Austria freezes the right to asylum

The Austrian Ministry of the Interior introduce measures to suspend access to the asylum procedures for the people seeking protection in Austria.

According to the decree every asylum seeker is required  to provide a health certificate. Although the decree is not binding, it provides guidelines for  border police officers. Such measures are justified by the priority to ensure national health safety during the COVID-19 crisis.  

Social organizations alarm that the restriction violate the right to asylum and is that rejection of asylum seekers is illegal until a procedure has been completed and that they can be placed in a two-week quarantine during the state of emergency to prevent health risks. The NGO Asylkoordination will submit a factual report to the Vienna Public Prosecutor's Office. 

Austria was one of the first EU States to restrict the entrance of Italian nationals as a measure against the spread of the COVID-19. The Austrian government has also introduced border checks with Switzerland and Liechtenstein and cancelled all flights from France, Spain and Switzerland.

Resources
Prohibition of asylum applications illegally on the border, [21.04.2020].
Refusal of asylum law by ministerial decree, [22.04.2020]. 
Asylum Applications in Austria Decline Due to Coronavirus, [31.04.2020].