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Vienna will not implement the less strict segregation rules for CoV-infected persons. This means that the quarantine will only continue to end after five days if those affected take the day off. The “Alles Gurgelt” program will also remain in place from April.
“In principle, the federal government gives two options to choose from in its new recommendation. And Vienna has chosen the option that has already been implemented very successfully,” argues Ursula Karnthaler from MA 15 (Health Service) in an interview with “Wien Heute,“ explaining why free testing after five days at the earliest is still being used. If the CT value is above 30, the quarantine ends. After ten days, the quarantine ends automatically.
According to the recommendations of the Ministry of Health, the quarantine for infected persons can end automatically after five days if they are symptom-free for at least 48 hours. After that, only a traffic restriction applies – for example, one may work with an FFP2 mask but not go to a restaurant.
Few people succeed in free testing on the fifth day
With this regulation, there would be a concern that infected people would go to work sick, says Karnthaler – and that they could infect other people in their environment. “Of course, there is the requirement that I wear an FFP2 mask, with this traffic restriction,” says Karnthaler, but the mask would probably be removed from time to time, for example, when eating or in the social room. “I can’t ask anyone to work eight hours and never take a break.”
According to the crisis team of the City of Vienna, the data also speak in favor of the variant of free testing versus shortened quarantine: The evaluation of the free tests in Vienna shows that only just under half of all positive cases are burdened with such minor symptoms that they even attempt. And even this succeeds comparatively rarely: Overall, only ten percent of the sick people can test themselves on the fifth day and another 20 percent by the ninth day – for example, by proving a CT value of more than 30 or a negative result.
If there is an automatic release from isolation, it can be assumed that many people would still be contagious, it is warned. The crisis team also found that the required symptom-free period of 48 hours was difficult to verify. This also applies to compliance with the ban on specific areas of life, such as restaurants.
In Vienna, free testing will be possible through the “Alles Gurgelt” program, i.e., from 1 April. The tests for free testing would not count towards the federal government’s test ceiling of five PCR tests. These would count as official tests and not as screening, Karnthaler explained to “Wien Heute.“
The test offer of “Alles Gurgelt” will continue after 1 April, Karnthaler emphasizes, as will the test lanes and the gargle boxes. In addition, there will be more tests available in the future for groups of people who are being monitored more closely, such as staff in health and care facilities. There will also be official tests away from the test ceiling for contact persons or symptomatic people. However, Karnthaler also emphasizes that the precise regulation of the Ministry of Health on the trials is not yet available.
- source: orf.at/picture: pixabay.com
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