No skating holiday in Austria for the unvaccinated, because of a ‘leisure lockdown’

Austria is closing hotels and restaurants to the unvaccinated; the third ‘G’, for tested, no longer counts. Which means the popular skating holiday is not an option for now if you have not been vaccinated or recovered.

Skating holiday

Everyone knows the term ‘ski holiday’, but the ‘skating holiday’ is firmly on the rise too. These days the Netherlands has few days of skating on natural ice. The Austrian Weissensee offers an ice guarantee.

This calming mountain lake in Carinthia freezes every year, sometimes even from a fixed date. After which, in January and February especially, Dutch skaters take to the ice.

Unvaccinated skating enthusiasts currently cannot stay overnight or eat out in Austria. All they can do is hope that the turn of the year brings some easing.

2G in Austria and corona

Because of the high number of corona patients in Austrian intensive care, the country has opted for ‘2G’ in hospitality and on ski lifts. You only get in if you are vaccinated or have recovered.

Previously a negative test for COVID-19was enough as well. That was in line with the European travel certificate, the universally accepted corona passport. Austria is no longer willing to go along with it.

The measure does not come entirely out of the blue. Chancellor Alexander Georg Nicolas Schallenberg had already indicated that specific lockdowns would follow if the figures worsened.

A leisure lockdown: no skating holiday in Austria for the unvaccinated

RTL Nieuws speaks now of ‘a kind of leisure lockdown for the unvaccinated across the country’. The news outlet points to intensive care occupancy, 365 corona patients, and the low vaccination rate of 64%.

At Schallenberg's earlier announcement there were still 220 corona patients in intensive care. Since the lockdown threat the vaccination rate has risen by only 2 per cent.

Austria may bring a full lockdown for the unvaccinated (2G everywhere)

The chancellor announced a possible next step at the time as well. In principle the unvaccinated would not be allowed outside at all if the figures worsen further.

With our travel magazine we will keep monitoring the situation. Follow dionvacation on social media so you do not miss any of the coverage.