The cabinet now wants to get to work and on Wednesday sent the law to end the corona measures for review. All measures must expire at the latest by the end of June.
However, the corona vaccination and Covid medication remain free. In the future, free tests will only be available for patients with symptoms to clarify whether they need Covid medication. Wastewater monitoring will continue and be extended to other pathogens.
The obligation to report SARS-CoV-2 will be lifted
Parallel to the entry into force, the COVID-19 Measures Act and the associated special provisions in the Epidemic Act will lapse and all Corona-related regulations and the SARS-CoV-2 notification obligation will lapse. This means that the current traffic restrictions will be canceled in the event of a corona infection. The mask obligation in hospitals, retirement homes and nursing homes and in doctor’s practices, as well as the exemption of risk groups, will expire on April 30.
Usually no more free trials
By the end of June, most of the free tests will also be over: people with symptoms can take free tests from employed GPs to clarify whether COVID-19 medication should be used, the health ministry said. “This means that people with an increased risk in particular still have the opportunity to protect themselves against a serious course of corona disease.”
At-risk patients without symptoms will no longer receive the tests for free. Pharmacies must be given the legal framework to offer tests against payment. The distribution of free living room tests and other free testing options will be discontinued.
In any case, the corona vaccination will remain free for everyone – for the time being. It can also be used in the private sector and other facilities such as vaccination routes or buses, the states also have the opportunity to create regionally adapted offers. Medicines must also remain free after June 30. When the corona medicines purchased by the federal government are used up, “a switch to the standard social security structures” will also take place here.
“The pandemic goes, the virus stays”
In order to keep an eye on the epidemiological development and to be able to act quickly if necessary, wastewater monitoring will continue even after the end of the crisis measures, as emphasized in the broadcast. The wastewater monitoring is also being extended to other pathogens such as flu. The samples would be further analyzed for virus variants using whole genome sequencing.
“The pandemic goes, the virus stays,” said Health Minister Johannes Rauch (Greens). “We have made the necessary preparations to provide excellent care to all people in Austria beyond June 30,” he said. The pillars such as vaccinations, tests, medication or wastewater monitoring are thus guaranteed for the long term.
Source: Krone
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