Government Members Undergoing Corona Test: Results Are Available – Coronavirus Vienna

The crown tests carried out by members of the government on the occasion of the crown case at the Federal Chancellery were negative.

Federal Chancellor Sebastian Kurz (ÖVP), Vice Chancellor Werner Kogler (Greens) and the other members of the government – two ministers did not have to carry out tests – obtained their negative results on Tuesday night. But an employee of the office of Secretary of State Magnus Brunner (ÖVP) is also infected.

All those who were in direct and close contact with this employee and Kurz’s confidant who previously tested positive are Contact 1 persons and should immediately go into quarantine, the APA informed the Foreign Ministry. Kurz has not had close contact with these two employees in recent days. That is why tomorrow he will do his job at the Chancellery. However, as expected in such a situation, you will attend appointments primarily by phone and video.

The government will closely coordinate the next steps with the health authorities.

As a precaution, the tests were done because an employee from Kurz’s closest circle tested positive for SARS-CoV2 on Monday after noticing symptoms on Sunday. Kurz and Kogler had last contact with him last Wednesday, as did the other members of the government during the Council of Ministers. Only Economy Minister Margarete Schramböck (ÖVP) and Environment Minister Leonore Gewessler (Greens) were unable to attend, they did not have to undergo a test. However, as a precautionary measure, all employees who were in the vicinity of the brief informant were also screened. The journalists who were at the government meeting at the Foreign Ministry were offered evidence.

As a precautionary measure, members of the government canceled all appointments on Monday. Kurz and Kogler immediately canceled their planned appearance at the press conference in the festival halls when they learned of the positive test result on the way to Salzburg. Finance Minister Gernot Blümel, also the main candidate of the Austrian People’s Party (ÖVP), suspended the dates of his election campaign. So he did not appear on Monday night the night of the “pulse” duel for the municipal council election.

After the recent crown cases in government offices and between members of parliament, the parliament sees no need to tighten the crown measures for the special session of the National Council on Wednesday. “Comprehensive preventive measures” are already in place, a spokesman stressed Tuesday in response to a request from the APA.

Two corona cases were recently made public from the parliament itself: ÖVP member Johannes Schmuckenschlager and NEOS mandate Karin Doppelbauer have contracted the virus. Doppelbauer is said to have been infected in the family.

In response to a request from the APA, the Speaker of the House noted that the cases were limited to individual MPs and that there is currently no other reference to parliament. Provisions were made with glass partitions between the seats and extensive regular disinfection. There is also a test offer for everyone who works in parliament, from members of parliament to journalists.

The second crown test conducted by Chancellor Sebastian Kurz (ÖVP) in two days also came back negative Tuesday night, the APA learned from the Foreign Ministry. Kurz had had another test to be sure. On Monday it became known that one of his closest confidants in the cabinet was infected with the virus. The Council of Ministers tomorrow Wednesday will be held practically for security reasons.

After a von Kurz confidant fell ill with Covid, the government meeting will take place virtually tomorrow, Wednesday, according to the APA through the Foreign Ministry. Another high-ranking employee of the Chancellor’s cabinet and two of Vice Chancellor Werner Kogler (Greens) are in officially ordered quarantine. Kurz works from the office, but at the moment he has no personal appointments. Also, he can be tested again this afternoon, his spokesman said.

The Council of Ministers will be held virtually. It is a “pure precaution,” emphasized spokesmen for Kurz and Kogler. It was not initially clear how the public will be informed after the government meeting, that is, whether there will be a press lobby with journalists as usual.

In any case, the crown case in the Chancellor’s closest environment has consequences for other cabinet employees: the interested party participated in a meeting last Friday, so another member of Kurz’s cabinet and two members of Kogler’s cabinet had to be officially isolated.