Austria (Report: Muhammad Amir Siddique) Much milder CoV rules will apply from Thursday, but Vienna is following a stricter course in some points: In the future, the test will already apply to children from the age of six. The “living room tests” are no longer an entry requirement. The virus does not take a vacation, said Mayor Michael Ludwig (SPÖ) at a press conference on Wednesday. Especially with regard to the more contagious delta mutation, Vienna will not fully support all of the easing that the federal government is planning. “Due to this situation, we will take measures until the population is fully immunized in order to continue on the path of security,” said Ludwig. There are therefore stricter rules for children from the age of six: from now on – if the “3-G” rules require it, for example in the bathroom or pub – they must also be tested or recovered. This is mainly necessary because the regular school tests are no longer required during the holidays, said Ludwig. According to Ludwig, the age group of 0 to 19 year olds is currently responsible for 40 percent of infections in Vienna. These chains of infection need to be broken. Until now, children up to the age of ten were exempt from the obligation to test. There are currently no separate test variants for children, but the lollipop tests are being feverishly worked on. Health Minister Wolfgang Mückstein (Greens) supports the Vienna initiative, as he emphasized via Twitter: “In urban areas, the test offer is a particularly good one. I therefore welcome the initiative. ”The pandemic is not over yet. “We have to remain vigilant and always have a safe autumn in view,” the minister stated. Vienna’s FPÖ boss Dominik Nepp, however, did not agree at all. “Compulsory testing” for children from six years of age is a cheek, he said in a broadcast. This will lead to further losses in gastronomy, warned Nepp. There are also tightenings for adults: Up until now, “living room tests”, ie antigen self-tests carried out at home, were valid for 24 hours in accordance with the “3-G rule”. This is no longer the case: Antigen tests should still be valid, but only if they are carried out in “controlled test formats” such as in test streets or pharmacies, said Ludwig. Tests that are taken directly in the bar are no longer valid either. Another deviation from the federal ordinance concerns hospitals and hospitals: They want to continue to secure them. “That is why we will maintain the rule that one patient can be visited per day. An FFP2 mask will also be necessary for this ”, says Ludwig. Not all rules will fall in the catering industry either: when visiting a restaurant, the contact details of guests must continue to be collected to facilitate contact tracing. The federal government wants to release this obligation as early as July 22nd. In addition, the occupational group tests in Vienna will be maintained: In kindergartens and restaurants, for example, the staff will continue to be tested on a regular basis. “With these measures, we want to spend the summer pleasantly, but also make a contribution so that there is no big end in autumn,” said Ludwig. The measures will be monitored “with a sure instinct”, he announced. For the time being, the stricter rules apply until the end of August, then the situation will be re-evaluated. In other areas, Vienna is following the loosening of the federal government: For example, Wiener Linien will again allow mouth and nose protection instead of an FFP2 mask from Thursday. The voluntary wearing of an FFP2 mask is of course still possible, it was assured. Those who travel by bus, tram or subway without having to cover their mouth and nose have to pay. There is a risk of a fine of 50 euros.
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