Retirement and nursing homes Very high workload The workload for qualified staff intensified particularly in those homes in which there were outbreaks of the infection. In some cases, there were and still are no separate rooms for employees in isolation areas to change their PPE or wet masks or to take breaks. Fortunately, however, it was emphasised in many homes that cooperation, communication and mutual appreciation had increased during the crisis. The constantly changing need for action also helped increase the preparedness of those involved to adapt to a new situation every day. The preparatory measures taken by the medical facilities for treating seriously ill COVID-19 patients also proved to be a strain. They meant that persons living in care facilities could not be examined and taken care of or only to a very limited extent for several weeks. This affected residents with cardiovascular, oncological or chronic illnesses who prior to that had been examined regularly in hospitals or been visited by the home’s medical officer. In longterm therapy and isolated cases Doctors therefore delegated the administration of medication to qualified care staff under Section 15 of the Federal Act on Healthcare and Nursing Professions (Gesundheits- und Krankenpflegegesetz) more often than before. This delegation also included medication containing addictive substances or sedatives that can be administered by qualified staff without harm. Telemedicine programmes in some homes also unearthed enormous potential for care without the risk of infection. Consequences for regular care should be drawn from this after the pandemic has been overcome. Amendment of Epidemics Act Since the outbreak of the pandemic, the Austrian Healthcare and Nursing Association had been endeavouring to at least grant the competence for autonomously carrying out COVID-19 antigen tests as well as issuing the test confirmation to persons with health care and nursing qualifications. However, this did not materialise in 2020 despite the extensive training of the nursing staff. Whilst in December 2020 paramedics were allowed to swab the nose and throat and perform point of care COVID-19 antigen tests for diagnostic purposes and to take blood from the capillaries to detect antibodies in the context of the pandemic, no consideration was given to care facilities. Yet obtaining a doctor’s prescription before testing in care settings in particular is neither practicable nor medically required due to time restrictions and the anyway limited resources. The legislature only reacted to this at the end of February 2021. By amending the Epidemics Act (Epidemiegesetz) it was ensured that senior health and nursing staff as well as assistant nurses among others can also swab without prior doctor’s prescription when screening to stop the spread of the SARS-CoV-2 pathogen, pursuant to the Federal Act on Healthcare and Nursing Professions. 79% of basic medical care was guaranteed in mid-May 2020 according to the care services surveyed. The limited presence of some medical officers and waiting times for appointments in medical facilities were strongly criticised as were the different approaches used by the health authorities with isolation di- 29