Austria will lift most coronavirus restrictions by 5 March, Austrian Chancellor Karl Nehammer said, Reuters reported.

There will be an earlier closing time of midnight for bars and restaurants and allowing nightclubs to reopen.

The government recently announced that as of this Saturday unvaccinated people can return to restaurants and non-essential shops if they have been tested. Nehammer said such proof of testing, recovery or vaccination would also be scrapped and limits on the size of events would be lifted by March 5.

The general requirement to enter Austria will be eased from proof of a booster to proof of vaccination, recovery or a recent test, Health Minister Wolfgang Mueckstein said.