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ÖVP, Greens and SPÖ re-establish an agreement
Vienna (PK) – The main committee of the National Council approved today an extension of the COVID-19 exit regulation for ten more days and therefore until November 22. The agreement on the amendment to the COVID-19 Protection Measures Ordinance, which came into force in early November, was presented by Health Minister Rudolf Anschober, with the votes of the ÖVP, Greens and SPÖ. This became necessary because, according to the COVID-19 Measures Act, exit restrictions, such as leaving private homes, can only be in effect for ten days, after which a new agreement must be established with the committee. principal.
Anschober: The basic infection in Austria is very high
Given that the rapid increase in the number of new SARS-CoV-2 infections in Austria has not yet been slowed by measures taken in early November, an extension is necessary, Health Minister Rudolf Anschober said. Today, the whole of Europe is experiencing a second wave, with an increasing number of infections and hospitalizations and an increasing mortality rate, with dynamics and violence that go well beyond the first wave of the spring of this year. “We are also in this situation in Austria,” Anschober said. In the last nine days since the introduction of the new entry and exit regulations, no improvement has been achieved.
Among other things, what made him pause, the health minister said, was, among other things, the fact that 48% of so-called sentinel samples are now corona-positive. It also takes on a very high number of unreported cases. “The basic infection in Austria is very high,” said the Minister of Health, the first finding after the introduction of the second blockade was very bad. Initial partial success would mean that the number of new infections would not increase dramatically. But that is not enough for hospitals. Austria must achieve real change, the minister said.
However, international experience and that of Austria in spring show that a package of measures only shows its first effects after about 10 days. Forecasts in Austria are currently very difficult, among other things because there have been difficulties with the epidemiological reporting system, Anschober admitted, but no significant improvements are in sight in the coming days. Now it is a question of stabilizing the situation.
SPÖ calls for a healthy and intact contact tracing
Although the SPÖ voted in favor of an extension of the initial regulation, the Social Democrats continue to demand that better and valid data be put on the table in the future, including the effectiveness of the measures taken. Otherwise, it would be difficult for his parliamentary group to “fly blind” to agree, said SPÖ club president Pamela Rendi-Wagner. According to the SPÖ leader, these “massive invasions of fundamental rights and freedoms” need an objective justification. The reasons for the events now presented by the Minister of Health showed good will, but some details and data would be lacking to be able to speak of a solid justification.
Since only 7.5% of all infection cases can currently be cleared up in the course of contact tracing, Rendi-Wagner also calls for “healthy and intact contact tracing” to assess the effectiveness of measures and obtain good scientific evidence. . to be able to come. In the context of potential collateral damage, consider a major issue not to proceed selectively.
NEOS loses the proportionality of the measures
“We consider that the violation of fundamental rights is too extensive. You went too far for us ten days ago and it still is,” said NEOS MP Gerald Loacker. He sees a particular problem in nursing homes and nursing homes, where there would still be a large number of infections. This affects a weakened population group. It is foreseeable that this will have to be treated in hospitals. “People in nursing homes and old people’s homes will not go out at night,” he says, so you have to wonder if the measures are proportionate and if they protect the right people. Before speaking publicly about other restrictions like school closings, the federal government needs better coordination with the various actors to determine whether the measures taken so far are having real success.
Like the SPÖ, the NEOS also came out in favor of independent experts who are not required by policy to evaluate the measures.
FPÖ warns of collateral damage
On the part of the Freedom Party, Dagmar Belakowitsch warned in particular about collateral damage to society. He cited long-term psychological consequences, for example when children are not allowed to visit their parents in hospital. Nighttime curfews would be of no use if there were still groups in nursing homes and for the elderly, argued Belakowitsch. Locking them up and leaving the elderly alone is not the right way. Freedom, on the other hand, would make staff in nursing homes and old people’s homes, as well as particularly sensitive health areas, examined every day. “Rapid tests would be better than locking people up again,” said the deputy.
Belakowitsch also sees a problem in the fact that healthcare workers can go to work with a “mild infection” but, on the other hand, bars are closed. It is known where the clusters occur and who the risk groups are, but the government is constantly moving towards uncertainty. It is not unusual for there to be an increasing number of patients in hospitals and intensive care units in late fall, and influenza and other viruses have also caused capacity bottlenecks in recent years. In any case, the initial regulations are major invasions of privacy, the measures are unrelated.
