Austria: COVID-19 National Strategy

Austria’s COVID-19 National Strategy: Resources

Federal Ministry of Social Affairs, Health, Care and Consumer Protection
COVID19 Act
Epidemics Act
Influenza pandemic response plan Austria (3rd edition 2009)
Influenza pandemic response plan Vienna

Austria’s COVID-19 National Strategy: Austrian comprehensive testing strategy based on three pillars

“In early March, the Ministry for Social Affairs, Health, Care and Consumer Protection issued a comprehensive testing strategy for SARS-CoV2 that comprises three pillars (11th March 2021) (see updated information on oesterreich.gv.at):

“1. Tests initiated by a public authority (for suspected SARS CoV2 cases and contact persons): People can either call the corona hotline 1450 and the staff working at the hotline decides whether or not a test is to be initiated. This happens either in special testing sites (without appointment) or via mobile teams carrying out a test in the home of the person with symptoms. Alternatively, they can visit an ambulatory care provider, in particular GPs, who offer tests for suspected SARS CoV2 cases. A previous appointment via phone is necessary to access these tests. Contact persons of confirmed SARS CoV2 cases have to do at least one test, depending on the current contact tracing regulations, and as indicated by the respective local authority that contacts these persons. In this pillar, PCR tests are being used.

“2. Specific screening programmes (vulnerable groups, their carers/care staff, and professionals with elevated exposure to infection risk (in particular health and care staff, and people working in services with close contact)). In this pillar, mainly rapid antigen tests are used, and some pilot programs exist using RT qPCR gargling tests (project “Alles gurgelt”, see below). Tests take place at testing sites or e.g. directly at the workplace such as in a care home or hospital.

“3. Population-wide monitoring and screening with easy access to free testing possibilities for everyone and at all times. The main objective is to detect asymptomatic persons early on and isolate them. This pillar includes entry tests for certain services (e.g. hairdresser) or places (e.g. hospitals, care homes). Free testing possibilities are widely rolled out in testing sites, enterprises and pharmacies. In some enterprises a member of health care personnel carries out tests. Moreover, there are self-tests for personal use.
“• Entry tests to access services with physical contact have to be carried out by qualified staff e.g. in pharmacies (see above). These rapid antigen tests are available for free in the whole country, but an appointment needs to be made beforehand.
“• In schools, self-sampling anterior-nasal antigen tests are carried out twice a week by teachers and students (see above). It is being discussed to increase frequency to three times a week given low sensitivity of these rapid antigen tests.
“• Starting in March 2021, five self-sampling kits (per month) are distributed at pharmacies for free to each insured person. These kits can also be acquired at a low cost (approx. EUR 8). However, self-sampling kits are not acknowledged as entry tests for e.g. hairdressers.

“The third pillar comprises mainly antigen tests, but PCR tests are also possible e.g. gargling test programs using RT qPCR are being rolled out: the project “Alles gurgelt” is being piloted at a large scale with several 100.000 participants already (including schools and firms/enterprises): https://coronavirus.wien.gv.at/alles-gurgelt-testprogramm-fuer-betriebe/.”

Source: COVID-19 Health System Response Monitor. A project of the European Observatory on Health Systems and Policies, the European Commission, and the World Health Organization Regional Office for Europe. Last accessed May 20, 2021.

Austria’s COVID-19 National Strategy: Lockdown Eased As Of Feb. 8

“Despite incidence rates remaining at around 100 cases per 7 days (per 100.000), Austria eased its nationwide coronavirus lockdown as of February 8:

“• Non-essential shops reopened with an FFP2 mask requirement for all customers, and a requirement of 20 m2 per customer (including in supermarkets). Consumption of food and drinks is not allowed in shopping centres.

“• Hairdressers and similar service providers where no distance may be kept, may reopen. Negative COVID tests carried out at a testing site (not older than 48 hours) are required for customers, available for free in selected pharmacies across the country (antigen test). Exemptions apply for people with a SARS-CoV2 infection in the past 6 months (upon showing a medical certificate or an antibody test confirmation).

“• Museums and zoos as well as botanical gardens may reopen with an FFP2 mask and 2 metre distancing requirements for all visitors (indoors and outdoors).

“• Hotels and restaurants will stay closed.

“• Indoor sports continue to be forbidden, while outdoor sports are allowed.

“• Regulations on (FFP2) mask wearing as described above remain in place.”

