IMF figures show Austria ranks second in the EU in terms of support provided as part of the country's COVID-19 response
According to current IMF calculations, during an adjusted comparative timeframe Austria has spent 11.7 % of GDP on COVID-19 assistance. This places Austria second in the EU behind Greece (13.7 %), and clearly ahead of Germany (11 %).
According to Finance Minister Gernot Blümel, "The crisis has hit Austria harder than other countries, and for this reason we are also deliberately providing greater assistance. This has now been confirmed by the IMF. Both in terms of volume and processing, things are going very well in Austria; this has been shown by discussions in neighbouring countries and above all by feedback from business. Since the beginning of the crisis, we have invested a great deal of money in order to save jobs and businesses, and we will indeed continue to do so."
By 31 March 2021, EUR 34 billion had already been approved or paid out in Austria by way of COVID-19 assistance in the form of various support instruments such as short-time working, fixed cost subsidy, hardship fund, guarantees, tax deferrals and reductions, turnover loss bonus and the municipal package. An overview of all support measures can be found here (in German): https://www.bmf.gv.at/corona