GECKO’s Pandemic Committee will be “orderly dissolved” on March 31 and will phase out its activities. Chancellor Karl Nehammer (ÖVP) will comply with a majority proposal from the Commission on Monday, the Chancellor’s cabinet reported in the evening. There have been rumors of pundits resigning before – also due to statements made by Nehammer.
The government’s advisory body, which is based in the Federal Chancellery, has itself recommended a somewhat premature termination of its work – its mandate runs until the end of June. In a meeting on Monday, the transfer of national crisis coordination to the regular operation of the departments was discussed. GECKO Chairman Rudolf Striedinger informed the Chancellor of the majority decision. He expressly thanked “the volunteer work of the experts who have guided, supported and advised the federal government with their expertise during this difficult time”.
‘No official request to leave’
The previously rumored dismissal of three GECKO members was not discussed at the meeting. The “Kurier” had reported that virologist Andreas Bergthaler, simulation researcher Niki Popper and Major General Thomas Starlinger were about to leave in protest of Chancellor Nehammer’s anti-scientific statements and planned corona repayments in Lower Austria. “There is no official request for departure,” the GECKO commission said.
After Easter, the dialogue process on corona management announced by Nehammer should start. The Academy of Sciences is currently – in particular – working with the responsible authorities on the details of the process “in which society is given the opportunity to cope with this particular burden of the pandemic,” said the Chancellor.
Source: Krone
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