Chaos programmed

New corona test strategy becomes an April Fool’s joke

The regulation on the Austrian testing strategy, which comes into force on Friday, is an April Fool's joke - anyone who wants it will get the proof for free.

"I suddenly have a scratchy throat" or "I finally want to see grandma again". In some federal states, you have to lie to those responsible about possible symptoms, while in others, all it takes is a false tick online to get the right result - the next free test!

In the words of Vienna's mayor Michael Ludwig (SPÖ), this had recently sounded like this: "If you are actually allowed to continue taking free tests in such cases, I am sure that many people will have symptoms during the transition period." From now on, the sudden complaints and visits are likely to start, as the new testing strategy with only five free PCR and five antigen tests per month applies - but this seems like a bad April Fool's joke.

Because there are so many exceptions and loopholes for the hoped-for reduction and financial savings that everyone who wants one will probably continue to receive a free test. These are possible for residents, visitors and employees of nursing and retirement homes or hospitals, for example, and there is also no limit on symptoms or free testing. Anyone who has stockpiled tests at home can carry out a total of ten PCR tests in April.

Because the federal government is shifting responsibility, each federal state is pursuing its own strategy. In Vienna, for example, if you want to take a sixth test at "Alles gurgelt!", click on one of the exceptional reasons after logging in and you will receive a personalized barcode. With this you receive a free test in the Bipa store. Test lanes, gargle boxes and cold check boxes will also remain open, especially for older people for whom the online offer presents too many hurdles. Pharmacies should also remain involved, even though they can no longer bill the federal government.

How are states to examine the reasons? 
A spokesperson for the Ministry of Health told "Krone": "The federal states must ensure what the test is used for. If there is no plausible reason, it may well happen that the citizen has to pay for it." Because the federal states spend the money beforehand, there are - unsurprisingly - no uniform guidelines here either.