Health & Safety at AIS
Please visit ais.at/coronavirus for the latest information on our health and safety measures and COVID-19 response.
Coronavirus
Updated January 19, 2021, 9:45 AM
Recent Updates
These are challenging times to say the least, and I thank you all for your continued flexibility as plans change on a seemingly daily basis. On January 18, officials from the Austrian federal government announced that all schools will remain in Distance Learning through February 5. We currently anticipate a restricted return on February 8 but we are awaiting further details from the Ministry of Education.
AIS will remain in Distance Learning for all grade levels through February 5, 2021, with hope for a return to campus on February 8, 2021.
We will continue to monitor the information released from the authorities and keep our community informed as to how such announcements apply to our school. We will always communicate any changes to our current status directly with you and ask that our community members not rely on unofficial or indirect sources that do not apply to school operations.
What To Do When
Austrian ministries have provided schools with procedures and guidance to handle specific scenarios that can arise regarding COVID-19. As the nature of private international education and our community can sometimes differ from Austrian public schools, we have translated and adapted these procedures as appropriate. For our AIS Vienna COVID-19 Procedures, please click the link below.
COVID-19 Testing Centers
Community members can access a non-exhaustive list of testing centers on page 19 of our List of Physicians located in the Parents section of our website under Health Information.
COVID-19 Case Management Team
The AIS COVID-19 Case Management Team consists of Renée McCormack (School Nurse), Andy Harrison (Director of Events Office) and Claudia Bonek (Travel Liaison Officer and Assistant to the Events Office). Please make sure that all reports of confirmed or suspected COVID-19 cases or close contacts go directly to them. The team is best prepared to answer your specific questions.
Who Does What
As we continue to adjust procedures, formalize duties, and streamline processes around COVID-19, we have created a Who Does What: Covid-19 Duties Flowchart. This flowchart will serve as a guide for procedures and responsibilities regarding COVID-19 and the way in which we will work to manage the flow of information within the AIS community.
From the Director
AIS is uniquely prepared to manage the ever-changing COVID-19 context and adapt to a sense of new normal by way of our American/IB educational approach and philosophy, which supports students’ creative, adaptive, and problem-solving skills. Like our students, our leaders, teachers, and staff are similarly trained to adapt and adjust to the needs of our students, regardless of the model of learning delivery, whether inside of the classroom or across a virtual connection, while maintaining strong relationships and connection.
Our experiences with COVID-19 may be just as diverse as the places our families come from. Each of us may have different expectations and will adjust to the current circumstances in Vienna and at AIS. We strive to provide clarity and consistency of communication so that students and their families feel prepared, informed, and reassured. Parents are our partners at AIS and we will continue to work with you as such for the benefit of our students.
Kathryn Miner, DEd
Director
Continued Health Imperatives
We continue to repeat Austrian, CDC, and WHO advice that wearing masks, regularly washing/sanitizing hands, and physical distancing remain our best practices for slowing the spread of the virus.
If you present the following symptoms, please call the health hotline ("Gesundheitstelefon") 1450 (English-speaking representatives available) immediately:
Difficulty Breathing
Shortness of Breath
Cough
Sore Throat
Hoarseness
Loss of Smell and Taste
*All With or Without Fever
If you are unsure, please email the AIS Coronavirus Case Management Team.
Student Support
The International School Counselor Association has compiled a list of Resources on Managing Feelings, Fears and Worries about COVID-19. School staff remain available should you have any specific concerns about the emotional wellbeing of your student. Counselors and staff across the school are actively sharing information about the social and emotional concerns that may arise during a situation that is capturing so much of the world’s attention.