536 positive coronavirus ‘Nasenbohren’ tests at schools

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Across Austria, a total of 536 positive coronavirus test results were reported at schools on Monday and Wednesday, according to the Education Ministry – out of 1.3 million “nasenbohren” self-tests. Affected are 364 students and 172 teachers. The highest number of positive results was in Vienna, with 250, and Lower Austria, with 103.

This week, after the end of the semester break, the tests were on the children’s timetable for the first time throughout Austria in seven provinces. Those who wanted to take part in the face-to-face classes had to test themselves at the beginning of the school day.

Higher number of positive coronavirus tests at schools in Vienna and Lower Austria
In the previous week, around 200 positive results were recorded in Vienna and Lower Austria, where the semester break had already ended a week earlier. This week, there were around 350 in these two states (Vienna: 250, Lower Austria: 103). “We do not attribute this to an increasing frequency of infection, but to an increased testing routine,” Education Minister Heinz Faßmann (ÖVP) said in a statement sent to APA. “Elementary school children in particular understand better from week to week how to take samples and thus ensure valid results.”

There were 43 positive tests each in Upper Austria and Styria, 40 in Carinthia, 19 in Salzburg, 15 in Vorarlberg, 13 in Tyrol and ten in Burgenland. All those affected are now taking another PCR test – in the previous week, the positive results were confirmed in three quarters of cases.

Acceptance of the tests very high according to Faßmann
The first Austria-wide round of tests “went off without a hitch, and the acceptance of the tests is fortunately very high,” Faßmann said. Only about one percent of students or their parents refuse to take the test. These students have to work through the subject matter at home, but are supported by educators as needed.

“We use the self-tests to find the highly infectious students and thus prevent further infections. An essential prerequisite for open schools has thus been created,” Faßmann said. At the same time, however, a negative test is only a “snapshot” – hence the further measures such as masks, distance rules and shift operation. The Austrian model is also setting a precedent: in the meantime, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, France and some German states have inquired about it.