Due to problems with the Covid test evaluation in parts of Austria, WKÖ, retailers and restaurateurs are calling for an extension of the deadline. However, the Ministry of Health sees sufficient test capacities.

“Test capacities sufficient”

“The test capacities for Monday and beyond are sufficient,” emphasized the Ministry of Health on Saturday. It was also pointed out that. For most of those affected, a simple antigen test will still be sufficient:. “

3-G proof must be carried

Employees and company owners must be vaccinated or recovered or have a current negative Covid test when they enter the workplace. The 3-G certificate must be carried with you and the employer must check compliance with the 3-G rule. The authorities also carry out controls. The only exceptions are people who do not have contact with others for more than 15 minutes twice a day and even only if this takes place outdoors. That means, apart from foresters and truck drivers, there won’t be many occupational groups who will spare themselves 3-G.

Here the 2.5 G rule is gold-plated

A 2.5 G rule (vaccinated, recovered or PCR-tested) has already been in force for employees in the following areas since November 8: Night restaurants, discos, après-ski, old people’s, care and residential facilities for the disabled, in hospitals , in mobile care and support and at events with over 250 participants.

APA / HELMUT FOHRINGER

Austria-wide lockdown for unvaccinated people

The lockdown for unvaccinated people is to come into force throughout Austria on Monday night. This emerges from the present draft of the APA for the 5th Covid Protective Measures Ordinance. So that …

Lockdown for unvaccinated people in Austria

Due to the sharp rise in the number of new corona infections in the plant, the turquoise-green government is taking new measures. On Sunday, the government will discuss an Austria-wide lockdown for unvaccinated people with the provincial governors. It is currently unclear whether there WILL be changes to 3-G in the workplace. Health Minister Wolfgang Mückstein (Greens) has promised a tightening of the rule to 2.5-G in the workplace several times in the past. After consultations with the federal states, Mückstein announced on Friday that health workers would be required to be vaccinated.

Low-threshold test offer required

The Chamber of Commerce demands “a broad rollout of the low-threshold test offer throughout Austria” from the government and the federal states. Unfortunately, it cannot currently be ruled out that individual employees would not receive their test results on time. “Therefore, an extension of the transition period would make sense in the interests of the companies,” said the Chamber of Commerce on APA request. “At the moment, however, we are not assuming any drastic restrictions; the security of supply is guaranteed in any case.”

The Ministry of Health defends the approach to 3-G in the workplace. Before the relevant ordinance was issued, it was ensured that sufficient corona tests were in stock in Austria and that there were enough opportunities to reorder. “The implementation of the tests is still planned to be the responsibility of the federal states,” said the Ministry of Health for the APA.

3-G: About a million tests a day

According to estimates by the Ministry of Health, around 1.4 million workers regularly need a corona test due to the 3-G rule at work. Assuming that the tests are divided equally between PCR tests and antigen tests, around one million tests are required per day for 3-G in the workplace, according to the ministry.

“Huge problem” in the catering industry

Due to the lack of a test infrastructure in the federal states, WKÖ gastro chairman Mario Pulker sees a “huge problem” facing the gastro industry. “The regulation cannot keep up with reality,” criticized the chairman in the APA interview. “If the chef does not come to the test because everything is overloaded, you can close your shop,” says Pulker. None of this is an issue in Vienna, but “sheer madness” in the federal states.

If corona tests cannot be evaluated quickly, this is “a major problem” with regard to 3G for companies and employees, said WKÖ trade chairman Rainer Trefelik in the middle of this week. The government and the federal states should now “think about something quickly”. Trade association managing director Rainer also calls for an extension of the transition period. “We will not be able to open all branches, if here simply this system will not be extended in the transition period,” Will said recently. WKÖ commercial chairman Trefelik can “not estimate” how many companies may not be able to open on the next Monday due to Covid tests not being evaluated in a timely manner. In local areas, however, this can happen “in individual cases” in small companies with few employees.

Rewe wants to open all markets

Rewe (Billa, Bipa, Penny) is “very proactive” to open all markets on Monday. According to the APA, they are “well prepared” and offer a low-threshold PCR test offer in Vienna with the “Alles Gurgelt” project. According to their own statements, Rewe and Lead Horizon could roll out their PCR gurgle test system to other federal states or all of Austria.

Savings plant also opening up all markets

Spar will also open all branches on Monday. “It may be that some do not receive the result in time. Then you have to find individual regulations,” said the supermarket chain. An extension of the transition period would be “certainly a good idea in view of the test problems in some federal states”.

Hofer fears staff shortages

The discounter Hofer sees the danger that the 3-G rule can lead to personnel bottlenecks, for example in sales and logistics as well as in the warehouse area. “We will of course do everything in our power to do that.

(Source: APA)