Austria’s COVID-19 National Strategy: Stricter Measures Imposed

“With potentially more infectious mutation variants of SARS-CoV-2 having been detected during December 2020 and January 2021 in Austria, as of 25th January, the following regulations apply in everyday life:

“• The use of FFP2 masks is obligatory in public transport and in shops, at indoor and outdoor markets, as well as when using services such as at ambulatory care providers, public services, when using take-away services, and in hotels (if they are open e.g. for business purposes), or when people from different households ride in the same car. Children up to the age of 6 years do not have to wear a mask. Children from 6 to 14 years and pregnant women are also exempt from this regulation and may wear a standard mouth-nose protection instead.

“• FFP2 masks are available in shops for a low price (ca. EUR 0,60) for the general population. For vulnerable groups (e.g. homeless people, people with low income), FFP2 masks are being distributed for free via charitable organisations.

“• A distance of 2 metres (instead of 1 metre) has to be kept when meeting people from another household, except for close family members, a partner and individual close friends with whom regular (weekly) contact exists.

“• Hotels remain closed (except for business travellers) as well as restaurants (except for take-away services and in canteens e.g. in schools or care homes), zoos, botanical gardens, museums and libraries.

“• Outdoor sports facilities remain open, such as skiing resorts, ice-skating grounds, or cross-country skiing areas. An FFP2 mask is obligatory in cable cars in skiing resorts. A distance of 2 metres needs to be kept otherwise.

“With SARS-CoV-2 infection numbers still not going down, Austria’s schools remain closed (at least) until 8th February in Vienna and Lower Austria, and until 15th February in the rest of the country, due to different timing of school holidays in the country’s nine states. School holidays were anticipated in Styria and Upper Austria by one week.”

Austria’s COVID-19 National Strategy: Third Lockdown Imposed

“Yet, on 22nd December changes were passed for a renewed (third) lockdown to start on 26th December and to last at least until 18th January. Essential services may remain open. Shops, non-essential services, hotels, libraries, zoos and gastronomy remain closed and events are not allowed to take place, yet skiing resorts may open with further restrictive regulations (e.g. obligatory use of FFP2 masks) in addition to capacity limits and requirements for concepts for preventing COVID-19 infections. Ice-skating remains allowed as well. All schools move to distance learning at least until 18th January. The regulations have led to controversies regarding the opening of skiing resorts.

“From 26th December 2020 onwards, personal contacts are limited to no more than two households and people are only allowed to leave their homes for the following reasons:
“• Emergencies
“• Help to others including family members and family obligations
“• Essential needs such as: (a) contact with partner or close family members or other close friends with whom there is weekly contact, (b) use of essential services, (c) use of health care services or SARS-CoV-2 screening programmes, (d) need for accommodation, (e) religious reasons (e.g. cemetery visits, or individual visits to religious places), (f) care for animals.
“• professional or educational reasons if required
“• physical exercise or mental health
“• administrative steps that cannot be postponed
“• elections

“Some exceptions apply for professional sportsmen and sportswomen, for children and people with disabilities. For details see 2nd COVID-19 Emergency law (in German): https://www.ris.bka.gv.at/Dokumente/BgblAuth/BGBLA_2020_II_598/BGBLA_2020_II_598.html“

Austria’s COVID-19 National Strategy: Lockdown Restrictions Modified

“On December 2, the Austrian government announced an ease of some substantial restrictions after the second nationwide lockdown. As of December 7, the ease of restrictions include:

“• the curfew is limited from whole-time to 8pm to 6am

“• meetings of six adults and six children from two households are allowed in public. There will be an extension to ten adults from several households during the Christmas holidays and on New Years Eve.

“• the non-essential businesses excluding gastronomy and hotel businesses re-open their shops with the limitation of one client per 10 square meters. Re-opening of hotels and restaurants will probably start at January 7.

“• kindergartens, primary and secondary schools start again with regular face-to-face learning. Pupils from the age of 10 have to wear a mouse-nose protection during the class. High schools and universities continue with online learning.

“• museums and public libraries are allowed to re-open with the limitation of one person per 10 square meters
“- outdoor sport activities will re-open at December 24. Indoor sport facilities remain closed.

“• after entering Austria from a risk country (14 day incidence higher than 100) a 10-day quarantine is obligatory as of December 19. A negative PCR test after five days in quarantine reduces the quarantine time.”

