An analysis of the implementation of the corona test strategy does not provide the federal government with particularly good figures. The costs for the many tests for a possible infection already amount to 4.8 billion euros – and they will continue to rise until the final end of the measures in this country. Compared to countries with far fewer tests, Austria has not come through the pandemic any better.
Testing alone is probably not enough, you could summarize the country comparison. 211 million Covid tests have now been carried out in Austria, which corresponds to 23 tests per person, as the ORF “Zib2” examined on Wednesday. There were only a similar number in Denmark (22.1) – in Switzerland (2.7), in Sweden (1.9) and in Germany (1.5) the number of tests was much lower.
However, Austria is lagging behind Germany, Switzerland and Sweden in the statistics of corona deaths. However, the costs do have an important effect, namely on the federal budget, from which they are covered. Of the now estimated 4.8 billion, almost 4.3 billion went to the Ministry of Health for officially ordered tests, 411 million cost the tests in schools, 171 million those in the hospitality industry.
Expensive pharmacies, cheap federal capital
Much of the expenditure went to pharmacies and doctors. They received 1.1 billion euros. Their fee was significantly more expensive at 25 euros each than with other test splints; in Vienna, a gargle test costs between just over four and about seven euros per test. The so-called living room tests from the pharmacies alone cost around 10 euros per test package.
Simulation researcher Niki Popper sees a reason for the moderate effect on the pandemic as the responses were often too slow. Politicians would often have observed for too long and then have to maintain the necessary measures (such as lockdowns and school closures) for longer than with a more decisive approach, adds health economist Thomas Czypionka, also in the “ZiB2”.
Too hesitant to respond
In principle, a positive effect in the course of infection would have been established, Popper continued. However, asymptomatic testing is not necessary to get a picture of the pandemic. Rather, they make sense at the height of the pandemic to reduce numbers in a targeted manner: “It has to work together: how do I test, how quickly can I isolate and what do I save myself with, for example, school closures,” says Popper.
By far the cheapest method to get an overview of possible sources of contamination is the now well established waste water tests. These cause relatively low costs of one to two million euros per year.
Source: Krone
I am Ida Scott, a journalist and content author with a passion for uncovering the truth. I have been writing professionally for Today Times Live since 2020 and specialize in political news. My career began when I was just 17; I had already developed a knack for research and an eye for detail which made me stand out from my peers.
