Austria gives Western Balkans travel warning

Austria's foreign minister said his country would maintain a ban on people from non-European countries entering the country "until further notice" due to the ongoing new coronavirus pandemic.

Alexander Schallenberg said Austria was imposing a travel warning for six western Balkans countries, Bosnia, Kosovo, North Macedonia, Albania, Montenegro and Serbia, in view of high COVID-19 figures.

"We had hoped that we could have implemented further opening steps," Schallenberg said Wednesday, "unfortunately this is not the case."

Neighbouring Germany meanwhile has said it is easing restrictions on travellers from up to 11 countries outside the European Union -- but not the full list recommended by the EU.