COVID-19 Update from February 13th, 2023

Since 01.08.2022, nationwide COVID-19 measures apply in Austria. The isolation (quarantine) of COVID-19 infected persons no longer exists, but persons who test positive for SARS-CoV-2 should instead respect several resctrictions for 5 to 10 days!

For persons who test positive for SARS-CoV-2, the following now applies:

  • The infection remains notifiable.
  • The obligation to wear an FFP2 mask at all times:
    outside the private living area:
    – indoors, if contact with other persons cannot be ruled out outdoors,
    – if it is not possible to keep a minimum distance of 2 metres from other persons
    – in public transport
    – in private means of transport, if contact with other persons cannot be excluded
    in private homes:
    – where people from different households are gathered together in closed rooms
  • Positive persons are not allowed to visit facilities with vulnerable persons or risky settings (e.g. old people’s homes, hospitals, etc.).
  • An early lifting of these restriction is possible from the fifth day onwards. This requires a free test by means of a PCR test (negative or CT value ≥30).

Teaching during the 2023 summer semester 

  • Persons who tested positive should not come to PLUS campus!
  • Since a mask is still the best way to protect yourself and others, the recommendation that you wear a mask indoors (and especially in large groups) remains in place. 
  • Other hygiene measures (regular ventilation, hand disinfection) must also continue to be observed.
  • Courses haved returned to take place in classes at the usual occupancy of lecture halls and classrooms. Classes held solely online are no longer avaliable. Mixed models (for example, a diadlically justified integration of online elements into a course) as well as streaming courses are still possible.
  • Please inform your instructors if you cannot attend face-to-face courses due to a positive COVID-19 test result. In this case instructors must offer compensation! 
  • Additionally positive test results must also be disclosed via where they will be reported by the university to the Federal Ministry in an anonymized form.
  • Sick persons can, of course, take sick leave – as with other illnesses. In the case of COVID-19, sick leave can also be taken by telephone.
  • All buildings belonging to PLUS are accessible to all persons during the normal operating hours. 
  • The International Relations Office can be reached during the published opening hours. We recommend that you schedule an appointment in advance via E-Mail. 
  • You may continue to use our  WebEx-OfficeHours.

What to do in case you suspect COVID-19? PLUS requirements

  1. Option: You have been contacted by the authorities and need to take a Corona test (or are currently waiting for the result) because one of your contacts is infected.MESSAGE TO. Be sure to stay at home! While waiting for test results, it is forbidden to enter the university buildings.
  2. Option: You have been contacted by a PLUS staff because a Corona test from one of your contacts is still pending. No email needed for the time being, you will be contacted again by the university responsible. Do not come to the university, stay at home if possible or avoid direct contacts.
  3. Option: You fear you have had contact with an infected person but have not been contacted by the authorities or PLUS:- You feel healthy. No report. Get tested to be sure!- You have symptoms: Call the 24-hour hotline 1450 immediately and under no circumstances go to a doctor without prior consultation!
  4. Option: People who live in the same household (or with whom you had close contact), …… are waiting for a result. ….are infected (you yourself are thus officially considered contact person I or II). You have been or are being quarantined by the authorities. Students are asked not to come to the university.

Always inform your course instructor(s) and coordinator in the International Relations Department!

PLUS Information on Testing & Vaccination

  • On the PLUS intranet pages, you will find constantly updated  Corona information
  • Austrian Covid-19 24h hotline: 1450
  • Covid-19 Infogate by Salzburg Federal State:  HERE:
  • LATEST Covid-19 information provided by the Austrian government  here.

Further useful Weblinks and Assistance

Further advice: The current measures put in place by the Austrian authorities to curb the spread of the Corona virus must be followed without exception! As the COVID-19 situation develops, the measures are constantly being adapted, so everyone should inform themselves about the  current status on their own responsibility.

Information about Vaccinations

At the decision of the Austrian government on March 3rd, 2022 the vaccine mandate has been temporarliy suspended. The following information is only background information and is rather representative of the status as of Feburary 24th, 2022.

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Vaccines recognised to meet the requirements of compulsory vaccination are:

  • BioNTech-Pfizer – Comirnaty
  • Moderna Biotech – Spikevax
  • AstraZeneca – Vaxzevria
  • Johnson & Johnson – Covid-19 Vaccine Janssen
  • Novavax – Nuvaxovid
  • 2 Chinese vaccines:
    • Sinopharm – Vero Cell
    • Sinovac – CoronaVac
  • 3 Indian vaccines:
    • Bharat Biotech – COVAXIN
    • Serum Institute of India – COVOVAX and Covishield

IMPORTANT NOTE: The Chinese and Indioan vaccines DO NOT meet the requirement regarding applicable “G”-rules! These students are still required to show a negative test (as of 24 February 2022).

