Exit controls for second community – salzburg.ORF.at
The measure for the municipality of Annaberg-Lungötz applies from Wednesday (October 20th) – initially until November 3rd. An exit is only possible for vaccinated, convalescent and PCR-tested persons. The same restrictions have applied to St. Koloman since Monday.
Infection events in Tennengau are dynamic
“The infection process in Tennengau is still extremely dynamic, we have been monitoring the situation very closely for days and with concern, because the high incidences have an impact on the entire state,” said health officer LHStv. Christian Stöckl (ÖVP) in a broadcast on Monday. Due to the high numbers and infections as well as the vaccination rate, which is below the national average, the decision was made in consultation with the health authorities for the measure.
The seven-day incidence in Annaberg-Lungötz is 2,512 according to state statistics (as of today, 8:30 a.m.). 67 people are currently actively infected; there were 56 new infections in the past seven days alone. In Tennengau, seven of the nine communities in the district recently had a seven-day incidence of more than 400.
St. Koloman under CoV quarantine until the end of October
St. Koloman has been under coronavirus quarantine from Monday midnight to October 31. When leaving, the “2.5 G rule” applies to everyone who leaves the municipality. Because currently not only the infection rate in the village is high, the vaccination rate is also low nationwide for community citizens: only 40.5 percent of the citizens of St. Koloman are fully immunized as of Sunday, according to the data from the Ministry of Health. On average, the vaccination coverage in the state of Salzburg is 58.05 percent.
Confusion about antibody tests
The 2.5 G rule caused confusion in St. Koloman on Monday. Genes only include people with a comprehensive certificate of recovery. Antibody tests by the family doctor, however, are not recognized. An antibody test that a man can do at the family doctor after a CoV infection has survived usually counts for three months like a rapid antigen test. However, according to the regulations of the state, PCR tests for unvaccinated people are compulsory for St. Koloman, antigen tests do not apply – and therefore no antibody tests either.
According to the authority, those who have recovered only include people with a recovery certificate. You only get this certificate if the infection was known at all and this has also been reported to the authorities. It is gold-plated for 180 days.
In other areas – such as in the inn – the antibody test, however, already counts. This regulation caused confusion on Monday at the controls in St. Koloman. Because anyone who could only show one antibody test was sent to the test station in the community to do a PCR test. Then you have to wait up to 24 hours for the result that allows you to leave the place.
Special vaccination campaign on Thursday
In order to increase the vaccination rate in St. Koloman, there is a special vaccination campaign in the community this week – on Thursday between 4:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m. in the community office. For all those who do not want to be vaccinated, a PCR test street was also set up in the municipal office on Sunday, which is open every weekday. As of Sunday afternoon, there are 30 active coronavirus cases in St. Koloman. State health officer Christian Stöckl (ÖVP) hopes that the exit controls will push the coronavirus numbers.
FFP2 mask again for customers in all shops
In order to keep the infection rate in check nationwide, an expanded FFP2 mask requirement has also been in effect in retail and at body-friendly service providers since Monday. All customers wear a mask when and again – regardless of whether they have been vaccinated, tested or recovered. This regulation applies until the coronavirus numbers drop significantly again, according to state politics.
Currently, the opposite is more the case: On Sunday, the reported 7-day incidence for the state of Salzburg was over 220 infections per 100,000 inhabitants, which is the second highest value in Austria.