2025–26 with one autumn dose advised for most over-12s. Here’s who should prioritise it, when to take it, and where to book fast. https://www.thelocal.at/20251001/what-you-need-to-know-about-austrias-new-covid-19-vaccine Wed, 01 Oct 2025 14:18:15 +0200 what-you-need-to-know-about-austrias-new-covid-19-vaccine Does it seem like everyone around you in Austria is sick? As it turns out, statistics support your suspicions. https://www.thelocal.at/20231128/tens-of-thousands-of-workers-in-austria-hit-by-covid-and-flu-as-cases-rise Tue, 28 Nov 2023 10:46:56 +0100 tens-of-thousands-of-workers-in-austria-hit-by-covid-and-flu-as-cases-rise The Austrian Association of Doctors (ÖÄK) says it’s prepared for this year’s vaccination season. So who can get what vaccine and where? https://www.thelocal.at/20231003/how-can-i-get-a-covid-or-flu-vaccine-in-austria-this-autumn Tue, 03 Oct 2023 13:32:54 +0200 how-can-i-get-a-covid-or-flu-vaccine-in-austria-this-autumn The number of Covid infections has been rising in Austria recently. Austria's Health Minister Johannas Rauch has spoken out about what to expect this autumn and winter. https://www.thelocal.at/20230925/what-can-we-expect-from-the-covid-situation-in-austria-this-autumn Mon, 25 Sep 2023 19:12:52 +0200 what-can-we-expect-from-the-covid-situation-in-austria-this-autumn From fresh recommendations for Covid-19 jabs to a new vaccination for the RSV respiratory virus, here's what you need to know about vaccination guidelines in Austria for the autumn and winter months. https://www.thelocal.at/20230904/what-are-austrias-new-covid-and-rsv-vaccine-recommendations Mon, 04 Sep 2023 16:23:45 +0200 what-are-austrias-new-covid-and-rsv-vaccine-recommendations The World Health Organization's European office warned on Tuesday the risk of Covid-19 has not gone away, saying it was still responsible for nearly 1,000 deaths a week in the region. And the real figure may be much higher. https://www.thelocal.at/20230627/covid-19-still-causing-1000-deaths-a-week-in-europe-who-warns Tue, 27 Jun 2023 15:27:54 +0200 covid-19-still-causing-1000-deaths-a-week-in-europe-who-warns Austria’s lucrative winter season has already been hit by pandemic restrictions for the past two years. But this year there is also record inflation, staff shortages and an energy crisis to deal with. https://www.thelocal.at/20220830/from-inflation-to-covid-what-to-expect-from-austrias-winter-season Tue, 30 Aug 2022 19:06:08 +0200 from-inflation-to-covid-what-to-expect-from-austrias-winter-season Austrians expressed shock and anger this week over the suicide of doctor who had been the target of a torrent of abuse and threats from anti-vaccination protesters. https://www.thelocal.at/20220806/austria-in-shock-over-doctors-suicide-following-anti-vax-abuse Sat, 06 Aug 2022 18:42:17 +0200 austria-in-shock-over-doctors-suicide-following-anti-vax-abuse The mandatory EU-wide mask requirement for air travel is set to be dropped from Monday, May 16th, but airlines may still require passengers to wear masks on some or all flights https://www.thelocal.at/20220511/face-mask-rule-on-flights-in-europe-set-to-be-eased Wed, 11 May 2022 18:17:55 +0200 face-mask-rule-on-flights-in-europe-set-to-be-eased Rudolf Anschober’s book about the Covid crisis, “Pandemia”, has reached the number one spot on the bestseller list of non-fiction books in Austria. https://www.thelocal.at/20220508/austrias-former-health-minister-becomes-best-selling-author Sun, 08 May 2022 14:36:34 +0200 austrias-former-health-minister-becomes-best-selling-author A new study by MedUni Vienna has revealed five possible scenarios for how the Covid-19 pandemic could play out in Austria during the next autumn and winter season. https://www.thelocal.at/20220504/five-possible-winter-scenarios-for-covid-19-in-austria Wed, 04 May 2022 19:07:23 +0200 five-possible-winter-scenarios-for-covid-19-in-austria We've received several questions from readers asking what applies to their children when living in or visiting Austria, particularly around the Covid pass requirement for tourist areas and restaurants. https://www.thelocal.at/20211028/reader-question-what-rules-do-children-need-to-follow-for-austrias-covid-pass Thu, 28 Oct 2021 13:29:04 +0200 reader-question-what-rules-do-children-need-to-follow-for-austrias-covid-pass As part of the March reopening plan, several measures related to the Covid pandemic have changed in Austria - with a separate set for the capital Vienna. Here's what you need to know. https://www.thelocal.at/20220307/explained-what-are-austrias-new-covid-rules Mon, 07 Mar 2022 12:40:16 +0100 explained-what-are-austrias-new-covid-rules Almost everyone has been impacted by the Covid-19 pandemic over the past two years, but how has it affected Austria as a country? Here are seven ways the pandemic has changed Austria. https://www.thelocal.at/20220324/seven-ways-the-covid-19-pandemic-has-changed-austria Thu, 24 Mar 2022 14:26:30 +0100 seven-ways-the-covid-19-pandemic-has-changed-austria Over 3,000 people are currently in Austrian hospitals due to Covid, while new infections hit their highest ever daily total on Wednesday. https://www.thelocal.at/20220316/almost-60000-austria-hits-new-daily-covid-case-total Wed, 16 Mar 2022 14:23:29 +0100 almost-60000-austria-hits-new-daily-covid-case-total As the country reopens and lifts restrictions, not only the number of new infections is rising, but hospitalisation rates as well https://www.thelocal.at/20220316/covid-19-austria-among-highest-hospitalisation-rates-in-europe Wed, 16 Mar 2022 11:41:43 +0100 covid-19-austria-among-highest-hospitalisation-rates-in-europe Less than a week after the country relaxed most Covid restrictions, 47,795 new cases were recorded in Austria on Wednesday. https://www.thelocal.at/20220309/austria-hits-record-daily-number-of-daily-covid-cases Wed, 09 Mar 2022 18:22:35 +0100 austria-hits-record-daily-number-of-daily-covid-cases Wolfgang Mückstein called it quits on Thursday, saying constant threats from Covid sceptics were "extremely burdensome", making him the second Austrian Health Minister to resign in one year citing the burden of the job. https://www.thelocal.at/20220304/austria-health-minister-quits-citing-exhaustion-and-threats Fri, 04 Mar 2022 13:26:20 +0100 austria-health-minister-quits-citing-exhaustion-and-threats Following the announcement of Austria’s “spring awakening” and relaxation of Covid-19 restrictions, the big question is whether the planned vaccine mandate will go ahead. https://www.thelocal.at/20220217/will-austrias-vaccine-mandate-go-ahead Thu, 17 Feb 2022 12:10:36 +0100 will-austrias-vaccine-mandate-go-ahead There are positive signs that Austria may have reached the peak of its Omicron wave in some regions, with a declining 14-day trend in Vienna, Salzburg and Tyrol, but what does that mean for the future of Austria's Covid measures? https://www.thelocal.at/20220214/will-austria-announce-further-relaxations-of-covid-measures-this-week Mon, 14 Feb 2022 16:30:02 +0100 will-austria-announce-further-relaxations-of-covid-measures-this-week