Mass Testing

German Health Minister Spahn wants to expand the national testing strategy and massively extend testing.

From 1 March, all citizens will be able to be tested free of charge by trained personnel with rapid antigen tests. They are now sufficiently available on the market, according to Spahn. The municipalities can commission their test centers or pharmacies with such offers.

The Austrian government has announced that it will start mass testing its population on December 2, starting with the capital Vienna, followed by six other states. In Vienna, a total of 1.2 million tests will be provided at three major locations with the support of the Federal Armed Forces. Appointments can be made online and Health City Councillor Peter Hacker (SPÖ) predicts a total of 150.000 daily tests.

Austria is planning to begin Covid-19 mass testing on December 5th, starting with teachers, police forces and communities with high infection rates. Seven million tests have been ordered so far and the government has mobilized both armed forces and forces to help with testing.

According to health minister Rudolf Anschober, the decisive factor is "that the tests do not create a false sense of security, but that they are accepted not as a substitute but as an additional measure to social distancing, masks and proper hygiene.

Slovakia has started mass testing its entire population for Covid-19, the first country to do so. During a trial phase on the weekend of October 23-25, a total of 140,945 people participated and 5,594 infectious cases were detected, defence ministry spokeswoman Martina Koval Kakascikova said.