Austria's Covid Response: Success Or Failure?

Austria was ranked 12th in the world for its handling of the COVID-19 pandemic, according to the Global Soft Power Index. The country's response was characterised by quick, decisive action, including closing its borders, imposing lockdowns, and promoting vaccines. However, the emergence of the Omicron variant caused a surge in cases and disrupted the country's plans for living with the virus.

The Austrian Red Cross's role in testing, contact tracing, and transporting infected people

The Austrian Red Cross (AutRC) is the largest humanitarian organisation in Austria, providing emergency and rescue services as well as social programmes at the national and international levels. It has around 8,600 staff and over 72,000 volunteers. Given its extensive expertise in disaster management, the Austrian government sought the support of the AutRC in managing the COVID-19 pandemic.

The AutRC played a crucial role in testing, contact tracing, and transporting infected individuals. In the first year of the pandemic, it conducted more than 2.8 million coronavirus tests in drive-through centres and with mobile teams. As of May 2021, it was still operating over 100 testing centres. The AutRC also developed the Stopp Corona App, a contact tracing application that notifies users if they have been in close contact with someone who has tested positive for COVID-19. The app has been downloaded by more than 1.4 million Austrians.

Additionally, the AutRC provided medical transport for more than 100,000 infected individuals, ensuring they received safe and timely transportation while minimising the risk of further infection. The organisation also contributed to the national crisis and disaster management board, offering its expertise in pandemic management. They helped establish new structures for decision-making within the Ministry of Health.

The AutRC's efforts extended beyond testing, contact tracing, and transportation. They also ran emergency hotlines, answering over 800,000 calls from individuals with potential COVID-19 symptoms. Furthermore, they leveraged their logistics expertise to procure protective equipment, ordering over 18 million FFP2 masks for distribution in Austria by the end of 2020. The AutRC also played a pivotal role in public information campaigns, creating the image of a baby elephant to represent the safe distance needed between individuals, which was endorsed by the government.

The Austrian government's communication and messaging

In addition to its operational role, the Austrian Red Cross played a vital role in communication and messaging. They developed the "Stopp Corona App," one of the first contact tracing applications in Europe, which was downloaded by over 1.4 million Austrians. The Red Cross also created a public information campaign, coining the image of a baby elephant to represent the safe distance individuals should maintain to prevent the spread of the virus. This creative messaging was endorsed by the government and contributed to a successful communication strategy.

However, the Austrian government faced criticism for its communication approach during the pandemic. In July 2021, the government prematurely lifted COVID-19 restrictions and promised a "return to normal," which later proved to be false. This created confusion and frustration among the public, leading to protests against lockdowns and vaccines. The government's messaging was further complicated by the influence of populist and far-right groups, who organised demonstrations and spread misleading information.

To address these challenges, the Austrian government implemented mandatory vaccinations by February 2022 to prevent a collapse of the healthcare system. This decision was met with mixed reactions, with some supporting it as a necessary measure to protect public health and reduce divisions in society, while others viewed it as an overreach of government authority. Overall, the Austrian government's communication and messaging throughout the pandemic have been a critical aspect of their COVID-19 response, shaping public perception and influencing the course of the outbreak in the country.

The public's response to lockdowns and mandatory vaccinations

Austria's response to the COVID-19 pandemic has been varied, with some early successes but also challenges along the way. The country was quick to implement restrictive measures, including suspending flights to China, closing borders, banning gatherings, and enforcing social distancing and self-isolation. These measures were generally well-received by the public, with most adhering to the restrictions without much objection.

However, as the pandemic progressed, Austria faced some setbacks and criticism. There was a delay in quarantining the province of Tyrol, which resulted in a significant rise in cases in other European countries. Additionally, the government's mandatory COVID-19 vaccination policy and home confinement orders for the unvaccinated sparked mass protests, with tens of thousands rallying in Vienna and other cities. The protests, led by the right-wing Austrian Freedom Party, criticised the government's handling of the pandemic, and some journalists covering the events were attacked.

Despite these challenges, Austria's overall approach to the pandemic has been recognised as relatively successful. The country ranked 12th in a global soft power index for its handling of the health crisis, economic stimulation, and international cooperation. The Austrian Red Cross also played a crucial role in the nationwide COVID-response, providing testing, transportation, and expertise in pandemic management.

Overall, the public's response to the lockdowns and mandatory vaccinations in Austria has been mixed. While there was initial support for the restrictive measures, the delays in quarantining and the controversial vaccination policies led to criticism and mass protests. However, it is worth noting that the protests were not representative of the entire population, as most people adhered to the restrictions and recent polls suggest that the public perceives the government's actions as proportionate and adequate.

The Austrian Red Cross's role in procuring protective equipment

The Austrian Red Cross (ÖRK) is the national Red Cross organisation in Austria and is part of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement. It is the largest aid agency in the country, with around 8,600 staff and over 72,000 volunteers. The organisation played a crucial role in the nationwide COVID-19 response in Austria, assisting the government in various fields.

In the early phase of the pandemic, the Austrian Red Cross stepped in with its logistics experts to procure protective equipment on the world market. For example, by the end of 2020, more than 18 million FFP2 masks had been ordered for distribution throughout Austria. Additionally, OMV, an Austrian oil and gas company, donated 100 protective eye-glasses and 100 FFP3 masks to the Red Cross Gänserndorf, which operates in communities neighbouring OMV's facilities.

The Austrian Red Cross also contributed to the national crisis and disaster management board, helping to establish new decision-making structures within the Ministry of Health. They developed the Stopp Corona App, the first contact-tracing application in Europe, which has been downloaded by over 1.4 million Austrians and is still in use.

Furthermore, the Austrian Red Cross conducted over 2.8 million coronavirus tests in drive-through centres and with mobile teams, operating more than 100 testing centres as of May 2021. They also transported 100,000 infected individuals in the first year of the pandemic while maintaining regular rescue and ambulance services under strict safety protocols.

The Austrian Red Cross's public information campaigns

The Austrian Red Cross (AutRC) played a crucial role in the nationwide Covid-response since the beginning of the pandemic. The AutRC is a large, nationwide organisation with extensive experience in disaster management and emergency relief. It has around 8,600 staff and over 72,000 volunteers.

The AutRC created and produced a public information campaign about COVID-19 measures, which was endorsed by the government. The campaign coined the image of a baby elephant that is needed between individuals to maintain a safe distance.

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