Day in and day out new corona record numbers are known in Austria. In an international comparison, the country is “the” corona hot spot, with far higher numbers than all EU countries. What is less noticed: Austria also outperforms all European countries when it comes to testing.
Other states have long attributed a much smaller role to testing. Austria is currently testing 60 times more than Sweden, 20 times more than Germany, 12 times more than Switzerland and 5 times more than Denmark. This test activism is unique in Europe and worldwide. Only Cyprus, which has a population of just 1.2 million, tests even more – nobody else, anywhere, whether in Europe, America, Africa, Oceania or Asia.
The intensive care units in France and Germany are much more busy than those in Austria. At the same time, their official case numbers are significantly lower.
Since the omicron wave has spread across the globe, it has become clear that sooner or later everyone will be infected with corona anyway, as the US star virologist Anthony Fauci found out in January. The new virus variant is simply too contagious, but at the same time has a much milder course. Austria is still sticking to its course, fewer tests are considered negligent.
