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In reality, according to the government’s plan, the massive tests planned for January 15-17 would have allowed many people to be “freed” for activities despite the closure. That is no longer necessary. After the opposition announced that it would block the relevant law in the Federal Council, the government decided not to. This means that the lock applies to everyone until January 24, it is no longer possible to take “free trials”.
How will this affect mass testing? “It’s hard to say. No one knows how many will be tested now,” says Linz’s crisis team leader, Mayor Klaus Luger (SP). Yesterday, he agreed with Governor Thomas Stelzer (VP) to postpone the mass tests in Upper Austria from January 22 to 24 (see page 2).
It has yet to be decided, but it is under consideration whether the originally planned capacity for 100,000 tests at twelve Linz locations will also be reduced. As of yesterday afternoon, 3,790 people from Linz signed up for the tests.
In the first mass test in early December, Linz had designed its capacities for 90,000 people willing to test; in fact, a good 40,000 women and men could be tested. Around the Christmas holidays (December 21-26), 23,554 tests were conducted at the Design Center and 84 Covid-19 infections were discovered. A third of those tested at that time were not at home in Linz.
On Luger’s suggestion yesterday morning that permanent test stations be established “where the test can be done at any time and free of charge,” the government and federal states have already agreed.
Linz City Councilor for Health Michael Raml (FP) is also calling for regular testing to be offered rather than mass testing on a large scale. “At the moment, tests offered by laboratories, pharmacies and doctors have to be paid for privately. These expenses will be borne by the health insurance company ”, says the Councilor for Health of the City Council.
Article of
Anneliese edlinger
Local editor Linz