Austria’s COVID-19 National Strategy: Lockdown Restrictions Specified

“On November 25, the regulations regarding the lockdown in place since mid-November were further specified: relatives (include siblings, parents, and own children) as well as persons with whom one is regularly in contact (at least once a week) may meet during the lockdown. The regulation was specified with the intention that only one person meets people from another household at one time. Regulations were specified regarding the closure of shops for essential services: arms may be acquired only for professional purposes (e.g. hunters). Furthermore, any services that do not allow social distancing (e.g. massages, hairdressing) are completely forbidden. This also applies for private households, while other services (e.g. repair services) may be carried out.”

Austria’s COVID-19 National Strategy: Second National Lockdown

“On November 14, the Austrian chancellor announced a second nationwide lockdown as of November 17, following a rapid increase in COVID-19 cases. The lockdown is to remain in effect until December 6 and will replace the partial shutdown and current 8 pm to 6 am curfew (see above). The measures include:

“• Outside, a 1 metre distance needs to be kept from people not living in the same household; inside (in addition to keeping distance) a mouth nose protection is required. One metre distance has to be kept also on public transport where possible. In cars, two people from different households may go together but per row a maximum of 2 people is allowed (wearing a mouth nose protection). Children up to 6 years of age are exempt from the obligation to use a mouth nose protection. Also, a 1 metre distance does not need to be kept on airplanes, when providing care, within school classes/groups, when there is a physical division, when caring for people with disabilities, and under the water.

“• People may only leave their homes for essential purposes, such as grocery shopping, work, supporting others, or exercise. People may leave their homes for official or judicial proceedings that cannot be postponed, as well as for participation in elections provided in referendums or surveys. In case of care for children under the age of 18 years and in case of emergencies these restrictions do not apply.

“• All non-essential businesses, including bars, restaurants (except canteens), cafés and hairdressers must close. Essential businesses, such as supermarkets, pharmacies, post offices, newsagents, gas stations, and car repair shops may open between 06:00 and 19:00. Where these open, 10 m2 needs to be reserved per client.

“• Hotels are closed and may open only in exceptional cases (e.g. in emergencies or when people travel for work-related reasons).

“• It is still possible to participate in religious meetings. Funerals are limited to 50 persons.

“• In the artistic area, further rehearsals are permitted (without audiences). Professional sports may continue when a detailed plan for preventing infections is provided.

“• Care homes are closed for visitors, except for visits to people with palliative care needs, and one visitor per resident per week (or two per week if a resident has special needs). For visits an antigen test (not older than 24 hours) or a molecular biological test (not older than 48 hours) needs to be provided. If that is not possible, a FFP2 mask (Austrian context: CPA mask) or similar standard needs to be worn. New residents may also only enter a care home when such a test is provided. Entry regulations also apply for non-medical external service providers. Care homes need to provide a detailed plan for preventing infections.

“• Patient visits in hospital are not allowed, except if the sick or injured person is admitted for more than seven days, where one visitor per week is allowed (exemptions exist for expecting mothers). Visitor restrictions do not apply for patients with special needs (two people per week allowed) or for patients with palliative care. Hospitals need to provide a detailed plan for preventing infections.

“• Staff in hospital and long-term care facilities must have an antigen or molecular biological test once a week.

“Sources:
“For laws see the Federal Ministry of Health’s website: https://www.sozialministerium.at/Informationen-zum-Coronavirus/Coronavirus—Rechtliches.html (accessed on 7th April 2020).
“COVID 19 Act: https://www.ris.bka.gv.at/GeltendeFassung.wxe?Abfrage=Bundesnormen&Gesetzesnummer=20011078 (accessed on 8th April 2020).
“https://www.land-oberoesterreich.gv.at/238017.htm
“https://www.derstandard.de/story/2000118442833/shutdown-fuer-schulen-nach-anstieg-von-neuinfektionen-in-oberoesterreich“

Austria’s COVID-19 National Strategy: Second Coronavirus Lockdown: Schools

“With the second nationwide lockdown announced on November 14, primary schools moved to distance learning on November 17, joining secondary schools and colleges which began distance learning early November. Schools remain open to provide daycare for parents who are unable to work from home.

“Sources: https://orf.at/stories/3187577/“

Austria’s COVID-19 National Strategy: Second Coronavirus Lockdown: Economic Measures

“With the second partial lockdown with stricter measures in place as of November 3 that also includes closure of restaurants, hotels, bars etcs.(see Section 1.5), the federal government accounced economic measures to support affected sectors. The regulation of short-term work (Kurzarbeit) is prolonged with employees who have to reduce their working time due to COVID-19 receiving up to 90 % of their net income from November 2020, and a protection from dismissal if their employers opt for the furlough regulation.”

