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Vienna introduces coronavirus testing for people without health insurance

Austria's extensive coronavirus testing scheme will now also be available to people without health insurance.

Published: 22 February 2021 10:05 CET

Vienna introduces coronavirus testing for people without health insurance

A testing centre in Vienna. Photo: ALEX HALADA / AFP

Even if people do not have an e-card – Austria's health insurance ID card – they can get a free rapid antigen test, city councillor for health Peter Hacker told Austria's ORF news outlet on Monday.

The free testing is available immediately.

There are an estimated 30,000 people with no health insurance living in Austria, most of whom live in Vienna.

EXPLAINED: What is Austria's e-card? Everything you need to know

The coronavirus pandemic is causing the number of uninsured people to rise, experts have warned. People without insurance may include homeless people, refugees, asylum seekers and the destitute.

Due to the fact that they are not insured, they do not have an e-card and as a result have no access to the health system.

UPDATED: Where can I get tested for coronavirus in Vienna?

Austria has also made it possible for for people without health insurance to access free healthcare.

This is available at institutions such as Ambermed in Liesing, the Order Hospitals in Vienna or the Neunerhaus in Margareten.

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Tens of thousands of workers in Austria hit by Covid and flu as cases rise

Last week, over 110,000 people in Austria were absent from work due to COVID-19, influenza, or flu-like diseases.

Statistics from ÖGK policyholders, Austria’s largest public health insurer, indicated that more than 400 individuals were specifically impacted by influenza (“real flu”), while over 84,000 stayed home due to flu-like symptoms. ÖGK’s chief physician, Andreas Krauter, highlighted a noticeable uptick in sick days via a statement on Monday.

The news comes Austria struggles with 10,000 more COVID-19 infections. than at the same time last year. Several variants of the Omicron strain of the virus are currently under observation by the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control, and with temperatures plummeting, it is thought that a colder winter could further boost cases.

Austria was a centre of several COVID-19 outbreaks in the early months of the pandemic, and stringent measures were introduced across the country in order to tackle its spread.

READ MORE: How can I get a Covid or flu vaccine in Austria this autumn?

In his statement, Krauter emphasised the efficacy of masks in offering reliable protection against infection and curtailing further transmission. He particularly stressed the importance of considering this protective measure for individuals with underlying health risks. “For them and everyone else, we recommend vaccination against Covid-19 and influenza. Washing your hands is also important”, he said in a press release.

In total, ÖGK recorded 297,000 individuals afflicted by various illnesses or injuries and registered for sick leave during the last week.

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