Even a few days after the decision to end the Covid quarantine in Austria, the criticism does not stop there. The vice president of the Medical Association, Harald Mayer, said this particularly loudly on Friday — not only was the ordinance difficult to implement, it bordered on “physical injury to non-sick people,” he was shocked. Mayer believes that the concept of “personal responsibility” has failed in Austria.
Mayer sees a lot of potential for conflict in the Ö1 “Morning Journal” in the hospitals in particular. As before, access for infected people is denied – with a few exceptions. But “how should that work?”, he sees mainly practical problems: “Should every hospital entrance and every health facility have a sheriff or a security guard checking people?”
Mayer: “It could escalate”
But even then he would have doubts about the feasibility “People will then explain: That’s none of their business and they need to get in there now – it could escalate, it won’t be feasible.” Doctors are simply there to help patients to get well again, and not to implement or follow corona rules: “And we don’t feel like that either,” says Mayer.
However, he is particularly critical of the fact that infected staff will also be allowed to work in hospitals in the future. This is a “mixture of irresponsibility and negligence bordering on physical harm to non-sick people.” I don’t have anything good in mind,” he makes no secret of the fact that he can’t do anything with the new arrangement.
In an emergency, politicians must take appropriate measures
The decision to seal the end of the quarantine rules was a “political one”, he continues: “I expect that politicians will bear the consequences that may arise and take responsibility for them”, he indirectly even resigns those responsible. near, the fears of the experts must become reality.
The decision now made finally opens the door to things “we already know will fall on our heads in the fall,” he fears the rising burden of infection will once again push healthcare to the limits of resilience. Medically, there is no reason for the end.
“The subject of personal responsibility has failed”
Based on his experience with the pandemic so far, he cannot understand why the government wants to focus more on personal responsibility. “The topic of personal responsibility can be described as a failure for Austria – unfortunately the Austrians don’t have that,” he said. says skeptical about the coronavirus to get a grip on it.
Elisabeth Potzmann, president of the Health and Nursing Association, sees it in a similar way: “If we dare to look back, you have to say that there are certain limits. We are not well trained to take responsibility for our own health.”
“Thinking more staff will be absent”
She is also very critical of the end of the quarantine – after all, deliberately testing positive to go to a patient has a very different quality. At first it seems tempting to alleviate the tense situation in the health sector with infected staff, “but we think this will lead to even more staff absenteeism”.
Ultimately, the shot would likely backfire, Potzmann said, urging employers not to allow Covid-positive employees to work directly with patients.
Source: Krone
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