Austrians Considering To Follow Slovak Example for COVID Mass Testing

Nov. 14, 2020 (EIRNS)—Officials of the Austrian Chancellery, Defense and Health Ministries met with leading Slovak government officials on Nov. 12 to get briefed on Bratislava’s COVID-19 mass testing program for its entire population of 5.5 million. In that testing, carried out in several rounds this month, 30 troops from the Austrian Army took part as assistants.

The Slovaks view mass testing, repeated in intervals, as a viable alternative to lockdowns. Prime Minister Igor Matovic told the Austrians, “We have the big chance of showing Europe and the world that a different approach works, without shutdowns of the economy and millions of jobless.”

The Slovak approach accompanies strict management of quarantine for those for whom the tests show as positive for coronavirus infection.