Austria’s COVID-19 National Strategy: Second Coronavirus Lockdown

“On October 31, the Austrian government announced the Second Coronavirus Lowdown with stricter measures that apply from November 3 and last until the end of November. The restrictions include:

“• A curfew applies from 8 pm to 6 am. Non-co-residing partners and family members may be visited during this time period. Professional reasons are also a valid reason to leave the house.

“• Cafes, bars and restaurants will be takeaway only.

“• Events will be cancelled (incl. entertainment and cultural events, sports events with the exception of high-profile events, weddings, movie theatres, touristic travel events, exhibitions, congresses, fairs and markets). Exempted are funerals with max. 50 persons, necessary professional events, demonstrations, meetings of political organs and of statutory judicial organs (if not possible to be held digitally), cultural events or rehearsals without audience.

“• Meetings of six adults and six children are allowed in public. Though gatherings in private homes cannot be regulated by law, the government is urging citizens to follow these guidelines at home too.

“• Hotels will have to close with the exception of work travel.

“• Shops will remain open (1 person per 10 square metres).

“• Kindergartens and primary schools will remain open, but high schools and universities will switch to online learning.

“• Gyms will shut along with museums.

“• All offices that can move to home working are urged to do so.

“• Visitors’ access to care homes is restricted again. Visitors and staff may enter care home only with a negative PCR (not older than 48 hours) or antigen test (not older than 24 hours).

“• Staff in hospitals may enter only if a negative test is carried out every week (antigen test or molecular biological test).

“See law under: https://www.ris.bka.gv.at/eli/bgbl/II/2020/463/20201101

“The regulation of short-term work (Kurzarbeit) is prolonged with employees who have to reduce their working time due to COVID-19 receiving up to 90 % of their net income from November 2020 , and a protection from dismissal if their employers opt for the furlough regulation.
See also https://orf.at/stories/3187577/“

Austria’s COVID-19 National Strategy: Transition Measures: Legal Changes

“With 21st September, the Epidemics Act and the COVID-19 Act were modified. For harmonisation, changes were made also to the tuberculosis law.

“Changes to the Epidemics Act: Hotels and transport companies are required as of now to provide personal data for contact tracing if requested to do so by the Ministry of Health (also across borders). Screenings are made possible in schools, even though participation in screening is voluntary. Events may be regulated more strictly.

“Changes to the COVID-19 Act: Access to workplaces and public places as well as use of transport vehicles may be regulated to avoid spread of COVID-19. Regulations concern distance regulations, the use of face masks, other protective measures and obligatory prevention concepts.

“Changes in the possibility to leave the house may be regulated, especially to avoid scarcity of health care resources if general measures are not sufficient. Even if stricter regulations are made, leaving the house for one of the following reasons will be allowed under all cirumstances: emergencies, family obligations/help, necessities of daily life, work-related reasons, staying outside for physical and mental respite.

“More details can be found under: https://www.sozialministerium.at/Informationen-zum-Coronavirus/Coronavirus—Rechtliches.html“

Austria’s COVID-19 National Strategy: Transition Measures: Long-Term Care Homes

“With a reduced increase in COVID 19 infection rates, the stringent protection and hygiene measures for long-term care homes have been slightly released from May 4 onwards. Single visitors can make appointments, a mouth-nose protection is obligatory. The care home user and the visitor preferably should meet in a special visiting area outside the care home itself. Care homes are entitled to set their own regulations for visitors. Generally, children up to the age of 6 years are not allowed to visit. Specific regulation may apply for people receiving end-of-life or palliative care. In addition, and accompanying these measures, systematic testing is being carried out in long-term care and old-age homes, and strict monitoring of COVID 19 cases.

“From 9 June onwards all visitors (including children) are allowed to enter care homes for older people, while maintaining distance and hygiene regulations. Also, residents may be visited in their own rooms again. New numbers dating from 8 June 2020 indicate that in total 222 persons died in care homes during the COVID-19 crisis in Austria, which amounts to about one third of all deaths due to COVID-19 (in total 645 deaths until 8 June). In total 833 people in 65 different care homes had been infected (out of more than 900 care homes in total) since the outbreak of the pandemic.”

