Austria is quickly changing the rules for entering the country before the ski season begins: the booster shot is mandatory, the alternative is quarantine

Just before the start of the ski season, Austria adjusted its entry rules again. From now on, you should be able to provide evidence of a booster injection or a negative test up to a maximum of 72 hours.

On Friday, the Austrian Tourist Office reported that a “winter holiday with clear rules” would begin in the winter sports country par excellence. After just a few hours, things were back up and running again. The Ministry of Health announced Friday evening that anyone entering the country must be able to prove a negative PCR test result or a booster dose to avoid quarantine.

Thus, Austria is trying to stop the progress of the Omicron variable. Quarantine should only be terminated after a negative test. Additionally, you must complete additional paperwork prior to departure. Stricter entry rules pose significant challenges, especially for people traveling abroad during the Christmas holidays. “These materials are necessary at the present time to prevent the spread of oomicron in Austria,” said Minister Wolfgang Mokstein.

This is just news for many travelers. Now that the worst of the post-lockdown measures in Austria seem to be over, and the primary school Christmas holidays started a week ago, many people have booked a trip to the snow. Without a booster, they now have to take an expensive test before leaving.

Pregnant women and people who cannot be vaccinated for health reasons are excluded from these requirements. Other rules also apply to children: children up to the age of 12 do not have to prove the presence of the coronavirus.

“Ninja Pass Holiday”

Entry rules are separate from those that apply, for example, entering a cafe or museum. Should you be vaccinated or cured, the test is no longer possible. Stricter boosting rules also apply to the Christmas holidays: one Janssen injection is no longer valid from January 3, and the other two injections are good for the green QR code for a maximum of 270 days.

Children aged 12 to 15 can audition three times a week and receive a Holiday Ninja pass that allows them to enter ski lifts, restaurants, and other facilities. The measure was announced Friday morning, just hours before the new entry rules.