Responding to the Global Detention Project’s Covid-19 survey, the Austrian Ministry of Interior reported that no moratorium on new immigration detention orders had been established and that no such measure was under consideration. In addition, the Ministry said that no persons had been released from immigration detention, but that former detainees who had previously been released were subject to the same health-related rules and legal responsibilities as all residents in Austria.
The Ministry of Interior also indicated that immigration detainees were only tested for Covid-19 if an infection was suspected. In these cases, detainees would be placed in isolation until a result is known. While no general screening was conducted, general protective measures were implemented to prevent the spread of the virus among detainees.
In addition, the ministry explained that deportations had not been halted because of the pandemic although border closures, flight cancellations, and refusal of readmission prevented removals from taking place. Also, in Austria, temporary internal border controls to all neighbouring countries were introduced on 11 March, however, these were lifted on 16 June.
