The free tests against the corona virus divide the population in Austria. In a current “profil” survey, a narrow majority of 50 percent of those surveyed spoke out in favor of retaining the free corona tests. On the other hand, 48 percent want tests to have to be paid for in the future.
Economics Minister Margarete Schramböck (ÖVP) recently spoke out in the ORF “Press Hour” for a possible end to the free tests. “It will probably not be possible to explain to the majority in the long term, who also pay for it with their tax money, that testing is maintained for a minority that is not vaccinated. In my view, we will have to look at that,” said the minister .
Government wants to stop free tests
Chancellor Karl Nehammer is also in favor of an end to the free Covid tests! The ÖVP generally questions the tests due to the costs of 2.6 billion euros so far. In any case, their end could be heralded at the Corona summit this Wednesday with the country heads.
Because the free tests will be a central topic at the meeting. The corona tests will certainly remain free of charge until the end of March, which is also enshrined in the law. After that, however, it is quite possible that the tests will be subject to a fee in the future.
However, not in all federal states, because Vienna is probably going its own way again! Vienna’s Mayor Michael Ludwig and City Councilor for Health Peter Hacker want to keep the free tests against the corona virus. The two SP politicians recently underlined this with a survey by the Viennese health authorities.
Viennese want more free tests
According to the survey, three out of four Viennese are clearly in favor of the tests remaining free. More than half of those surveyed (56 percent) also support compulsory vaccination, and according to Puls4, 58 percent also want a 2G rule in the catering trade.
There is also a positive correlation between widespread testing and hospitalizations and infection numbers. Vienna has had fewer hospitalizations due to the widespread avoidance of secondary infections and you can even see that we had a particularly below-average development in deaths,” explains Mario Dujaković, spokesman for Vienna’s SP Health City Council Peter Hacker.
Specifically, it had the following effects:
➤ 44,000–60,000 infections avoided in the last quarter alone
➤ 58,000–78,000 sick days avoided
➤ Around 840,000 quarantine days avoided
This has also saved the public sector some costs:
➤ 38-42 million euros directly in the healthcare sector
➤ 141-156 million euros in savings due to economic effects
Vienna currently has a BA.2 share of 22.7 percent of the infection rate. “We estimate that BA.2 will be dominant at the end of next week, which will of course also have an impact on the course of infection. In order to be able to plan and forecast better, a broad and stable test infrastructure is needed,” Dujaković continued.