Anschober: There are no “slightly positive” people working in the health system
“Pushing reality away doesn’t do us any good,” Anschober responded, saying that he no longer understands people who don’t see that Austria is in the biggest health crisis in decades. The news and the stories from the hospitals are worrying, all the measures can be discussed, according to Anschober, “but we are not in a situation where we can trivialize anything.”
The minister made it clear to deputy Belakovich that there are no “slightly positive” people working in the health system. What is a distinction between infectious and non-infectious people, and in a crisis situation should that distinction be made? “It is essential that a person is not contagious,” says Anschober.
At MP Loacker’s address, Anschober said the federal government had deliberately failed to anchor a national ban on visiting nursing homes and nursing homes. At the same time, it was necessary to limit visits. It is essential that protective measures are respected, such as the use of MNS masks, and that tests are carried out. That’s why 100,000 antigen tests were done last week
Nursing homes and retirement homes have been delivered.
Anschober agreed with SPÖ club boss Rendi-Wagner that contact tracing is a central key to fighting the crown. Several federal states have performed very well in terms of personnel, some have been rather slow to prepare. According to the Minister of Health, 3,500 people are now busy tracing contacts around the clock, and a readjustment of the armed forces is necessary. Integration of the long-term unemployed can also be implemented in the short term.
As for the capacities in the intensive care units, according to the Health Minister, there is a time horizon of around 7 to 20 days, depending on the federal state. Talks about mutual aid are already underway within and between federal states, should a federal state reach its capacity limit.
Greens: the facts are clear
MP Ralph Schallmeiner (Greens) expressed hope that the measures will come into effect soon. The facts are clear after discussions with experts. The situation is also dramatic with a view to Upper Austria: the state has reached phase 4 in the five-stage emergency plan. Hospitals are desperately trying to build capacity, but will soon rise to the top. “So we are in a situation that we all don’t want to be in,” Schallmeiner said.
ÖVP: There is no alternative to expanding the measures
There is no alternative to extending the measures, ÖVP club president August Wöginger said, especially as the situation is deteriorating dramatically. If Austria fails to reduce the numbers or stalls, it will reach its capacity limits in the coming days. Preparations are under way to increase the number of intensive care beds. Talk to hospitals of all levels to make more beds available. You do not understand how to say that the measures are not necessary.
Medical insurance for minimum income beneficiaries: the main committee approves the extension of the term until the end of 2021
Recipients of social assistance benefits or minimum income for needs according to the social assistance and minimum income laws of the federal states were included in health insurance according to the ASVG, so this inclusion will expire at the end of 2020. Parliamentarians They now unanimously approved an ordinance of the Minister of Health to extend the deadline until the end of 2021.
After a fire in the Moria refugee camp: the army sends an expert doctor to Lesbos
Following the fire in the Moria refugee camp and the accommodation of 13,000 refugees in emergency shelters, the Austrian Armed Forces sent a medical expert to Lesbos from October 26 to November 27, 2020 to support COVID-19 diagnoses. . The basis for this is the Federal Constitutional Law on Cooperation and Solidarity in the Displacement of Units and Persons Abroad, which also provides for urgent displacement. A corresponding report by Defense Minister Klaudia Tanner took note of MPs without FPÖ votes.
Defense Minister Klaudia Tanner said that the Austrian Armed Forces have once again demonstrated that they can make important contributions to international disaster management and support their European partners. In this context, the SPÖ MP Jörg Leichtfried asked about the Austrian aid that would still be in the warehouses and suggested that the sent medical experts verify it.
Armed Forces Support Slovakia With Massive COVID-19 Testing
Without the FPÖ votes, the Main Committee also took note of a report by Defense Minister Klaudia Tanner on the urgent dispatch of around 30 Federal Armed Forces soldiers to Slovakia to support the massive COVID-19 tests of 30 October to November 1, 2020 and November 6 to 8, 2020. The basis for this is the Federal Constitutional Law on Cooperation and Solidarity in the Movement of Persons and Units Abroad. (Final main committee) barrel
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