After the "free testing" proposed by the Austrian government was called off, a so-called "pure testing" should now take place. It is also planned that employees of transport companies will have to be tested regularly. This could also affect airline and airport staff who have customer contact.

The coalition parties introduced an amendment that explicitly provides that passengers do not need a negative test result for the use of public transport. According to a statement from the Parliamentary Directorate, it is planned that for professional groups such as teachers, hairdressers, employees in the catering and retail sectors as well as employees of transport companies who come into contact with passengers, "announces regular Covid-19 tests will be prescribed in those cases in which there is customer contact or in which a certain distance cannot regularly be maintained ".

Since flights are also regarded as public transport, it is to be expected that flight attendants, counter and boarding staff as well as the employees working at security control will have to be tested regularly for Covid-19 in the future. The matter has a catch, however: Austria could only impose this on domestic companies and airlines, but not on foreign airlines. Put simply, this means that Austrian Airlines, Easyjet Europe, Eurowings Europe and Peoples, for example, can be ordered to regularly test their staff with customer contact due to their Austrian operating license, but not foreign providers such as Buzz, Ryanair, Lauda Europe, Wizzair, Qatar Airways or Emirates .

“A period of one week is mentioned in the explanations as a possible test frequency for employees. However, this is not laid down in the law. If you don't want to take a test, you have to wear an FFP2 mask - however, this alternative does not apply to old people's homes, homes for the disabled and nursing homes, hospitals and health resorts. Tests as well as any COVID-19 vaccinations by company doctors can be carried out during working hours and are considered prevention time in the sense of the Employee Protection Act ”, the parliamentary administration also announced. “In the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic, Minister of Health Rudolf Anschober can already impose certain requirements for entering shops, means of transport, bars, hotels and other places. Specifically, the COVID-19 Measures Act and the Epidemics Act specifically mention wearing mouth and nose protection, distance rules, organizational and spatial protective measures and prevention concepts. This list of possible requirements has now been expanded to include a negative result from a COVID-19 test. A corresponding amendment to the law was launched on Tuesday by the National Council's health committee with the votes of the ÖVP and the Greens. For which areas exactly an “entry test” will be required and which tests will be recognized, however, is still open, the more precise design of the legal provisions should only take place by way of ordinance. "