Austria to require COVID test to leave Tyrol province over variant spread

Austria is stepping up its response to an outbreak of the so-called South African coronavirus variant in its Alpine province of Tyrol by requiring those leaving the province to show a negative coronavirus test, the government said on Tuesday.

The requirement to show a test no more than 48 hours old will be introduced on Friday and last for 10 days, a government statement said. It will not apply to East Tyrol, which is separated from the rest of the province, and children will be exempt, it added.