The Health Committee today discussed the future CoV testing strategy and decided to amend the Epidemics Act, which authorizes the Minister of Health to determine by ordinance the purpose, test methods and frequency with which screening programs are to be carried out at the expense of the federal government. To do this, however, he must seek agreement with the finance minister, which was heavily criticized by the opposition.
In view of the high expenditure for tests totaling 2.6 billion euros so far, it is legitimate to make adaptations, argued ÖVP MP Werner Saxinger, who has not yet given any specific details. Furthermore, the ÖVP, Greens, SPÖ and NEOS agreed to an adjustment of the regulations for the issuance of Covid 19 risk certificates and an extension of the distance prescription until the end of June.
Numerous opposition motions were largely postponed, in which the SPÖ, among other things, called for the “corona bonus” to be extended to all “heroes of the crisis” and for a comprehensive strategy for the treatment of “Long Covid”. NEOS was primarily concerned with improving the Covid-19 research data set and, in the interests of transparency, with transmitting the reports from AGES, which play a central role in CoV management.
The Freedom Party demanded the submission of a monthly transparency report on the work of the National Vaccination Committee, the strengthening of the public health service and clarification in the Causa Hygiene Austria. In addition, giving away vaccines abroad was a thorn in the side of the FPÖ.