Students vaccinated with vaccines that are not listed above (e.g. Sputnik) are considered unvaccinated! To change status, it is recommended to do an antibody test before starting a new vaccination series with EMA approved vaccines in Salzburg. Affected students inform themselves on website of the Austrian Ministry of Social Affairs and Health Care (mentioned below) to find detailed information on this issue. Students registered in Salzburg can benefit of tests and vaccination free of charge.

Why do we need a general COVID-19 vaccine mandate?
In spite of the fact that a majority of the population in Austria has already decided to get vaccinated against the coronavirus, we need a higher vaccination coverage. This is the only way for us to successfully contain the coronavirus pandemic and to regain our accustomed liberties. For this reason, a general COVID-19 vaccine mandate had been introduced in Austria on 5 February. This was preceded by wide-ranging discussions in the sphere of both politicsand society for us to be able to consider as many aspects and effects on communal life aspossible.

The Austrian Federal Government has decided to protect the population by introducing ageneral COVID-19 vaccine mandate. From the age of 18, all persons living in Austria who arenot exempt from mandatory vaccination for medical reasons are required to get vaccinatedunder the law. Persons not yet vaccinated against the coronavirus will regularly be informedabout the requirement to get vaccinated by way of a written reminder. Any person whofails to comply with the statutory requirement to get vaccinated will have to expectadministrative penalties in future. Read detailed information  HERE 

Phase 1: Feburary 5th-March 15th (suspended, see above). In the initial phase everyone who is still pending a corona virus vaccination will have the opportunity to comply with the COVID-19 vaccination requirement. Anyone who does not comply with the vaccination obligaiton after March 15th commits an administrative offense. 

Phase 2: March 16 thorugh the first vaccination deadline (suspended, see above). In the second phase compliance with the COVID vaccination obligation, the public security service (police) will be checked nation wide. Non-compliance will be reported to the district administrative authority. This then initiates a procedure. The controls of the public security service (police) are then carried out, for example, in the context of checks on compliance with the protective measures or during traffic controls.

For questions about the general COVID-19 vaccine mandate contact the 24/7 AGES hotline via 0800 555 621 or the Health Hotline at 1450 24/7 –  if required.

Erasmus Outgoing during COVID-19

Applications/nominations for an Erasmus stay abroad in the academic year 2021/22 will be accepted, subject to further impact and action on COVID-19.In addition to the regular application documents, a declaration of personal responsibility (German OR English version) must be signed by each applicant for an Erasmus scholarship and submitted with the remaining application documents:Erklärung zur Eigenveranwortung Applicant’s Declaration for a Subsidised Stay Abroad

Due to the unpredictability of the spread of the coronavirus (COVID-19), all interested applicants are requested to inform themselves independently about the  current travel advice for the country of destination.The University of Salzburg advises against stays in countries for which a travel warning has been issued.If the participant travels to a high-risk area, PLUS and OeAD-GmbH assume no liability for any damage that may occur. It is expressly pointed out that a possible repatriation by the state is not guaranteed and that a travel health insurance may lose its validity.

The participant has the following options:

  • Not to take up the stay
  • Complete the stay partly virtually (by means of e-learning or teleworking) (depending on the possibilities at the host institution).
  • To terminate the stay.

Please note the following information on the payment criteria of the Erasmus+ grant in the context of COVID-19:

 OeAD_Erasmus Stays in the Context of Covid-19.

 OeAD_FAQs Students (DE)

 OeAD_FAQs Students (ENGL)

 OeAD_Drop-outs, interruptions and non-arrivals due to COVID-19 (EN)

 OeAD_Information on the consequences of Covid-19 on Erasmus+ study periods and traineeships (ENGL) OeAD_

 Updated information on the coronavirus

Further information can be found on the specific Erasmus pages on our website.

Erasmus Incoming during COVID-19

Nominations and applications for an exchange stay at the University of Salzburg in the academic year 2021/22 will be accepted and processed regularly subject to the further effects and measures regarding COVID-19. Interested students should inquire at their home universities about the current aplication requirements! Further information can be found on the specific Erasmus pages on our website.