Massive testing in Vienna: start with a big crowd

Massive coronavirus testing started in Vienna on Friday, and the Viennese are obviously actively involved. At the three locations Stadthalle, Messe and Marx-Halle there were sometimes considerable queues in front of the entrances. But obviously no one had to wait long for entry. The town hall emerged as an access point.

There was already a lot of activity there in the morning. The queue sometimes came through the adjacent March Park, although there were phases with significantly fewer crowds. Therefore, the events were quite similar to the image that can be seen before the concerts in the town hall.

Inside, however, little remembered such an event. Naturally, the crowd was missing on the standing parquet. Because everywhere you had to keep your distance. Participants assigned folders in the room to the respective test areas. So you didn’t have to do without music entirely, the test course was packed with Christmas radio hits.

However, at regular intervals there were also advertisements stating, for example, that photography and video were not allowed. Because, it was emphasized, these were medical interventions to be performed here. You are not allowed to photograph other people.

The Viennese military commander Kurt Wagner was satisfied in an interview with the APA: “From our point of view, the start of the test worked well in all three locations in Vienna. We are here in the city hall, this is where there is more rush” . In the case of the Armed Forces, this fact is attributed, among other things, to the very good accessibility. In addition, the room is also positively occupied, since he usually attends events there.

“Unfortunately, the electronics failed here as well,” Wagner reported: “Which means to us that we’ve switched to analog.” Records all data on paper and then records it electronically. “The process is completely the same for the people who will be evaluated.” You walk in and you have your result in no time, Wagner confirmed.

For him personally it was clear that the rush would be great on the first day. And he emphasized: “I am not assuming that interest will decrease.” He recommended, if possible, to go to the Marx Hall and the Vienna Exhibition Center: “There is a lot of free capacity.”

Figures on positive tests were not yet available. Some participants who told the APA after the investigation were negative in any case, as they happily reported. The handling was praised at all times. “It worked surprisingly well. It went smoothly and there were no problems,” said a Viennese woman. One man also reported short wait times and good organization: “I thought it was great, everything was great.” And he emphasized: “I think it is important that you participate so that we can have a normal and beautiful life again.”

The Viennese can be tried until December 13. A total of 286 test lines will be installed for rapid tests and 20 for PCR tests. Operation is scheduled every day from 8 am to 6 pm Total capacity at the three locations is designed for up to 150,000 tests per day or for a total of more than 1 million people.

Appointments are mandatory and can be found at “www.oesterreich-testet.at”. There you must give your name, address, social security number, and a contact option. You can receive the test result by email or by SMS.

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