Austria To Re-Open, FUS Students Return!

Life is getting back to "new normal" in Austria!

After 14 months of no FUS students at the Kartause, on May 14 a group of about 40 students arrived for a Summer Session!

The "new normal" is not quite "normal" as we knew it before the pandemic.  

When students, or any non-business travelers, arrive in Austria they must quarantine for 5 days.  On the fifth day, a person can get an official covid-test and if it is negative they are free from quarantine.  If they opt not to test they must stay in quarantine for 10 days.  The police do come and check to make sure you are in quarantine.  Tourists from the USA are currently not allowed into Austria.

There are three types of people re: covid in Austria: 1) those who have been fully vaccinated; 2) those who have documentation of an anti-body test for having had covid in the past 6 months; 3) others.  Others have to test somewhat regularly to do "normal things" like get their haircut, enter a restaurant (which will open on May 19!), and travel to certain places.  For awhile our region had a "high number" of cases, so you needed a negative covid test to leave our region.  I can't even count how many times I've been tested now.  I've learned the tricks of the trade - tilt your head way back, open your mouth wide & offer up those seconds of discomfort as it feels like they scrape your brain with a toothpick ;)

It was announced on April 25, that hotels (in addition to restaraunts) will re-open on May 19.  The Kartause dorms are treated like a hotel.  Hotel guests must test twice a week (if they're not fully vaccinated).  So our students, faculty & staff will be testing every Tuesday and Friday.  The idea is that no one here gets covid!  And if they do, then they can be quickly identified and isolated so as not to spread the virus.

We all must wear FFP2 masks indoors - but thankfully outdoors we can go mask-free!  Social distancing is still in place.  So every other row at church is "reserved for the Holy Spirit" and desks are all spaced 2 meters from one another.

Below I'll list and link to the current regulations if you want to see more details...

There are a lot of rules... BUT students are back!  God is still very much here!  We are just thrilled to be a part of the wonderful FUS and Kartause community here in Gaming!  We found it so providential that students arrived on May 14, have to quarantine until May 18, and May 19 will be their first day "free" (permitted to go outside the Kartause walls) - and it was just announced less than a month ago that May 19 is the day Austria is re-opening.  God is good; He is in ALL the details!

The following information is from the "The Official Travel Portal" website:

At the moment, a lockdown is in effect in Austria.  Tourism and leisure travel are not possible.

The following measures are currently in effect:

• Hotels are closed to leisure travellers/tourists.
• Restaurants and bars can only offer takeout/delivery services. Dining in is not permitted (except in the province of Vorarlberg). FFP2 masks are required when picking up food.
• A landing ban for flights from South Africa, India, and Brazil is in effect.
• Entry regulations are in effect. Additional local rules for certain regions with high COVID numbers may be in effect (please check locally; find a German-language list here).
• Shops, museums, libraries, and zoos are open. All shoppers and visitors must wear FFP2 masks.
• All other culture and leisure facilities such as theatres, cinemas, gyms, pools, and amusement parks are closed. Certain exemptions apply in the province of Vorarlberg.
• Events such as concerts, plays etc. are cancelled. Certain exemptions apply to the province of Vorarlberg.
• Hairdressers and similar service providers are open; negative COVID-19 tests are required for customers.

• A stay-at-home order is in effect from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m.
• You are required to keep a minimum distance of 2 m (6.5 ft) to people from other households.
• FFP2 masks are required on public transport and in other public spaces.

The following measures have been announced for 19 May:

• Hotels and restaurants will be allowed to reopen, with strict protective measures in place.
• Leisure and culture facilities will be allowed to reopen and events can take place, with strict protective measures in place.
• Entry regulations for EU travellers will change.