The 4th COVID-19-Protective-Measures-Regulation, which became in force on February 8, 2021, brings a relaxation regarding the “hard lockdown”. The measures will be effective until February 17, 2021.

The essential points of the 4th COVID-19-Protective-Measures-Regulation are:

• The general curfew has been restricted. Leaving the own private living area is allowed, except between 8 p.m and 6 a.m of the following day. In exceptional cases, one can leave the private living area also during this curfew, e.g for job-related reasons, for physical and mental recreation outdoors or for taking care of pets (e.g. walking the dog). Shopping and meeting the closest relatives (parents, children and siblings) and a spouse are also considered exceptions and are allowed during the curfew.
• In outdoor public places, a distance of two meters must be kept from all persons not living in their own household. For meetings in closed rooms, a respirator protection mask of class FFP2 (FFP2 mask) without a vent must be worn.
• In public transport, subway stations, trains stations, on train platforms or at airports a FFP2 mask has to be worn.
• There are several exemptions from the obligation to wear a FFP2 mask, for example for pregnant women, if the mask cannot be worn for health reasons or if the mask cannot be acquired by reasonable means.
• Shops and service companies may open again. The minimum distance of two meters and the obligation to wear a FFP2 mask applies. Each customer must have 20 m² space available, otherwise the customer area may only be entered individually. To receive body-related services (e.g. hairdresser, cosmetics) a negative COVID-19 test that is not older than 48 hours has to be presented.
• A minimum distance of two meters must be maintained at the workplace. If more than one person is working in an enclosed space at the same time and there is no protective device (e.g. partition wall), a mouth and nose protec-tion must be worn. Certain groups of employees (e.g. teachers, employees with direct customer contact) have to provide their employer with a negative COVID-19-test every seven days. If such test cannot be provided, a FFP2 mask has to be worn when in direct contact with other people.
• Hospitality establishments may offer food for collection between 6 a.m. and 7 p.m. Otherwise, hospitality establishments must be closed. This does not apply to hospitality establishments in certain facilities (e.g. canteens in hospitals, schools) for internal use.
• Accommodation facilities (including hotels) may only be used in exceptional cases, e.g. for job-related purposes or by guests who are already in the accommodation for the agreed duration. In generally accessible areas, a minimum distance of two meters must be maintained and a FFP2 mask must be worn.
• Animal Parks, Zoos, botanical gardens and museums may reopen. The same protection regulations as for trade and services apply (FFP2 mask obligation, minimum distance and minimum space available per customer). Other Leisure facilities, such as such as indoor swimming pools, indoor playgrounds, cinemas or theaters, remain closed.
• Ski lifts and cable cars are allowed to stay open. Certain capacity limits must be considered (for example, gondolas may carry no more than half the maximum number of passengers). In gondolas and in closed ski lifts a FFP2-mask has to be worn.
• Events stay prohibited regardless of the number of participants. In particular, planned meetings and undertakings for entertainment, amusement, physical and mental training and edification are considered events. This in-cludes in any case cultural events, sports events, wedding celebrations, birthday parties or exhibitions. Funerals with a maximum of 50 persons are excluded.
• Some events may continue to be held, e.g. sporting events in professional sports (without spectators), assemblies or meetings of statutory bodies of legal entities that cannot be postponed. Also excluded are professional meetings, if these are necessary for the maintenance of the professional activity, as well as meetings for absolut necessary professional education and training purposes if those meetings can’t be held in a digital form.