After Free Trial – Each country now has its own testing strategy

the City of Vienna, which has recently expressed annoyance at federal regulations coming so late, is set to disclose details of the new testing strategy on Thursday. These are currently in the final vote, it was emphasized. City Councilor for Public Health Peter Hacker (SPÖ) announced on Wednesday that testing with the “gargle everything” system must continue. However, they would like to involve the pharmacies in Vienna further, a Hackers spokesperson assured on Thursday. This is where conversations would take place. Until now, pharmacies have settled directly with the federal government, but this is no longer provided for in the new regulations. Therefore, a hybrid system is now being planned.

In Tyrol the extra free tests for vulnerable groups of people should in any case be offered as a PCR gargle test. These would also be available in the “Tirol gurgelt” system or through pharmacies (for people without the possibility of electronic processing). The test result can then be collected from the pharmacy. The digital system does not allow more than five tests. For suspicious cases, free PCR testing options are also available at the country’s 11 screening avenues.

The tests in Vorarlberg will mainly be processed via the “Vorarlberg gurgelt” platform. After a one-time registration per person and month, five PCR tests can be imported or test trajectories can be started via the online platform. There are still 172 acceptance and delivery points for the PCR gargle self-tests. Excluded from this scheme are people in vulnerable settings and their contacts, who must be tested regularly. In addition to the gargle test offer, they can also have PCR screening tests performed in the pharmacies. Officially ordered PCR tests will be conducted at the five state test lanes in Bezau, Dornbirn, Feldkirch, Hirschegg and Nüziders, the state said. According to state councilor Christian Gantner (ÖVP), antigen tests can also be obtained from pharmacies across the state from April 11.

in the state Salzburg the five free PCR tests can be performed either through “Salzburg gurgelt” or in pharmacies. As in the past, the throat tests are carried out in collaboration with the Spar retail group and the Novogenia laboratory in Salzburg. From April, the system will count the tests per month. The output of the test material is also limited. The pharmacy tests are mainly offered to people who are not tech savvy, which is necessary to some extent at “Salzburg gargles”. The additional testing is also performed in pharmacies if someone needs additional PCR evidence in addition to the five free samples per month, for example for visits to a hospital or retirement home. From April 9, the five free antigen tests per month will also be issued in pharmacies.

In Carinthia the five free PCR tests are processed via “Kärnten gurgelt”. The state press service announced on Thursday that a second, “less digital” solution is still being worked on. For exceptions, such as visitors to retirement homes and hospitals, there should be an electronic platform from 6 April. Separate test tracks are planned for residents and staff in hospitals and nursing homes in Carinthia. Concerning the five antigen tests, there is an agreement between the federal government and the Chamber of Pharmacists. The self-tests can be collected from the pharmacy from 9 April. Suspected cases are being tested in the country’s eight test streets in the district capitals, treatment continues through the health hotline 1450 or the authorities.

I’m Burgenland the “gargling at home” test campaign continues. Burgenlanders who have applied online will receive five free PCR tests per person per month. As before, the savings markets and pharmacies will remain the collection and distribution points, said Governor Hans Peter Doskozil (SPÖ) on Thursday. For people without a smartphone or internet access, there is an alternative PCR test offer in the vaccination and testing centers (BITZ), which also includes five voluntary tests per month. According to Doskozil, a similar offer is currently being negotiated with pharmacies. According to Doskozil, BITZ antigen tests will be offered in Burgenland from Friday as an interim solution.

the Styria preferably processing via pharmacies. In Upper Austria recently it was said that in the future the five free PCR tests could be performed either through the “ooe-gurgelt” campaign (in partnership with Spar) or directly in the pharmacy. Lower Austria continues to rely on the proven “NÖ gurgelt” system in conjunction with Spar and McDonalds, according to the latest information.