Austria’s COVID-19 National Strategy: Planning Ahead For Pandemic Response

“In Austria, there is a 2006 Influenza pandemic response plan, which will now be (again) updated in the face of the challenges of the pandemic involving the federal and the state governments as well as other stakeholders. The Influenza pandemic response plan was initially developed as a framework for crisis response possibly applicable to other viruses such as the SARS-COV-2 virus. A routine, regular exchange between all relevant bodies on questions of communicable diseases and procedures in the event of outbreaks is the basis for updates of the pandemic response plan. Yet, the plan was last updated in 2009 (3rd edition). In addition, state governments are not obliged to publish their updated response plans. For example, Vienna’s Influenza pandemic response plan (dating back to 2006) is published, and said to be updated whenever new challenging communicable diseases appear (e.g. SARS-COV 2012).

“The 2006 Austrian Influenza pandemic response plan includes determination on structures to be activated during the crisis at federal and regional level (crisis management teams). These have been activated for the COVID-19 crisis with a 24/7 emergency service. Crisis management teams communicate by phone, mail and video conferences (between federal and regional level) and meet physically at each level. The crisis management teams regularly inform the government as laid down in the pandemic response plan. The crisis management team at federal level (also called “Taskforce Corona”) is located at the Ministry of Health and is led by the Federal Minister for Health. The Minister is supported by an officer of the Red Cross, the cabinet, and a group of other experts in the field.

“The lead on the national response to COVID-19 lies at the federal level and is driven by the federal crisis management team and the federal government (mainly the federal chancellor and the Minister of Interior Affairs).

“The State Crisis and Disaster Management (SKKM) is located at the Ministry of Interior Affairs. It coordinates tasks regarding the government’s response to the crisis. Its most important task is the maintenance of infrastructure and public safety.

“According to the pandemic response plan public information provided by the crisis management teams as well as the federal government has to be transparent and based on facts. Further, groups of institutions, organisations and persons are defined as key forces or critical professions, which continue to work during the COVID-19 crisis (e.g. police, fire brigade, garbage disposal, patient transport etc.).

“The Influenza pandemic response plan also refers to the Austrian Epidemic Act, which defines quarantine measures and further measures to contain outspread of diseases. The Epidemic Act also provides the possibility of legal actions in response to an epidemic crisis, including: quarantine of infected persons; implementation of protective measures for health personnel or other vulnerable persons (vaccinations, chemoprophylaxis); measures against social gatherings; traffic restrictions; use of special “epidemic doctors” and the closure of schools and kindergartens or other community facilities. The pandemic response plan also foresees regulations on masks, surveillance, medicines, vaccinations, and preparedness of hospitals but rather focused on influenza. Furthermore, public security bodies may be used to support and enforce functioning of these measures.

“The state governments are in charge of executing decisions taken at federal level, i.e. implementing measures, yet have the freedom to apply stricter measures, such as quarantine for smaller regions. For instance, some villages in Tyrol or Salzburg were put under quarantine. State governments also have some leeway in whether or not to close parks and playgrounds or reinforce bans on public gatherings or leaving the house.

Austria’s COVID-19 National Strategy Transition Measures: Gatherings and Social Distancing

“As of June 15, mouth nose protection will be obligatory only in public transport, and in health-related institutions (e.g. pharmacies), and service institutions where keeping 1 metre of distance is not possible (e.g. hairdressing services). Employees in restaurants continue to be obliged to wear mouth-nose-protection. While since beginning of May restaurants and bars were allowed to be open until 11 pm, opening hours are extended until 1 am as of mid-June. In addition, more than four people will be allowed to sit together at a table in a restaurant or bar. Further ease of restrictions regarding schools are expected.

“As of July 1, indoor events are allowed with up to 250 people, and outdoor events with up to 500 people. A COVID-19 prevention plan has to be prepared, and a person in charge of the prevention plan needs to be nominated.

“As of August 1, the maximum number of people attending events will be increased to 500 people for indoor events, and 750 people outdoor. Also, from that date onwards events with more people (1000 indoor, 1250 outdoor) are allowed if the local administration agrees, taking the epidemiological situation at local level and local health capacity into consideration. In the latter case, a prevention plan needs to be presented at least four weeks prior to the event.”

Austria’s COVID-19 National Strategy Transition Measures: Social Distancing

“As of May 30, the limit with one person per 10 square meter in shops, services (customer area) and museums is abolished. Further, on open-air markets the use of a mouth-nose protection is no longer required.”

