From Monday, the 3G rule will apply without exception. Due to problems with the Covid test evaluation in parts of Austria, WKÖ, retailers and restaurateurs are calling for an extension of the deadline. However, the Ministry of Health sees sufficient test capacities.
“The test capacities for Monday and beyond are sufficient,” emphasized the Ministry of Health on Saturday. It was also pointed out that for most of those affected a simple antigen test will still be sufficient: “Only in the particularly sensitive areas of night-time gastronomy and in the health and care professions a negative PCR test must be carried out, unless proof of vaccination or recovery is available . “
Authorities also control
Employees and company owners must be vaccinated or have recovered or have a current negative Covid test when they enter the workplace. The 3G certificate must be carried and the employer must check compliance with the 3G rule. The authorities also carry out controls. The only exceptions are people who do not have contact with others for more than 15 minutes twice a day and even only if this takes place outdoors. This means that apart from foresters and truck drivers, there will not be many occupational groups who will spare themselves 3G.
A 2.5 G rule (vaccinated, recovered or PCR-tested) has already been in force for employees in the following areas since November 8: Night restaurants, discos, après-ski, old people’s, care and inpatient facilities for the disabled, in hospitals, in mobile care and support and at events with over 250 participants.
WKÖ wants to extend the transition period
The Chamber of Commerce demands “a broad rollout of the low-threshold test offer throughout Austria” from the government and the federal states. Unfortunately, it cannot currently be ruled out that individual employees will not receive their test results on time. “Therefore, an extension of the transition period would make sense in the interests of the companies,” said the Chamber of Commerce on request. “At the moment, however, we are not assuming any drastic restrictions; security of supply is guaranteed in any case.”
The Ministry of Health defends 3G in the workplace. Before the relevant regulation was issued, it was ensured that sufficient corona tests were in stock in Austria and that there were sufficient opportunities for reorders. “The implementation of the tests remains the responsibility of the federal states. These were announced in good time and, in addition, a transition period of the 3G regulation at the workplace of two weeks has been provided for any necessary adjustment of the test capacities in the federal states. This period is not extended planned, “said the Ministry of Health.
A million tests a day
According to estimates by the Ministry of Health, around 1.4 million workers regularly need a corona test due to the 3G rule at work. Assuming that the tests are split equally between PCR tests and antigen tests, around one million tests are required per day for 3G in the workplace, according to the ministry.
Due to the lack of a test infrastructure in the federal states, WKÖ gastro chairman Mario Pulker sees a “huge problem” facing the catering industry. “The regulation cannot keep up with reality,” criticized the chairman in the APA interview. “If the chef does not come to the test because everything is overloaded, you can close your shop,” says Pulker. None of this is an issue in Vienna, but “sheer madness” in the federal states.
If corona tests cannot be evaluated quickly, this is “a major problem” with regard to 3G for companies and employees, said WKÖ trade chairman Rainer Trefelik in the middle of this week. The government and the countries should now “think about something quickly”. Trade association managing director Rainer Will also calls for an extension of the transition period. “We will not be able to open all branches if this system is simply not extended during the transition period,” Will said recently. WKÖ trade chairman Trefelik can “not estimate” how many companies may not be able to open next Monday due to Covid tests that have not been evaluated in a timely manner. In rural areas, however, this could happen “in individual cases” in small businesses with few employees.
Hofer fears staff shortages
Rewe (Billa, Bipa, Penny) is “very confident” that it will be able to open all markets on Monday. They are “well prepared” and offer a low-threshold PCR test offer in Vienna with the “Alles Gurgelt” project, it said. According to their own statements, Rewe and Lead Horizon could roll out their PCR gurgle test system to other federal states or all of Austria.
Spar will also open all branches on Monday. “It may be that some do not receive the result in time. Then you have to find individual regulations,” said the supermarket chain. An extension of the transition period would be “certainly a good idea in view of the test problems in some federal states”.
The discounter Hofer sees the risk that the 3G rule can lead to personnel bottlenecks, for example in sales and logistics as well as in the warehouse area. “We will of course do everything in our power to ensure that enough staff are still available after November 15th to keep all 530 branches open and to ensure basic supplies for the Austrian population,” said a Hofer spokeswoman.
Source From: Nachrichten