Austria’s COVID-19 National Strategy Transition Measures: Easing Restrictions

“On April 21, the government announced to ease a number of physical distancing measures. This includes the following regulations:

“• from May 1 onwards all services (e.g. hairdressers, massage services) and shops will be allowed to re-open (e.g. including shops larger than 400 square metres, which remain closed until that date)
“• cafés, restaurants and bars will be allowed to re-open as of May 1, with opening times restricted until 11 p.m.
“• religious services may be held from May 15 onwards
“• schools will open stepwise from May 15 onwards
“• as of May 1, it is allowed to meet extended family members (or friends).

“On April 28, the government announced to further ease COVID-19 restrictions in May in light of the low number of new infections and low reproduction number. The lockdown will be progressively lifted as of May 1, almost seven weeks after the restrictions were put in place (March 16). People who do not live in the same household must are allowed to meet but must keep 1 meter distance in public areas. Meetings of more than ten people are also prohibited in public. Up to 30 people may participate at funerals. Restaurants may open again on May 15 with a distance of 1 meter between tables. Only four adults and their kids may share one table. Tables must be reserved in advance and there is no free choice of seat. In addition, waiters have to wear masks. It was also announced on 28 April that hotels and leisure facilities may open again on 29 May.”

Border Controls

“On March 17, all citizens abroad were asked to return to Austria. As of this date, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has organised different return flights for Austrians. Incoming nationals were urged to stay in home-quarantine for 14 days. Airports closed for domestic flights and most international flights were cancelled. Freight flights still operate.

“Following the COVID-19-Act, strict controls take place at all borders. Asylum applications are not accepted any more except with enclosed medical certificates. Only Austrian citizens are allowed to enter the country (where they are obliged to home-quarantine for 14 days). Exceptions apply only for passing through the country without any stops, working traffic and freight traffic as well as for emergency vehicles.”

Physical Distancing, Business and Facility Closing

“Physical distancing measures were first communicated at the end of February. According to the new federal guidelines people should not see a doctor but contact the hotline 1450 if they suspect that they have a COVID-19 infection. Testing of suspected COVID-19 cases should be conducted during home visits. Social distancing and hygiene measures were initially only recommended but became quickly mandatory. On 10th of March outdoor events were limited to a maximum of 500 people and indoor events to 100 people. On the same day, universities closed and started to operate via online teaching. Further, the government issued recommendations to reduce contact with hospital patients as well as to keep a distance of at least 2 metres between people. Working from home was recommended whenever possible.”

“On March 16, a comprehensive package of measures was announced by the federal government. The package included complete closure of universities, research institutions, primary and secondary schools as well as kindergartens yet with care continuously being offered for children with parents in critical or key professions. All non-essential shops, as well as restaurants, bars and cafes, were closed.

“On March 16, the federal government also announced a curfew for the whole populations starting on midnight March 16. Together with the amendments taken in the following weeks, leaving the house is only permitted for the following purposes: 1) aiding people in urgent need; 2) providing care and support to people in need; 3) necessary daily needs incl. grocery shopping (if a distance of at least one meter can be kept) and funerals if only a small number of people attend; 4) work engagements and activities that cannot be delayed or carried out from home and if a distance of one metre can be kept (unless special protective equipment is available); 5) going outside alone or with persons living in the same household (keeping a distance of at least 1 meter).”

Testing:

“Testing capacity has been extended from a few hundred tests per day at the end of February to up to 6,000 tests per day at the end of March. Up to April 8, in total about 115,000 tests had been conducted. To increase testing capacity tests are evaluated in different laboratories. By March 30, more than 40 laboratories provided analyses of COVID-19 tests. The target is to increase testing capacity up to 15,000 tests per day.

“Random sample tests will be conducted to obtain a more accurate picture of the spread of COVID-19 among health workers as well as in the general Austrian population. In early April, 2,000 randomly selected people have been tested, results will be published in mid-April.

“On April 16, the Minister of Health announced plans to test all personnel and inhabitants in the nation’s retirement and nursing homes, as part of an increase and targeting in their testing strategy. He cited both medical studies and international experience showing that nursing homes are at greater risk as justification for this policy, which would test around 130,000 people in 918 retirement and care facilities. As of April 11, Austria had already run 140,000 tests within the general population.

World Health Systems Facts is a project of the Real Reporting Foundation. We provide reliable statistics and other data from authoritative sources regarding health systems in the US and sixteen other nations.

Page last updated July 17, 2023 by Doug McVay, Editor.

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